About the game
Word Guess is a five-letter word puzzle played in daily-style rounds. You get six guesses. Each guess earns you color clues: a tile turns green when the letter is correct and in the right position, yellow when the letter is in the word but in the wrong spot, and grey when the letter isn't in the answer at all. The goal is simple — find the word with as few guesses as you can.
It's a game built on deduction rather than vocabulary. You rarely need to know rare words; you mostly need to ask good questions. Every guess is a small experiment that shrinks the set of possible answers, and that logic-workshop feeling is what makes it so easy to lose an hour to.
How to play
- Type a five-letter word and press Enter to submit it. It must be a real word.
- Read the colors: green = letter in the right place, yellow = right letter, wrong place, grey = not in the word.
- Use the clues to rule out letters and narrow down the answer.
- Find the word within six guesses. Fewer guesses means a better score.
Controls
| Type a letter | On-screen keyboard or your physical keyboard |
| Submit a word | Enter / Return |
| Delete a letter | Backspace (⌫ on the on-screen keyboard) |
| Touch screens | Tap the on-screen keyboard keys |
Five beginner tips players wish they knew
1. Start with a vowel-heavy word
Words like CRANE, SLATE, or TARES hit the most common letters at once. A good opener tells you about five different letters, which is worth far more than “guessing” a likely first letter.
2. Rare letters are information jackpots
Letters like Q, X, J, and Z aren't common — that's exactly why they're useful. If you try one and it comes back grey, you've ruled out a rare letter that would have wasted a later guess. See our full breakdown in the Word Guess strategy guide.
3. Yellows are placements, not just letters
A yellow letter isn't "on the board" — it's specifically not in that slot. When you re-use it, put it somewhere new.
4. Don't chase a single word
If guess three has only confirmed three letters, resist solving the whole word. Play a guess that checks the remaining unknown letters instead. It feels slower, but it wins more.
5. Grey letters are the real victory
Each grey tile removes a letter for the rest of the game. Track them mentally (or on paper) and lean on your confirmed letters from there.
Why you'll like it
Word Guess is the rare game that works with a coffee in one hand and a keyboard under the other. Rounds are short, there's no timer pressure, and the puzzle is always fair — every guess genuinely moves you closer. It's a great five-minute brain break that never asks you to download anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. The on-screen keyboard works with taps and swipes on any touch screen.
Is there a time limit?
No — take as long as you like on each guess.
Do I need to make an account?
No. Word Guess runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is installed and nothing is collected.