About Doublets
Turn one English word into another, changing one letter at each step. Build a legal ladder, then look for a shorter route through familiar words and unexpected connections.
Play 120 numbered boards with 3-, 4- and 5-letter words, or choose a date from the daily archive. Every legal route to the goal wins; the shortest distance gives you something to aim for.
How to play
- Goal
- Turn the first word into the goal, changing one letter each step.
- How it ends
- Reach the goal with a legal ladder. There is no move limit.
- Record
- First unassisted time; fewest changes can improve on replay.
- Choose a board or daily date. Change exactly one letter to make another word of the same length. Every intermediate word must appear in the game’s English word list.
- Type the next word and press Enter, or tap a letter, choose its replacement and press Add. Reach the goal to finish. Longer legal routes count too.
- Undo removes the last step. A word already in your current ladder is refused; undo to revisit it. Restart clears the ladder and keeps the original clock.
- Your first unassisted solve keeps its time. Unassisted replays can improve fewest changes. Hint and Word list mark the attempt assisted. Menus keep the clock running.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Tap or click a letter | Choose its replacement, then Add |
| Type a word, Enter | Add the next word |
| Backspace | Edit the typed word |
| Z / Undo | Remove the last accepted step |
| Shift+R / Restart | Confirm restarting this ladder |
| Escape | Close the current dialog |
Tips
- Work from either end Think of words near the goal as well as words near your current step. A useful connection may begin by changing a letter away from the goal.
- Shorten after finishing Any legal ladder wins. Compare your changes with Shortest, then replay to find a better route.
Good to know
Progress stays in this browser. Reload preserves your ladder but makes time practice; clean changes can still improve. Hint and Word list disable records for that attempt. Records admit at most 24 hours and 2046 changes; longer ladders still finish locally. The list includes inflections and regional spellings; a missing word is outside this game’s list. Vocabulary: ESDB/SCOWL and 12dicts; complete notices ship with the game.
Watch how to play
Questions
Why does it refuse an English word?
The game uses one fixed English word list, including some inflections and regional spellings. It does not claim to contain every valid English word. Open Word list to check a spelling; using it during an attempt marks that attempt assisted.
Must I use the shortest route?
No. Any legal ladder reaching the goal finishes the board. Replays can improve your fewest changes while keeping the original first-solve time.
