Word Hunt — Find Words in a Letter Grid
Click adjacent letters to spell real words and score points. 90-second challenge.
How to play
- Press Start to begin the 90-second countdown.
- Click letter tiles to spell words — at least 3 letters.
- Click 'Submit Word' to score a found word; Click 'Clear' to reset your selection.
- 3-letter words = 1 point, 4-letter = 2 points, 5+ letters = 3 points.
- Each tile can only be used once per word.
Click letters in the grid to spell real words (3+ letters). Submit each word to score points. You have 90 seconds — longer words score more!
How it works
Word Hunt presents a grid of random letters arranged in rows and columns. Your goal is to click or tap adjacent letters — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — to trace out real English words before the 90-second timer runs out. Each letter cell can only be used once per word, so plan your path carefully.
Longer words earn more points: three-letter words score modestly while six-letter or longer words can dramatically boost your total. As soon as you complete a valid word the letters are highlighted and the score is added, then you can start a new trace immediately.
The best strategy is to scan the grid for common letter clusters like -ING, -TION, or -ED before the round starts. Anchoring on a high-value consonant and building outward often reveals surprising long words.
Word Hunt is a great brain warm-up and vocabulary exercise suitable for all ages. It requires no downloads and works on any modern browser or mobile device.
Worked examples
Finding a 5-letter word
- Scan the grid for familiar letter pairs, e.g. S and T sitting next to each other.
- Click S, then click the adjacent T, then trace to A, R, T — forming START.
- Release to submit; the word is validated and your score updates instantly.
- Immediately look for your next word without waiting.
START scores 5 points and the streak counter advances.
Maximizing points near the end
- With 10 seconds left, focus on short certain words rather than guessing long ones.
- Spot a simple 3-letter cluster like C-A-T.
- Click each letter in order and submit.
- Watch the time-bonus multiplier apply to your final tally.
Even a 3-letter word submitted in the last seconds contributes to the final score.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to reuse the same cell in one word — each cell is single-use per trace.
- Spending too long on one potential word; submitting shorter certain words quickly is usually more effective.
- Ignoring diagonal connections, which often reveal longer words hidden in the grid.
Key terms
- Adjacent
- Cells that share an edge or corner with the current cell. Diagonal connections count.
- Streak
- Consecutive valid words submitted without an invalid attempt; some variants award bonus points for streaks.
- Letter path
- The sequence of connected cells you trace to form a word; no cell may be reused within the same word.
Frequently asked questions
- How are points scored?
- 3-letter words = 1 pt, 4-letter = 2 pts, 5+ letters = 3 pts.
- Can I reuse letters?
- No — each letter tile can only be used once per word. Click to deselect a letter.