How to play Stringle
Turn the starting word into the target word by changing exactly one letter per move. Every word must contain four letters and belong to Stringle’s accepted dictionary. You may return to an earlier word, but cannot submit the current word again without changing a letter.
A complete example
To turn COLD into WARM, one shortest route is:
- COLD → CORD: change L to R.
- CORD → CARD: change O to A.
- CARD → WARD: change C to W.
- WARD → WARM: change D to M.
That is four moves. The starting word is not counted as a move. Each step is a word, and each changes just one letter.
Typing your next word
Type the complete next word using your keyboard or the on-screen keys, then press Enter. Backspace removes a letter. Typing adds a letter at the end; Backspace removes the last letter. An invalid move leaves your ladder unchanged and displays an explanation.
What marked tiles mean
A marked tile means its letter matches the target in that exact position. It does not mark the letter you just changed. Letters in other positions stay neutral. You can change a marked letter later if the route needs it; marked tiles are feedback, not locked positions.
Hints and backtracking
Hint asks before revealing the next word on a shortest remaining path, which may revisit earlier words. Each reveal counts as one hint. Neither mode has Undo. In Endless, Reset clears the current ladder and hints so you can try the same puzzle again; Next starts a different puzzle. Daily has no Reset. In either mode, you can backtrack by entering an earlier word as a new move.
Daily and Endless
Daily changes at midnight in your timezone. Switch to Endless for randomized puzzles. Each mode keeps its own ladder. Completing a puzzle records your moves and hints; the result also shows the optimal move count. Replaying the same completed puzzle does not add another completion to your statistics.
After a Daily puzzle
The results graph compares your first submitted result with other submitted Daily results. A percentage appears when another result is available. Tied scores are not counted as beaten. Assistance, network limits and voluntary participation affect the sample; it is not a verified player ranking. A bot check may be needed before your result can be counted. Your local completion is saved even if the comparison is unavailable.
Useful strategies
Look for common word families, but do not assume that every move must create another marked tile. A useful route may temporarily move away from the target. If you get stuck, try a different vowel or ending, or return to an earlier word. Several routes can solve the same puzzle.
Open the help icon anytime to revisit the short guide. For more tips and worked examples, read the Strategy guide. For a problem with input, a word or accessibility, contact the operator.