Word ladder game online
In this word ladder game you turn a start word into a goal word by changing exactly one letter in every step. Each word in between must be a real four-letter English word, for example cold, cord, card, ward, warm. Pick one of three levels; the game shows the shortest possible ladder and gives a hint on request. No sign-up, works on phones.
Source: SCOWL (English word list). Updated: .
How it is calculated
In short: the word ladder is a word puzzle invented by the author Lewis Carroll in 1877. You turn one word into another by swapping exactly one letter per step – and every stop on the way must be a real word.
An example
COLD → CORD → CARD → WARD → WARM: cold becomes cord (L to R), cord becomes card (O to A), card becomes ward (C to W) and ward becomes warm (D to M). Four steps, five words.
The levels
| Level | Shortest ladder |
|---|---|
| Easy | 3 to 4 steps |
| Medium | 5 to 6 steps |
| Hard | 7 or more steps |
Start and goal words come from common words. For the steps in between the game also accepts rarer words; the step count shown is the shortest ladder possible with the whole list.
Tips
- Think from both ends: consider which words are close to the goal word and steer towards them.
- Swap vowels and consonants: a vowel change often helps (cord → card), so does a new first letter (card → ward).
- Stuck? “Remove last word” takes a step back. “Hint” names the next word of a shortest ladder.
Puzzle series
“Next puzzle” takes you through a numbered series. Level and number define the start and goal words exactly. Your progress stays on your device only; puzzles where you used a hint or the solution do not count.
Frequently asked questions
How does the word ladder work?
In each step you change exactly one letter of a word until you reach the goal word. Every word in between must be a real four-letter word.
Who invented the word ladder?
Lewis Carroll, the author of “Alice in Wonderland”, published it in 1877 under the name “Doublets”.
May I rearrange letters?
No. Only one letter is replaced and all the others stay in place. Rearranging would be an anagram, not a word ladder step.
Why is my word not accepted?
It is not in our word list. Names, abbreviations and very rare forms are missing. Try a more common word.
Is anything saved?
Only which puzzle numbers you solved, and only in your browser (localStorage). Nothing is sent anywhere.
Sources and legal basis
- SCOWL (English word list)
- Wikipedia: Word ladder (Lewis Carroll, „Doublets“, 1877)
- MDN: Window.localStorage
As of: · Editorial policy
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