Changelog

New features, gameplay improvements, and fixes will be recorded here as RadicalRampage evolves.

  1. EssayRampage: put your vocabulary into words

    New

    EssayRampage is a new way to practise Chinese and Japanese writing. Reveal an image, describe what you see, and get a vocabulary score. Play in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, or Japanese, with or without an account.

    1. 1

      Reveal an image

      Choose your language and start. Take a few seconds to notice the people, objects, and actions.

    2. 2

      Write from memory

      Describe the scene in your own words before the timer runs out. A few simple sentences are a good start.

    3. 3

      Review your vocabulary

      Submit your essay to see your score, reread your text, and explore the words that earned points.

    From image prompt to essay review

    EssayRampage is available in:

    Simplified Chinese Simplified Chinese
    Traditional Chinese Traditional Chinese
    Japanese Japanese
    EssayRampage
    Example · Simplified Chinese
    Four friends playing mahjong around a wooden table with tea, red lanterns, and mountains beyond a traditional courtyard at sunset.

    Example image prompt: an evening of mahjong. Describe the people, the setting, and what might happen next.

    Essay 2:24

    傍晚，四个朋友围坐在院子里的方桌旁，一起打麻将。桌上摆着整齐的白色麻将牌，旁边放着几杯茶。穿浅色衣服的女子拿起一张牌，认真地思考下一步。对面的朋友看着桌面，脸上带着笑容。 红色灯笼照亮了木柱和屋檐，远处的山在晚霞中显得十分安静。虽然大家都想赢，他们更珍惜一起聊天的时间。我觉得这样的夜晚很温暖。如果我也坐在这里，我会先学会规则，再和朋友们玩一局。

    Submit your essay → see your review
    The game reveals its image when you start.
    EssayRampage Review
    Example result
    555
    Final score
    Your essay

    傍晚，四个朋友围坐在院子里的方桌旁，一起打麻将。桌上摆着整齐的白色麻将牌，旁边放着几杯茶。穿浅色衣服的女子拿起一张牌，认真地思考下一步。对面的朋友看着桌面，脸上带着笑容。 红色灯笼照亮了木柱和屋檐，远处的山在晚霞中显得十分安静。虽然大家都想赢，他们更珍惜一起聊天的时间。我觉得这样的夜晚很温暖。如果我也坐在这里，我会先学会规则，再和朋友们玩一局。

    Matched terms
    87
    • 傍晚
      7 pts
    • 四
      1 pts
    • 个
      1 pts
    • 朋友
      1 pts
    • 围坐
      35 pts
    • 在
      1 pts
    • 院子
      5.5 pts
    • 里
      1 pts
    • 的
      1 pts
    • 方
      7 pts
    • 桌
      15 pts
    • 旁
      15 pts
    • 一起
      2.5 pts
    • 打
      2.5 pts
    • 麻将
      10 pts
    • 上
      1 pts
    • 摆
      8.5 pts
    • 着
      2.5 pts
    • 整齐
      7 pts
    • 白色
      2.5 pts
    • 麻将牌
      35 pts
    • 旁边
      2.5 pts
    • 放
      4 pts
    • 几
      1 pts
    • 杯
      15 pts
    • 茶
      1 pts
    • 穿
      1 pts
    • 浅色
      25 pts
    • 衣服
      1 pts
    • 女子
      7 pts
    • 拿起
      25 pts
    • 一
      1 pts
    • 张
      4 pts
    • 牌
      5.5 pts
    • 认真
      4 pts
    • 地
      2.5 pts
    • 思考
      7 pts
    • 下一步
      20 pts
    • 对面
      5.5 pts
    • 看
      1 pts
    • 桌面
      20 pts
    • 脸
      4 pts
    • 带
      4 pts
    • 笑容
      8.5 pts
    • 红色
      2.5 pts
    • 灯笼
      8.5 pts
    • 照亮
      20 pts
    • 了
      1 pts
    • 木
      15 pts
    • 柱
      20 pts
    • 和
      1 pts
    • 屋檐
      10 pts
    • 远处
      15 pts
    • 山
      4 pts
    • 晚霞
      10 pts
    • 中
      4 pts
    • 显得
      7 pts
    • 十分
      5.5 pts
    • 安静
      4 pts
    • 虽然
      2.5 pts
    • 大家
      1 pts
    • 都
      1 pts
    • 想
      1 pts
    • 赢
      5.5 pts
    • 他们
      1 pts
    • 更
      4 pts
    • 珍惜
      7 pts
    • 聊天
      15 pts
    • 时间
      1 pts
    • 我
      1 pts
    • 觉得
      1 pts
    • 这样
      2.5 pts
    • 夜晚
      5.5 pts
    • 很
      1 pts
    • 温暖
      7 pts
    • 如果
      4 pts
    • 也
      1 pts
    • 坐
      1 pts
    • 这里
      1 pts
    • 会
      1 pts
    • 先
      4 pts
    • 学会
      8.5 pts
    • 规则
      7 pts
    • 再
      1 pts
    • 们
      1 pts
    • 玩
      1 pts
    • 局
      8.5 pts

