Former US President Barack Obama revealed on a podcast that he has only played one mobile game for years. Surprisingly, Obama’s choice was neither a popular action game nor one of the latest trending apps. The former president’s favorite is a classic word-based game: Words With Friends.

“The only game I play is Words With Friends. I love playing it with my former White House photographer, Pete Souza. That’s how we keep our friendship alive,” Barack Obama explained of his years-long habit.

A Simple Game

“Words With Friends” is a word game that works like classic Scrabble. Players take turns using letter tiles to create words that will earn the highest score. While seemingly simple, this game, which combines strategy and vocabulary, is played by millions of users.

Obama’s preference isn’t just for fun, though. The former president says he uses the game to stay in touch with close friends, keep his mind sharp, and occasionally escape the stress of his daily life. He even joked, “Even in the middle of a nuclear agreement negotiation, if I hear a notification sound from a game, it can distract me,” highlighting how ingrained his habit has become.

Obama is known to have only a few apps on his mobile device besides Words With Friends. One of these is NBA League Pass, reflecting his interest in basketball. While the former president is a cautious user of technology, he maintains a measured balance rather than completely rejecting mobile games.

In interviews with The Verge and Business Insider, Obama has stated that he prefers to keep his phone apps simple. This is seen as a good example of “digital minimalism” in the modern world.

In short, Barack Obama’s obsession with Words With Friends represents a simple yet meaningful stance in the digital world. For someone who has spent years conducting complex diplomatic activities with world leaders, maintaining his friendship and mental acuity through a simple word game redefines the bond between technology and humanity.