Word Ladder
GAME #233
Target
So spielt man Word Ladder
Jedes Rätsel hat ein Startwort und ein Zielwort. Deine Aufgabe ist es, von einem zum anderen zu gelangen.
Ändere bei jedem Schritt genau einen Buchstaben, um ein neues gültiges Wort zu bilden. Zum Beispiel: KALT → KALT → ... Schritt für Schritt näher ans Ziel.
Buchstaben, die an der richtigen Stelle mit dem Zielwort übereinstimmen, werden grün. So siehst du sofort, wie nah du dran bist.
Falsch abgebogen? Nutze die Rückgängig-Taste, um einen Schritt zurückzugehen, oder setze das Spiel komplett zurück und fange neu an.
Versuche, das Zielwort in so wenigen Schritten wie möglich zu erreichen. Jeden Tag gibt es eine neue Word Ladder!
Tips & Strategies for Word Ladder
Work backwards from the target word
Most players start from the first word and push forward, but thinking about the target word and what words could precede it is often more revealing. If you can identify one or two words that would naturally lead into the target, you have a destination to aim for rather than just a direction to walk in. Sometimes meeting in the middle is the fastest route.
Change vowels before consonants when stuck
Vowels are the most flexible part of most English words. When you can not see an obvious next step try swapping the vowel in your current word and see what valid words appear. A single vowel change often bridges two words that seem to have nothing in common and opens up a completely new branch of possible paths.
Watch the green letters and protect them
Any letter that turns green is already in the right position. Your next move should keep that letter in place if at all possible. Losing a green letter to chase a different path usually costs you more steps than you save. Build around your confirmed letters rather than abandoning them.
Common three and four letter words are your best stepping stones
Long words look impressive but they are harder to step through because there are fewer valid one-letter changes available from them. Short common words like HOLD, COLD, BOLD, TOLD, and GOLD are well connected in the dictionary and give you more options at each step. If you find yourself stuck on a long word try bridging through a shorter one first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a valid step in Word Ladder?
Each step must change exactly one letter of the current word — no more, no less — and the result must be a real word in the dictionary. You cannot add or remove letters, rearrange them, or reuse a word you have already visited. For example, COLD → CORD changes just the second letter and produces a valid word, so it is a legal step.
How do I know if I am going in the right direction?
Letters that match the target word in the correct position turn green as you build your chain. The more green letters you see, the closer you are. If you find yourself losing green letters, you may have taken a wrong turn. Use the undo button to step back and try a different path.
Is there a move limit?
There is no hard move limit — you can take as many steps as you need. The challenge is reaching the target word in as few moves as possible. Each puzzle shows the optimal number of steps, so you always have a target to beat.
Is a new Word Ladder available every day?
Yes! A fresh Word Ladder with a new start and target word is published every day. You can also play previous puzzles from the archive if you want more practice or missed a day.