Word Ladder
One letter at a time. A whole new way there.
A FEW GOOD WORDS
There is more than one way.
Change exactly one letter each time. Any valid route through our word list counts. A shorter route is a little extra challenge.
Your ladder saves in this browser.
Start with one small change. Every accepted word is in the list below.
★ 0 / 8Type a four-letter word and press Enter. Every step changes exactly one letter in its original position. Longer routes and repeat-word loops are allowed. Use the accepted word list below to check a word.
Your achievements 0 / 8
Accepted word list · original selections
This game uses a curated four-letter word list. It includes common words and some less familiar forms; it does not accept every English word. All accepted entries are searchable here.
A small change opens another way.
Connect the starting word to the target by changing exactly one letter at a time. Every word stays four letters long, and every letter you keep stays in the same position. Each submitted word must appear in this game’s accepted word list. Reach the target through any valid route to complete the puzzle.
Your words, your route.
Type your next word and press Enter or tap Add word. Lowercase and uppercase both work. Rearranging letters, adding or removing letters, submitting the same current word, or changing two letters at once does not count as a step. Going back to an earlier word is allowed; it adds a real step to your route. Repeated loops do not add different-word achievement progress.
The accepted word list beneath the game contains every word this version accepts, with a search for full words or parts of words. It is an original curated selection of four-letter English words, including some less familiar forms. It is a game vocabulary rather than a complete dictionary, so an English word outside that list can be rejected. New puzzles and shortest-route calculations use that same visible list.
Take the scenic route, or find the short one.
Quick puzzles have a shortest route of three or four steps. Challenge puzzles take five to seven at minimum. The Shortest number counts letter changes from the original starting word, including the final move to the target. There can be several shortest routes. Longer valid routes still complete the game, and there is no time limit or strike limit.
Show next word reveals a legal next step on a shortest route from your current word, even after a detour. The hint is recorded immediately. Use this word adds it to your ladder; you can also keep thinking without using it. Undo, Redo and Restart keep your hint history. Restart returns to the same pair and attempt; New starts a fresh pair and attempt.
A little progress, remembered.
Your current ladder, undo/redo history, sound choice and eight achievements save in this browser when storage is available. Progress does not sync between devices. Completed ladders can be reviewed and undone; finishing the same attempt again cannot add a second win. Star celebrations stay below the main controls and respect reduced-motion settings. Sound starts off.
Why was my word rejected?
It must have four letters, be in the accepted list, and differ from the current word at exactly one position. A word can be valid English yet fall outside this game’s curated list. Search the list to see exactly which entries are accepted.
Can a word change length or swap two letters?
No. Only one letter may change in its existing position at each step. All words in the ladder have the same four-letter length.
Do hints count after I undo or restart?
Yes. A hint reveals useful information immediately, so its assistance stays with the attempt. Start New if you want a fresh puzzle. Optimal and unassisted achievements require no hints.
Can I use full screen on a phone?
Yes. Full screen gives the ladder and input more space, and Back returns to the page. The native phone keyboard works with the word field. The accepted word list remains below the game on the page; leave full screen to browse it.
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