Word ladder: change one letter at a time
Start with one four-letter word and reach another by changing a single letter at a time. Every step must be a real word. Can you find the shortest ladder?
How to play the word ladder
Read the start and the target word. Each step changes exactly one letter, in the same position, and the result must be a real word.
Type the next word and press “Add”. Words that are not in the dictionary, repeated words or words that change more than one letter are rejected.
Stuck? Use “Hint” to add a correct step, “Undo” to take one back, or “Show solution” to see the shortest ladder. Try to match the minimum number of steps.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some real words get rejected?
The game checks steps against its own list of common four-letter words. A correct word that is missing from that list will not be accepted, so try a more common alternative.
Is there always a solution?
Yes. Each puzzle is built from the word list by searching for a route between the two words, with a minimum of three to five steps. The solution is shown if you give up.
Is my progress saved?
The number of ladders you finished is saved only in this browser. Nothing is sent to any server.