    The real review also lets you share your essay, listen to it when your browser supports speech, or go again.

    Example matches and points from this essay. Scores may change as the vocabulary dictionary is updated.

    Why writing helps you learn a language: active recall

    You may recognise a word when you read it, then struggle to find it when you want to say something. Writing gives you practice making that journey yourself: start with an idea, retrieve the vocabulary from memory, and put it into a sentence. That effort is active recall.

    An image gives you something concrete to talk about without supplying the words. Naming the scene, choosing a verb, and adding a detail make you use your vocabulary in context. You also notice gaps: the word you wanted but could not remember is a useful one to revisit.

    Try this learning loop

    Write from memory → review your words → look up one missing word → use it in a new sentence later.

    What does your essay score measure?

    EssayRampage scores dictionary vocabulary matches, with points based on difficulty. Each matched term earns points once, so repeating the same word does not keep increasing your score. Finish your sentences with punctuation such as 。, ！, or ？; an unfinished ending after the last sentence is saved but does not score.

    The score is a vocabulary practice signal. It does not grade grammar, check whether your description fits the image, or measure overall language proficiency. Aim for meaningful sentences, then use the review to reflect on the words you recalled.

    Ready for another scene? EssayRampage favours your least-seen images and avoids repeating the previous image when alternatives are available. Members use their play history; guests use their current session.

    Try EssayRampage

    Free to play. No account required.

  2. Rare board themes have arrived
    New collectibles

    September 6th, 2026

    Your next completed RadicalRampage game could come with a rare surprise: a new board theme! Finish at least 10 rounds for a chance to find one. Longer games improve your chances, and every unlocked theme is yours to keep.

    Playing as a guest? You can find themes too. Sign up or log in from the same browser session to claim your discovery. Once unlocked, apply it from the game review or choose it in Board settings. Shared game reviews keep the theme you played with.

    Brush Ink

    Brush Ink

    Example drop: one of the rare board themes waiting to be discovered. Play, collect, and make the board your own.

    View in Board settings
  3. Four lifelines enter the game
    New gameplay

    August 14th, 2026

    Combo time-bonus milestones now award one random lifeline alongside their bonus seconds. Lifelines fill the lowest empty slot, duplicates can stack, and up to nine can be held. Active lifelines can be tapped or triggered with their numbered desktop shortcut; Second Chance activates automatically when needed.

    50/50
    Active

    Removes half of the remaining distractor tiles while keeping the correct answer in play.

    Second Chance
    Passive

    Forgives the first wrong selection on a puzzle, removes that tile, and gives you another attempt without the usual penalty.

    Radar
    Active

    Briefly highlights the row or column containing the correct answer, favoring the direction with more visible options.

    Reroll
    Active

    Deals a new puzzle without awarding points or changing the run’s correct, incorrect, accuracy, score, or combo totals.

    Used lifelines are also reflected visually on the affected boards in the completed game review.

  4. German
    German joins RadicalRampage
    New language

    July 17th, 2026

    German is now available as both a source language and a target language. Players can practise German vocabulary from English, Chinese, or Japanese, or use German prompts while training another supported target language.

