Word Ladder

Play Word Ladder free online. Change one letter at a time to climb from one word to another.

A classic word puzzle: turn one word into another by changing a single letter at each step, and every step must be a real word. Try to match the shortest possible ladder.

  • Category: Word
  • Difficulty: medium
  • Players: 1 player
  • Typical game: about 5 minutes
  • Works on: desktop, phones and tablets

How to play Word Ladder

Objective: Reach the target word in as few steps as possible.

  1. Read the start and target words.
  2. Type a word that differs from the last word by exactly one letter.
  3. Letters stay in the same positions — you change one, you don’t rearrange.
  4. Keep going until you type the target word.
  5. Undo removes your last step; Hint suggests the next word on a shortest route.

Scoring

500 points × (shortest ladder ÷ your steps), minus 60 per hint.

Difficulty levels

Easy: 3-letter words, 3–4 steps. Normal: 4-letter words, 4–5 steps. Hard: 4-letter words, 5–7 steps.

Tips

  • Change letters that already match the target last.
  • Vowel swaps (CAT → COT) open many routes.

Controls

Keyboard

  • Type the next word and press Enter

Mouse

  • Click Hint or Undo

Touch

  • Type with your phone keyboard

Word Ladder achievements

  • First Rung – Complete a word ladder.
  • Shortest Route – Complete a ladder in the fewest possible steps.
  • Tall Ladder – Complete a ladder on Hard.

Frequently asked questions

Is Word Ladder free to play?

Yes. Word Ladder is completely free on GamesPlayLand, with no download, no sign-up and no purchases.

How do you play Word Ladder?

Reach the target word in as few steps as possible. Read the start and target words. Type a word that differs from the last word by exactly one letter.

Can I play Word Ladder on my phone?

Yes. Word Ladder works in mobile browsers on phones and tablets. Type with your phone keyboard.

Does Word Ladder save my high score?

Yes. Your personal best, statistics and achievements for Word Ladder are saved in your browser automatically.

More games like Word Ladder

  • Anagram – Rearrange every letter of a word to make a brand-new word.
  • Categories – One letter, six categories: name an animal, a country, a job… fast!
  • Crossword – Fresh mini crosswords every game, with friendly clues.
  • Finish the Word – How many words can you make from a starting prefix in 45 seconds?
  • Five Letter Word – Guess the hidden five-letter word. Colours show which letters are right.
  • Guess the Phrase – Reveal a hidden phrase one letter at a time, then solve it for a bonus.