Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules?
1. Start from the given word and aim for the target word.
2. Change exactly one letter per step to form a new valid English word.
3. You cannot change the length of the word.
4. Proper nouns (names, places) are generally not allowed.
How do I win?
Reach the target word! You get a better score if you use fewer steps and take less time. The "Global Best" shows the shortest possible path found by players.
Which dictionary do you use?
We use a curated English word list suitable for puzzles. It excludes most obscure words, offensive terms, and proper nouns to keep the game fair and fun.
What do the difficulty levels mean?
Easy: Common words, short path (3-4 steps).
Normal: Standard vocabulary, medium path (4-6 steps).
Hard: May include less common words or require longer paths (6+ steps).
How is my Streak calculated?
Your streak increases by 1 for every consecutive day you solve the daily puzzle. If you miss a day, it resets to 0. Your streak is saved locally on your device.
Can I share my result?
Yes! After winning, click the "Share" button to generate a cool image card or copy an emoji grid to paste on social media.
I'm stuck! Any tips?
• Try changing vowels first (A, E, I, O, U) to see new possibilities.
• Look for common prefixes or suffixes.
• Use the "Hint" feature if you really need help (it may affect your score).
Is the game free?
Yes! WordClimbr is completely free to play. The daily puzzle, solver, and generator are all available without any payment or registration.
Do I need to create an account?
No account is required. Your progress (streak, completed puzzles) is saved locally on your device using browser storage.
Can I play on my phone?
Absolutely! WordClimbr is fully optimized for mobile devices. Play on your phone, tablet, or computer - it works on all modern browsers.
What if I miss a day?
Don't worry! You can still play today's puzzle. Your streak will reset, but you can always come back and access past puzzles through our Archive.
Can I play old puzzles?
Yes! Visit our Puzzle Archive to browse and play all previous daily puzzles. You can filter by difficulty, word length, and date.
What is the Solver tool?
The Solver finds the shortest path between any two words. Use it to check solutions, learn strategies, or just explore word connections.
How does the Generator work?
The Generator lets you create custom Word Ladder puzzles. Choose your start and end words, and share the puzzle link with friends or students.
Can I use WordClimbr for teaching?
Yes! Many teachers use WordClimbr in classrooms. Check out our teaching guide for lesson plans and classroom activities.
Is WordClimbr good for ESL learners?
Definitely! Word Ladder is excellent for English language learners. It helps build vocabulary, spelling, and pattern recognition. Read our ESL guide for tips.
What if a word isn't recognized?
Our dictionary is comprehensive but curated for puzzle-appropriate words. If you believe a common word is missing, please contact us and we'll review it.
How are daily puzzles created?
Each puzzle is carefully designed by our team to ensure it's solvable, has an appropriate difficulty level, and uses common vocabulary. We test each puzzle before publishing.
Can I see the optimal solution?
After completing a puzzle, you can view the shortest possible solution. We also publish daily solution pages showing the optimal path and strategy tips.
Does WordClimbr work offline?
The core game works without constant internet access once loaded. However, you'll need an internet connection to load new puzzles, use hints, or access archived puzzles.
How can I contact WordClimbr?
We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Contact page or email us at support@wordclimbr.com with feedback, questions, or suggestions.
Is my data private?
Yes. We respect your privacy. Game progress is stored locally on your device. Read our Privacy Policy for complete details.