Rule34dle is a game that mashes up Wordle and smutty cartoon art
In the ever-evolving landscape of the internet, one enduring truth remains: Rule 34 states that if something exists, there is likely explicit content about it. Coined by a British teenager in 2003, this tongue-in-cheek adage has become a cultural touchstone, especially in today’s climate where age-verification laws are increasingly scrutinizing access to adult content. The early 2000s marked a different era online—one devoid of the social media giants we know today, yet still rich with adult material. Fast forward to the present, and the spirit of Rule 34 has been revived in a playful and engaging way through the creation of Rule34dle, a game that combines the essence of Rule 34 with the popular word puzzle game, Wordle.
Rule34dle allows players to engage in a unique guessing game involving fictional characters from various franchises, such as Pokémon. Each round presents players with two characters, revealing the number of pornographic posts associated with one while keeping the other’s count hidden. Players must then guess which character has more explicit content online. If they guess correctly, they continue with the character that has the higher count, paired with a new character, thereby building their streak. The game also offers variations, such as “hard mode,” where players choose between three characters with all explicit post numbers concealed, adding an extra layer of challenge. Additionally, Rule34dle features a daily challenge where players can test their skills against a set of ten rounds, ensuring that the game remains fresh and engaging for its users.
The popularity of Rule34dle has sparked interest across social media platforms, particularly TikTok, where streamers are sharing their gameplay experiences with friends and followers, often resulting in humorous and entertaining moments. For those who enjoy fan fiction, there’s even an alpha version of AO3dle, which allows players to guess which of two characters has more erotic works written about them on the Archive of Our Own (AO3) platform. Both games not only highlight the pervasive nature of Rule 34 but also create a fun and interactive way for fans to engage with their favorite characters while exploring the often-overlooked world of fan-created adult content. As the internet continues to grow and change, Rule34dle serves as a reminder of the enduring presence of adult material and the creativity that thrives within fandoms.
If you’ve been on the internet long enough, you know Rule 34: If it exists, there’s
porn
of it.
That may sound crude, especially in the time of
age-verification laws
requiring users’ personal data to visit NSFW sites (and sometimes SFW sites, too), but
Rule 34 was coined
by a British teen in 2003, according to a 2016
Washington Post
article. The early 2000s were a wildly different time on the internet. Pre-Instagram, pre-TikTok, pre-age verification. But porn? Porn always existed online.
SEE ALSO:
All the states Pornhub is blocked in now
While the web has changed a lot over the past 20 years since “Rule 34” was defined, it still rings true — especially when you look at
Rule34dle
, a mashup of the infamous rule and everyone’s favorite word game,
Wordle
.
Like Wordle, Rule34dle is a game, but distinctly different. When you go on the site, you’ll be paired with two fictional franchise characters (like Pokémon) and told how many pornographic posts exist of the one on the left. The number of smutty posts for the character on the right is hidden. You must guess which of the two has more explicit art out there online.
If you’re right, you’ll then be paired with the character with the higher smut count and a new character — and you’ll build your streak from there.
There are also several variations to play the game, including franchise characters, removing AI results, and “hard mode,” which makes you choose between three characters, and with all explicit post numbers hidden.
Rule34dle, created by Reddit user u/DandelionGaming based on an idea from
u/PensAndEndorsement on Reddit
, according to the website, also features a daily challenge. Each day, you can play 10 comparison rounds with different characters in each round. You’ll have to guess blindly — the number of porny art posts for both characters will be hidden. The daily challenge is the same for everyone, and even if you get one wrong, you can still play through all 10 rounds.
And good news for fan fiction fans: There’s also an alpha version of
AO3dle
out there, where you can guess which of two characters has more erotica works written about them on the fan fiction website Archive of Our Own (also known as AO3). AO3dle features both a unique pairing and a daily challenge, like Rule34dle does.
As Kotaku pointed out,
streamers are playing Rule34dle
with their friends, and with hilarious results, on
TikTok
.
