Morphl

Morphl is a free daily word-ladder puzzle played on the web. You are given a start word and a target word of the same length and must change one letter at a time so every intermediate entry is a real, dictionary-valid word. Each daily puzzle also carries a par, a target number of steps to beat.

1. Start with the given start word and inspect the target word of the same length.
2. On each turn change exactly one letter to form a new word.
3. Every intermediate entry must be a real, dictionary-valid word (no nonsense words).
4. Continue changing one letter per turn until you reach the target word.
5. Compare your number of steps to the puzzle's par to see your score (birdie/eagle/par/bogey).

Morphl offers a focused daily puzzle that rewards efficient wordplay: the one-letter-at-a-time ladder format challenges you to find shortest or smart routes, and the par-based scoring gives immediate, golf-like feedback. A suite of other named modes is available on the site, providing variety while keeping the same core mechanic.

Each puzzle has a par (a target step count). Finishing in fewer moves than par yields a birdie; two or more under is an eagle; matching par is par; exceeding par is a bogey. Par is set a little above the true shortest chain, giving room to play more efficiently. Completing the daily puzzle also grows your streak by one.

Daily puzzle

The core format: a daily one-letter-at-a-time word ladder with an associated par and streak tracking.

Other modes (named)

The site lists additional modes built on the same one-letter rule: Bridge, Tour, Open, Web, Hot & Cold, Ladderdle, Links, Cladder, and two real-time arcade modes, Wordfall and Versus.

• Aim to reach the target in fewer steps than the par to score a birdie or better.
• Every intermediate step must be a real word, check each change before committing it.