One letter. One step closer.

Connect the starting word to the target. Change exactly one letter each turn, keeping every other letter in its place. Every step must be a word in our English dictionary.

That’s four moves from COLD to WARM. Your route may be different — that’s part of the puzzle.

Make your next move

Type a word and press Enter, or tap Add word. You can’t add, remove or rearrange letters, or repeat a word already in your ladder. Moves are final. A move that would leave no route to the target without repeating a word is not accepted.

A little nudge

Hint suggests one word on a shortest remaining route from where you are, avoiding words you’ve already used. It doesn’t play the move for you. Each new hint request counts in your result; tapping the same displayed hint again doesn’t add another. Hints never play a move for you.

Two puzzles, every day

Choose 4 Letters for a shorter session or 5 Letters for a little more room to think. Both reset at midnight UTC, worldwide. There’s no time limit. This browser remembers each mode separately.

Find your own route

Reach the target to see your moves, hint count and the shortest possible distance. Then you can reveal an optimal route or share a result that keeps every word secret.

Our dictionary accepts a reviewed selection of English words and inflections. It deliberately omits names, abbreviations and inappropriate vocabulary; not every word in every dictionary is accepted.