Word Search
Drag from the first letter to the last
What is Word Search?
Word Search is a free letter-grid puzzle where a list of themed words is hidden among random letters. Words run in straight lines - across, down and diagonally, and backwards as well on the harder setting - and you claim one by dragging from its first letter to its last. There are six themes and a fresh grid every round, with a clock running so you can race your own best time.
How to play Word Search
Controls: Drag from the first letter to the last
- 1Read the word list printed under the grid.
- 2Find a word hidden in the letters, running in any straight line.
- 3Drag from the first letter of the word to its last letter.
- 4A correct word is highlighted on the grid and crossed off the list.
- 5Find every word on the list to finish the round.
Word Search tips and strategy
- Hunt for unusual letters first. Words containing J, K, Q, X or Z stand out from the filler letters and are much faster to spot than common ones.
- Scan for the first two letters as a pair rather than for whole words. Your eye catches a digraph like 'ST' or 'CH' far more easily than an eight-letter string.
- Do a dedicated diagonal pass. Most people find the across and down words quickly and then stall, because they never deliberately look diagonally.
- On Hard, remember words can run backwards. If you are stuck, read a promising line in reverse.
Word Search FAQ
What is the best way to solve a word search?
Scan for rare letters rather than for whole words. Pick a word from the list containing an unusual letter such as K, X or Z, find that letter in the grid, and check the lines running out from it. Doing a separate diagonal sweep also helps, because that is where most unfound words hide.
Do the words go backwards?
On the Classic setting words only run forwards, down, or on a downward diagonal. On Hard they can run in all eight directions, including right to left and bottom to top.
How do I select a word?
Press on the first letter, drag in a straight line to the last letter, and release. The game checks the line against the word list and highlights it if it matches.
Are word searches good for your brain?
They are a genuine exercise in visual scanning and pattern recognition, and they build the habit of searching systematically rather than randomly. Like most puzzles, you improve at the task itself more than at anything broader.
