How to Play Word Chains

Game Objective

Connect a series of words to form a chain, where each pair of neighboring words creates a familiar phrase or compound word. You see the first word in full and the first letter of every word after it. Fill in the missing letters to complete the chain.

Chain Example

In this example:

SUN is given. L is the first letter of the next word.

SUN + LIGHT = sunlight, so LIGHT is the answer. Then LIGHT + SPEED = light speed.

Game Rules

  • Daily puzzles give you 5 hearts; each wrong guess costs one
  • You get 3 hints per daily puzzle, and hints never cost a heart
  • Chains vary in length—daily puzzles typically have 5-6 words.
  • The first letter of each word is revealed as a hint
  • Type your guess one letter at a time
  • Each word connects to the next word in the chain

Completed Chain Example

Every word is solved, and each link shows the phrase it forms.

Tips

  • Look for common word pairings and phrases
  • Consider multiple meanings of words (e.g., 'RING' as jewelry or a sound)
  • Use the revealed first letters as strong hints
  • Think about how each word might connect to the next

Scoring

The Daily Puzzle has no point score: the goal is to finish the chain with hearts to spare, using as few hints as you can. In Timed Mode you score one point for every word pair you solve in three minutes.