Word Ladder: a free browser game
A word ladder game turns one word into another by changing a single letter at every step. Joywisp’s four-letter practice offers twelve start-and-goal pairs, a visible curated dictionary and route hints. Every intermediate step must be a supported word, and every letter stays in its original position. There is no timer: the interesting part is finding a useful bridge between words that initially seem far apart.
How to play Word Ladder
- Each step changes exactly one of the four letters. Rearranging or adding a letter is not allowed.
- Every word must appear in this practice dictionary. The supported list stays available beside the input.
- Reach the target word to finish. A word already in your route cannot be repeated; use Undo to revisit an earlier branch.
Word Ladder strategy
Look for a bridge rather than the goal
A move that makes the word look less like the target can still open a useful family of words. Think about which position allows several common endings or beginnings.
Explore a small word family
Compare changes at each of the four positions. If your last two letters stay fixed, changing the first letter may reveal several options. The displayed dictionary limits this edition’s possible routes.
Use a hint to learn the next link
The route search finds a path through the supported vocabulary. Its first suggested word is a legal step from your current word, not an instruction to restart from the original start.
A worked example
COLD → CORD → CARD → WARD → WARM is a valid route in the first puzzle. Each arrow changes exactly one letter. COLD → WARM is invalid because all four positions change, even though it reaches the desired target.
Questions about Word Ladder
How many letters can I change?
Exactly one per step. The other three positions must remain identical.
Is every start and goal connected?
Yes. Each of the twelve authored pairs includes a tested route through this edition’s dictionary. You may discover another legal route.
Are all four-letter English words accepted?
No. This compact practice uses the visible supported list. That limit makes the available route graph inspectable and keeps rejected steps clear.
Does a hint move for me?
No. It names one next word from a found route. You decide whether to enter it; the player does not automatically add it.
Local progress, keyboard play and privacy
This original player runs in your browser. Refreshing the same tab restores the puzzle and its bounded undo history; closing the tab ends that session. If tab storage is blocked, the live round remains playable and the player explains the limitation. Keyboard users can reach controls with Tab and activate buttons with Enter or Space. The player sends no guesses, word groups, moves or hint requests to a remote game service. Read the storage details →