The Word GamePlay now →How to play
Guess your opponent’s secret word before they guess yours.
Five simple rules
- Choose a real five-letter secret word. Repeated letters are allowed.
- Take turns guessing your opponent’s word.
- The number beside each guess shows how many letters match. It does not show their positions.
- A zero means none of those letters are in the secret word.
- Guess the exact word to win. The same letters in a different order do not win.
Secret words and guesses must be in the game’s English dictionary. Invalid words do not use a turn. You cannot repeat a guess.
Your score
Your score is the number of guesses it takes to solve the word. Fewer guesses mean a better score. Time does not count. A loss or a win by forfeit has no solved score.
Daily streak awards
Complete the daily challenge on consecutive days to build a streak. Wins and losses both count. You earn a badge and a one-time karma bonus at 3, 7, 14, and 30 days. The bonuses are 3, 7, 14, and 30 karma points. Sign in to save these awards to your profile. Missing a day resets your current streak, but you keep earned awards. A new day starts at midnight UTC.
How matching letters count
Two Ps, one A, and one E match. A letter counts only as many times as it appears in both words.
EARTH against HEART scores 5All five letters match, but the order is wrong. If HEART is the secret word, only HEART wins.
Keyboard and notes
- Type guess: Tap letters or use your device’s keyboard, then press Enter. Use Backspace or Clear to edit.
- Plan ahead online: Type your next guess while your opponent plays. You can submit the guess when it is your turn.
- Mark letters: Choose Mark letters, then tap a key to highlight it. Holding a key works only in Mark letters mode.
- Cross out: Tap a letter in a past guess. It is crossed out everywhere on your board. Tap again to undo your mark.
- Automatic green letters: If BAKER scores 3 and zero clues rule out B and A, K, E, and R turn green everywhere. Repeated letters count too.
- Zero clues: Every letter in a guess with zero matches stays crossed out. You can still use these letters in another guess.
- Try letter orders: Highlighted letters fill the five slots. Shuffle them or tap two slots to swap. Select a letter, then Repeat letter to add a copy.
Your manual highlights and chosen letter positions are notes. The game also turns letters green when earlier clues prove they match.
Ways to play
- Daily challenge: Both secret words are assigned for you. Everyone plays the same computer game once a day. A new challenge starts at midnight UTC.
- Computer: Level 1 is a forgiving opponent that combines clues gradually. Level 2 uses every clue but does not plan the best move. Level 3 compares guesses to find the most useful clues. None of these levels can see your secret word.
- Online: Choose Challenge a Friend to create a private game and share its link or eight-character code. Invite links open the game directly.
- Pass & Play: Share one device. Pass it when prompted, and keep your secret word private.
Online game links last 24 hours. Both players choose their words before guessing starts. Secrets are shown when the game ends.
Profiles, karma, and chat
Your profile saves online wins, losses, and games played. You earn 1 karma point for finishing an online game and 2 more when your opponent sends kudos.
Leaving after both words are locked counts as a loss and earns no completion karma. Canceling before play starts does not affect either record. Your computer practice results are saved separately in this browser.
Room chat is for you and your opponent. Reports include the last 20 messages for review.