Chainle

Chainle is a daily word ladder: a start word at the top, an end word at the bottom, and it's up to you to link the two by changing, adding, or removing exactly one letter at each step. The ability to lengthen or shorten the word changes a lot compared with a classic ladder, and the board shows it literally, the input line featuring a dotted cell at the end for the extra letter. Each day displays a par, a reference number of steps, and matching it earns a star.

1. Spot the two bounds: the start word is shown at the top of the board, the end word at the bottom, and the input line sits between them.
2. Type a word that differs from the previous one by exactly one letter changed, added, or removed, then submit.
3. The word must be a real English word and must not have already been used in the chain.
4. Continue until the end word, aiming for the par shown with the puzzle number to earn the day's star.

Allowing the addition and removal of letters turns a familiar mechanic into a true route problem: length becomes a variable, and the shortest path sometimes goes through a word shorter than both bounds. The par gives a clear goal, the star gives a reason not to settle for the first path found, and the hint system funded by undos curiously rewards the player who accepts going back on their steps.

The start word and the end word are permanently highlighted, at the top and bottom of the board, which keeps the target in sight at every step. Letters that land in the position they occupy in the end word turn green: it's an indicator of convergence, it shows how close you are, not whether your word is legal. A word typed without respecting the one-letter difference stays in the input line without ever joining the chain. Below the board, only three buttons: undo, give up, and a hint counter.

Daily Ladder

One chain per day at midnight, the same for everyone, with its par. The game announces increasing difficulty over the course of the week.

Sunday Double Chain

On Sunday, the game runs two ladders back-to-back, linked by a common middle word.

Archive and Random Puzzle

Two buttons under the board give access to past ladders and to a random puzzle.

• Green is not a validation. It only signals that a letter already occupies its final position, which helps gauge the trajectory but says nothing about the legality of the word.
• Don't lock yourself into the length of the start word. Allowed moves include adding and removing, and the dotted cell at the end of the line is there precisely for lengthening.
• Hints are not bought; they are earned by undoing: two undone words grant a hint that reveals which letter to change next. An assumed dead end therefore funds the help.
• The par is a target, not a limit. Nothing prevents finishing in more steps, but the day's star is lost.