Word Ladder

The goal

Turn the start word into the target by changing exactly one letter per move. Every step must be a word in the game’s English dictionary. You cannot add, remove or rearrange letters.

Your route

Any valid route wins. There is no countdown. Invalid submissions do not add moves. Undo is free and removes your most recent word. Use it again to go further back.

The starting word counts as zero moves. The target counts as the final move. Compare your finished ladder with the shortest possible route. The count beside your moves shows how many more the shortest route needs from your current word, so a detour shows at once. A hint first names the letter to change, then, if you ask again, the word; both parts count as one hint, and it remains recorded even if you undo. Show solution ends the attempt as revealed, which does not count as solved.

Modes

Every Friday, Daily offers the same four-letter puzzle to everyone on the same local date. Unlimited has four- and five-letter puzzles with Gentle and Tricky routes. Switching modes keeps unfinished progress. Starting a fresh Unlimited puzzle replaces that Unlimited route.

Type your whole next word into the empty blocks directly below the last word, then press Enter. Use the on-screen keyboard or a physical keyboard. A valid word joins the ladder and opens another empty row.

If a word has the wrong length, changes too many letters, or is not in the dictionary, it stays in the blocks with a message. Delete or physical Backspace removes the last letter. Correct it and try again. Tab reaches the other controls.

Gold borders and underlines mark letters changed from the previous word. Green fills and dots mark letters that match the target. A letter can have both markers.

Undo removes your last submitted word. Hint outlines the letter to change; Show word then names a next word. Show solution is in the game menu and asks before ending your attempt. Earlier words shrink and scroll up as the ladder grows; scroll the list to see them all. Settings can hide the steps-to-go count.

Tips

Try a detour.

You may change a letter that already matches the target: a short route may need a detour. Think about a word just one letter from the target. The changed letter is underlined in each submitted word.

Questions

Which words count?

Four- and five-letter English words from the public-domain ENABLE dictionary and Goldensun.fun’s modern additions, with hidden words excluded. Common plurals and inflections count. Proper names, punctuation and abbreviations are not intended entries; the dictionary decides.

Will my progress stay?

Yes. Moves and unfinished drafts save automatically. Guest play needs no account.