    German German · Deutsch
    CEFR A1-C2
    Native Levels 1-10
    German CEFR difficulty levels

    The German Language Learner mode follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Vocabulary progresses from basic beginner words at A1 to precise, advanced vocabulary at C2, with higher levels awarding more points per correct answer.

    • A1
      Beginner
    • A2
      Elementary
    • B1
      Intermediate
    • B2
      Upper-intermediate
    • C1
      Advanced
    • C2
      Proficient
    German Native vocabulary

    German also includes Native Levels 1-10, ordered by word frequency. The track begins with common everyday terms and advances toward increasingly rare and difficult vocabulary.

  5. Releasing RadicalRampage.com
    Launch

    July 1st, 2026

    RadicalRampage.com launches with RadicalRampage, a fast browser-based vocabulary game that turns rapid recognition into a score chase. Match source and target terms, protect the clock, and push each run as far as your accuracy can carry it.

    3-minute sprint
    4x4 board
    Combo time bonuses
    Difficulty-based scoring
    The core loop
    Match fast

    A source term sits at the center of the board. Find its matching target-language term among the surrounding answers.

    Protect the clock

    Wrong answers cost ten seconds. Consecutive correct answers build a combo, and combo milestones award bonus time.

    Review the run

    Finished games preserve every board so answers, readings, translations, timing, and round scores can be inspected afterward.

    Languages and difficulty
    English English
    Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)
    Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)
    Japanese Japanese

    English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese can be used as source languages. Target-language practice includes three learner tracks with vocabulary grouped by established proficiency frameworks, plus frequency-based Native levels for more advanced practice.

    Level-based scoring

    Every correct answer awards more base points at higher vocabulary levels. Language Learner modes scale from 1 point at the easiest level to 10 points at the hardest level. Native mode starts at 15 points for Native 1 and adds 5 points per level, reaching 60 points at Native 10. Rampage and Berserk score multipliers are applied after this level bonus.

    Chinese (Simplified)
    Simplified Chinese · HSK

    The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) learner track progresses from beginner HSK 1 vocabulary through the combined advanced HSK 7-9 tier.

    • HSK 1 · 1 point
    • HSK 2 · 2.5 points
    • HSK 3 · 4 points
    • HSK 4 · 5.5 points
    • HSK 5 · 7 points
    • HSK 6 · 8.5 points
    • HSK 7-9 · 10 points
    Chinese (Traditional)
    Traditional Chinese · TOCFL

    The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) learner track follows the seven official vocabulary sections from Novice 1 through Level 5.

    • Novice 1 · 1 point
    • Novice 2 · 2.5 points
    • Level 1 · 4 points
    • Level 2 · 5.5 points
    • Level 3 · 7 points
    • Level 4 · 8.5 points
    • Level 5 · 10 points
    Japanese
    Japanese · JLPT

    The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) learner track is ordered from beginner N5 vocabulary through N4, N3, N2, and the advanced N1 level.

    • JLPT N5 · 1 point
    • JLPT N4 · 3.25 points
    • JLPT N3 · 5.5 points
    • JLPT N2 · 7.75 points
    • JLPT N1 · 10 points
    Native vocabulary levels

    Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese also include Native Levels 1-10. These levels are based on word frequency rather than an exam framework, moving from more common vocabulary toward less frequent and more difficult terms. Each higher Native level is worth 5 additional base points per correct answer.

    • Native 1 · 15 points
    • Native 2 · 20 points
    • Native 3 · 25 points
    • Native 4 · 30 points
    • Native 5 · 35 points
    • Native 6 · 40 points
    • Native 7 · 45 points
    • Native 8 · 50 points
    • Native 9 · 55 points
    • Native 10 · 60 points
    Risk modes
    Standard · 4x4 · 3:00
    Rampage
    2x score

    Expand the board from 4x4 with 12 answers to 6x6 with 32 answers. More answers mean more searching, but every correct term is worth double.

    Berserk
    2.5x score

    Start with only ninety seconds instead of three minutes. Strong players can score higher, while mistakes become much harder to recover from.