Daily Challenge
One start word for everyone, every day. Last as long as you can against Daily Bot, keep your streak alive, and share a spoiler-free result grid.
The word ladder game
Change one letter. Rule the ladder.
WordLord is a fast, turn-based word duel. Swap a single letter to make a new word, beat the clock, and leave your rivals with nowhere to go. Easy to learn, surprisingly hard to put down.
- Free to play
- No sign-up needed
- Plays offline
How it works
Thirty seconds to learn. A lifetime to master.
Every turn the word changes by exactly one letter. Letters stay in place, no word can be played twice, and the clock never stops.
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1Change one letter
Tap a tile, pick a new letter, and make a real word. CAKE becomes BAKE, BAKE becomes BALE.
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2Beat the clock
Relaxed gives you 30 seconds and 3 lives. Normal is 15 seconds. Blitz is 7. Run out of time and you lose a life.
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3Last one standing
Corner your opponents with words that have few escapes. The last player with lives left takes the ladder.
10points per word
+15for a rare word
+15streak bonus, max
+50for the winner
Try it now
Play a round right here.
You against Robo Owl, 30 seconds a turn, 3 lives. Click a tile, then type or pick a letter. Find 6 words to win the demo.
- Letters stay in their places. Only one changes.
- Every word must be new. No repeats.
- Rare words score more. Streaks score more still.
Ways to play
Solo, side by side, or across the world.
Vs Computer
Take on up to three computer players at Easy, Medium or Hard. Hard plays the words that leave you the fewest replies.
Pass & Play
Two to six players on one phone. The board hides between turns, so nobody gets a head start.
Online
Quick match with whoever's around, or make a private room and share a 4-letter code. Up to six players, with quick reactions mid-game.
Friend challenges
Finish a game, get a code, and dare a friend to beat your chain from the same start word.
Built for word lovers
More depth than it looks.
Power-ups with a plan
Earn coins as you play and spend them on tactics, never on luck.
- 🧊 Freeze +10 seconds
- 👀 Peek how many words exist
- 🔒 Lock a letter for the next player
A Word Book that grows
Every word you play is saved with a plain-English definition, grouped into themes to complete. Miss a turn and WordLord shows what you could have played.
Three, four or five letters
Start with four-letter words, then unlock three- and five-letter ladders as you level up. Five letters is a different game entirely.
Levels, looks and stats
Gain XP, unlock avatars and ladder styles, and track wins, longest ladders, rare words and best scores.
Comfortable to play
A dyslexia-friendly font, adjustable text size, fewer animations on request, dark mode, and words read aloud if you like.
Private by design
No email, no real name, no chat. You play as a generated name like Clever Lion 53. Sign in with Google or Apple only if you want your progress on every device.
Questions
Good to know
Is WordLord free?
Yes. Every mode, every word length and every power-up can be earned by playing. WordLord is paid for by ads, and an optional one-time Supporter pack turns them off and adds a few extra looks. It gives no gameplay advantage.
Are there ads?
Yes, between games and along the bottom of menu screens, never while you're playing. Ads come from Google AdMob. Where the law requires it, you're asked before any ads are personalised, and you can change your choice in Settings. Players under 13 only see non-personalised, family-friendly ads. The one-time Supporter pack removes ads for good.
Can I play without internet?
Yes. Vs Computer, Pass & Play and the Daily Challenge all work offline. You only need a connection for online matches, friends and the daily leaderboard.
Which words count?
WordLord checks every move against the ENABLE word list, a large public-domain dictionary used by many word games, with offensive words removed. Common words are drawn from SCOWL, and definitions come from Princeton WordNet.
How do I play with friends?
Sit together and use Pass & Play, make a private online room and share its code, or send a friend challenge so they can try to beat your chain from the same start word.
What do you know about me?
Very little: a random player ID, your generated name and avatar, and your game progress. Sign-in is optional and we never see your email address or name. Our ad partner, Google, receives device and ad data to show ads. You can delete your account and progress from Settings at any time. Read the privacy policy.
Which devices does it run on?
Android phones and tablets via Google Play. iPhone and iPad are coming soon.
Your ladder is waiting.
Download WordLord free and climb the daily ladder with everyone else.