How to play Link Ladder

Link Ladder is a free daily word-chain puzzle in UK English. Every day at midnight (UK time) there’s a new chain of ten words. Each word joins the next to make a compound word or a familiar phrase. Find all ten to complete the ladder.

An example chain

SNOW + BALL makes snowball, BALL + ROOM makes ballroom, ROOM + SERVICE makes room service, and SERVICE + DESK makes service desk. Each word links to the one before it and the one after it.

The rules

• You start with the first word. For the other nine you see the first letter and how many letters each word has.
• Type the whole word and press Enter. Tap any box to choose where a letter goes, handy for trying out a letter you’ve found.
• You have three chances at each word. Miss three times and the word is revealed, so you can carry on up the ladder.
• After a wrong guess the letters are coloured: green means the right letter in the right place, orange means the letter is in the word but in a different place, and grey means it isn’t in the word.
• Four lifelines a day: reveal the next letter once, reveal a random letter once, and get a clue for up to two different words. Using them doesn’t cost you stars.

Stars

Wrong guesses	Stars
None	★★★★★
1	★★★★
2 to 5	★★★
6 to 10	★★
11 or more	★

Tips

• Work in both directions. If you’re stuck on a word, think about what could follow it as well as what comes before it.
• Say the pair out loud. Many links are everyday phrases rather than single words, such as room service or bus stop.
• Use the word length. A four-letter word starting with B narrows things down quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Is Link Ladder free?

Yes. There’s nothing to pay and nothing to download. It works in any web browser on your phone, tablet or computer.

When does the new puzzle appear?

At midnight UK time, every day. Everyone gets the same chain, so you can compare results with friends.

Do I need an account?

No. Your progress and streak are saved on your device. You can sign in with Google or an email link if you’d like your stars and statistics on every device and a place on the all-time leaderboard.

Why UK English?

The links use British words and phrases, like post box and bus stop, rather than American ones.

Can I play earlier puzzles?

No. Like the best daily puzzles, there’s one chain a day, and then you wait for tomorrow’s.

How do I share my result?

When you finish, tap Share result or Post on Facebook. Your coloured squares and stars are shared without giving away any of the words.

Play today’s puzzle