Word Ladder

How to play

1. Change exactly one letter position in the last word to make another word of the same length. Do not add, remove, or rearrange letters.
2. Enter the next word and use Submit word or press Enter. Every accepted word must be in this puzzle’s common-English four-letter dictionary. Ordinary inflections and American/British spellings can count; proper names and abbreviations do not.
3. The starting word is step 0. Each accepted next word uses one step; returning to an earlier word is allowed but still uses a step. Rejected entries do not use steps.
4. Reaching the target on the final allowed step still completes the puzzle. If the steps run out first, one possible solution is shown.
5. A completed ladder earns 1,200 points minus 100 for each accepted step, with a minimum of 200 points.

Head-to-head rules

Connect the starting word to the target within eight steps before your opponent. Both players get the same puzzle and start together, with 3 minutes to finish. Completion time decides the match; fewer moves or a higher solo score do not beat an earlier correct finish. Finishes within 0.1 seconds draw. If neither player finishes before time runs out, the match is a draw.

Your moves and answers stay private. Leaving through the game controls forfeits the match; closing the page does not pause its clock.

Real-player matches update this game's own Elo rating. Daily and practice results keep their separate progress and never change Elo.