Word Ladder

Get from one word to another by changing one letter at a time.

Turn one word into another, one letter at a time. It looks simple until the only way forward is a word you would never think of.

How to play

1. You get a start word and a target word, both 4 letters long.
2. Type a word that changes exactly one letter of the last one. It has to be a real word.
3. Keep going until you reach the target, in as few moves as you can.
4. Stuck for good? Give up, which ends your game with 0.

Scoring

1000 points if you match par, the shortest route. Above par you get 1000 × par ÷ your moves, so 500 for a par 4 done in 8. Gave up or out of time: 0.

What it works

• Verbal intelligence You go through your vocabulary for words one letter apart.
• Logical reasoning You plan a route, sometimes moving sideways to get closer later.