Word Search
Find every hidden word in the grid.✋
About Word Search
Word Search is the coffee-break classic that hides a list of words inside a dense square of letters, and its staying power comes from how it splits your attention between hunting and scanning. Beside the grid sits the word list; your job is to drag across each word wherever it lurks — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, spelled forwards or, sneakily, backwards. The rare letters do the heavy lifting: spot a Q, Z or X and you have drastically narrowed where a word can hide. Most people get caught out by the diagonals and the reversed spellings, which are exactly the ones the eye skips, so a deliberate row-by-row sweep beats frantic darting around the board. Every game generates a brand-new grid and fresh word placement, so you are never re-solving a puzzle you have already cracked. It is free to play in the browser on desktop or by touch on mobile, and once you can clear a board reliably the game quietly becomes a race against your own best time.
How to play
- A list of hidden words sits beside a grid of letters.
- Drag across the letters of a word to select it — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
- Words can run forwards or backwards.
- Find every word on the list to complete the puzzle.
Strategy & tips
- Scan for the first letter of each target word, then check the eight directions around it.
- Look for uncommon letters (Q, Z, X) — they narrow down where a word can be.
- Sweep the grid row by row so you do not miss a word.
- Do not forget the diagonals and backwards words — they are the easiest to overlook.
- Cross off words as you find them to focus on what is left, and race your best time.
FAQ
Which directions can words go?
Any of the eight: horizontal, vertical, and both diagonals, running either forwards or backwards.
Is Word Search free?
Yes — it plays free in your browser with no download or sign-up, on desktop and mobile.
How do I select a word?
Drag from the first letter to the last letter of the word. It works with a mouse or by touch on mobile.
Are the boards different each time?
Yes. Every game generates a fresh grid and word placement, so no two puzzles are the same.