Word Search
Find five hidden words in a compact letter grid using two endpoint taps.
Enable JavaScript to play. Rules and practice advice are available below.
No account or download needed. Records, where provided, stay in this browser; clearing site data removes them. Games remain playable without storage. Local friend modes share one screen.
How to play Word Search
- The word list shows five targets. Words run in a straight line horizontally, vertically or diagonally, and may be written backwards.
- Tap the first and last letters of a target word. The endpoint order can be reversed. A matching word is highlighted and crossed off the list.
- Find all five to finish. Words may cross at shared letters. An unsuccessful endpoint pair clears the selection without removing found words. New game creates another layout.
Word Search practice guide
Use the next letter to reduce the search
Instead of reading the whole board repeatedly, choose one target and locate its first letter. Inspect the eight neighbouring directions for its second letter. Only continue along a direction that matches, and keep that direction fixed until the final letter. The same grid can contain many distractions, but a straight-line check quickly rules them out.
A diagonal target shares a letter
You find the first two letters of a target on a downward diagonal. A highlighted letter from an already found word lies farther along that line. It can belong to both words, so continue checking rather than assuming the path is unavailable. Once the whole target matches, tap its two endpoints.
A focused practice session
- Search for the longest listed target first.
- At a possible start, check the second letter in every direction.
- Before tapping endpoints, read the complete line forwards or backwards.
What to keep in mind
Highlights can overlap because words may share letters. The interface uses two taps instead of a drag, which also works with focused grid buttons. The game has no countdown.