How to play Letterspan
Letterspan is a daily word puzzle. Every word you spell becomes a bridge across the lake, and your goal is to reach the far shore using as few letters as you can.
The basics
- You start on a letter on the near shore. Spell a word that begins with that letter. It's built as a straight bridge, one tile per letter, in the direction you choose.
- Land exactly on a post. If your word fills the gap and ends on the letter of the next isle or the far shore, you cross onto it.
- Or build a pier. Stop short on open water and your next word starts from the last letter you placed, turning left or right.
- Reach the far shore. You can only use the letters in your bank, so plan which words you spend them on.
Made a mistake while spelling? Tap a letter on the board to take it back; that's free until you press Build. Once a bridge is built you can still undo it, but taking a bridge down costs a star, so it pays to get across first time.
Stars and par
Every crossing starts with 5 stars. You lose one for each of these:
- skipping an isle,
- finishing over par,
- taking down a bridge you built, with Undo or Restart,
- each kind of hint you use: a definition, the letters, a revealed word, or the dead-end check.
Each of these costs one star however often it happens, and finishing always earns at least one. Par is the fewest letters needed to reach the far shore while visiting every isle.
Twists along the way
Some days the lake has an extra piece to work with. When it does, the game shows the rule before you start.
- Stepping stones carved with a letter. A word crossing a stone must use that letter there, and it's free.
- A supply crate. Your bank is short; bridge over the crate to collect the letters you need.
- A lever. Pull it to flip every switch isle to its other letter.
- A raft that drifts one space after every bridge. Land on it when it lines up.
- A locked gate on the far shore. Fetch the key from its isle first.
- A bigger lake with more to cross.
Hints
Stuck? The hint button marks where the next bridge goes and gives its definition. Ask again for the letters, then for the whole word. If an earlier word has made the puzzle impossible, the hint tells you which one so you can undo it.
Tips
- Look at the isle letters first. The best words usually end on them.
- Count the gap before you spell: a word must be exactly long enough to reach the post.
- Short piers are cheap. Sometimes a three-letter detour saves letters later.
- Save rare letters for where you really need them.
Questions
When is there a new puzzle?
Every day at midnight in your own time zone. Everyone plays the same puzzle on the same date, so you can compare results with friends.
Is Letterspan free?
Yes. There's nothing to install and no account to create.
How are stars counted?
Every crossing starts with 5 stars. You lose one for skipping an isle, one for finishing over par, one for taking down a bridge you built (with Undo or Restart), and one for each kind of hint you use: a definition, the letters, a revealed word, or the dead-end check. Each of these costs one star however often it happens, and finishing always earns at least one.
What is par?
Par is the fewest letters anyone needs to reach the far shore while visiting every isle. Matching it is a great result; beating it is possible but rare.
How does my streak work?
Your streak counts the days in a row you've finished the puzzle on its own day. Missing a day resets it. You can still play past puzzles for stars, but they don't count toward your streak.
Can I play past puzzles?
Yes. Open your stats from the chart button and pick any earlier day.
Where is my progress saved?
In your browser on this device. Clearing your browser data or switching devices starts you fresh.
Which words are allowed?
Common English words of three to eight letters, including plurals and everyday forms like -ed, -ing and -ly. Names of people and places aren't accepted.
Can I play in Spanish?
Yes. Tap ES at the top of the game, or go to /es. The Spanish puzzle is a different puzzle with Spanish words, with its own stars and its own streak.
Can I play with a keyboard or a screen reader?
Yes. Arrow keys choose a direction, letter keys type, Backspace removes a letter and Enter builds. The board also describes itself in words for screen readers: where you stand, what lies in each direction, and which isles are left.
Ready? Play today's puzzle.