Play word search online for free with a brand-new puzzle every time. Each grid has a theme, such as animals, fruit, colors, food, sports, nature, school or things at home, and the words to find are listed beside it. Drag across the letters or tap the first and last letter to circle a word. It is a calm, screen-friendly puzzle for children learning to read and for adults who want a few relaxing minutes, and it works on a computer, tablet or phone.
How to play
- Each puzzle has a theme, and its words are listed beside the grid.
- Drag across the letters, or tap the first and then the last letter, to mark a word.
- Words run across and down on Easy, also diagonally on Medium, and in all eight directions (even backwards) on Hard.
- Found words get a colored highlight and are crossed off the list.
- Find every word to finish, and try to beat your best time.
Controls
- Press on the first letter of a word and drag to its last letter. The selection snaps to straight lines across, down or diagonally.
- Prefer tapping? Tap the first letter, then tap the last letter of the word.
- A correct word gets a colored highlight and is crossed off the list. If the letters do not form a listed word, nothing happens, so you can try again.
- Use New game for a fresh puzzle with a new theme, or change the difficulty to get a different grid size.
Tips and strategy
- Scan for unusual letters first. A Z, K or J stands out in a grid and often belongs to a word on the list.
- Pick one word and look for its first letter, then check the eight neighboring cells for its second letter.
- On Hard, remember that words can run backwards. Searching for the last letter works just as well as the first.
- Long words are easier to spot than short ones, so start with them. The short words become easier once the grid is partly highlighted.
- Move your eyes row by row instead of jumping around. A steady scan misses fewer words.
Game modes and difficulty
Easy uses an 8×8 grid with 6 words that run only across or down. Medium has a 10×10 grid with 8 words and adds diagonals. Hard uses a 12×12 grid with 10 words that can run in all eight directions, including backwards. Your best time is saved separately for each level.
History and background
Word search puzzles became popular in newspapers and puzzle magazines in the second half of the 20th century, and puzzle books full of them soon followed. The idea is simple: words are hidden in a grid of random letters and the solver has to find and mark them.
Teachers often use word searches to practice spelling and new vocabulary, because finding a word means paying attention to every letter in the right order. For adults, the gentle searching is a popular way to unwind.
Frequently asked questions
Is this word search free?
Yes. Every puzzle is free to play in your browser with no download, no sign-up and no limit on the number of games.
Are the puzzles always different?
Yes. A new grid is generated for every game, with the words picked at random from a theme, so you will rarely see the same puzzle twice.
Can I play in another language?
Yes. The words come from the language of the site, so switching the site language gives you puzzles in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Hindi or Hebrew.
Is it suitable for kids?
Yes. The words are everyday, child-friendly vocabulary, and the Easy level keeps words running only across and down.