🪜 Word Ladder
Change one letter at a time to climb from one word to another.
How to play
- Type a word that changes exactly one letter from your current word.
- Press Submit or Enter to add it to your ladder.
- Keep climbing until you reach the end word.
- Par is the fewest steps possible. Try to match it.
- Hint fills in the next correct step if you're stuck.
A free classic word ladder game
Word Ladder gives you a start word and an end word, and your job is to turn one into the other by changing exactly one letter at a time. Every single step along the way has to be a real word too, not just any jumble of letters. Type your next word into the box and press Submit or Enter, and it gets added as the next rung of your ladder as long as it changes just one letter from the word you're currently on.
Each puzzle shows a par, the fewest number of steps it's mathematically possible to solve that ladder in. You're free to take more steps than par and still reach the end word, but matching or beating par is the real challenge for anyone who's solved a puzzle before. Stuck on what comes next? The Hint button fills in the correct next word for you, still counted as a real step on your ladder rather than a free pass.
Once you reach the end word, your total solved count goes up, saved locally in your own browser, and New Ladder brings up a different puzzle to try. It's free, works with a mouse, touchscreen, or keyboard, and needs no download or account. See the Parents & Safety page for the full privacy details, or try the classic Hangman game, or browse the rest of the Word Games hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Word Ladder?
Type a word that changes exactly one letter from the word you're currently on, then press Submit. Keep climbing one letter change at a time until you reach the end word.
What counts as a valid step?
It has to be the same length as the start word, change exactly one letter from your current word, be a real word on this puzzle's ladder, and not repeat a word you've already used.
What does par mean?
Par is the fewest number of steps it's possible to solve that ladder in. You can take more steps than par and still finish, but matching or beating it is the real challenge.
Is there a hint?
Yes. Hint fills in the next correct word for you, still counted as a real step, so you can keep the ladder moving if you get stuck.