Break 5

About Break 5

Break 5 is built on the word ladder, the puzzle Lewis Carroll called doublets. Each numbered ladder gives you a five-letter word at the top and another at the bottom. You type the next word in full, changing exactly one letter, and the fifth letter submits it; a word that is not in the dictionary shakes so you can fix it. A day's example: STONE to STOKE to SMOKE to SMOTE to SMITE.

Every ladder has a par, the shortest route using only common words, so it can always be done with vocabulary you know. At the end the game also shows the shortest route with obscure words allowed. There is a par time based on the ladder's difficulty, and finishing within five minutes earns the Broke 5 badge. You can undo, take a hint at the cost of 30 seconds, or give up. Hard mode removes undo and hints and holds you to par within a strict five-minute clock.

A new ladder arrives at midnight UK time. Guests can play straight away; joining free with an email link puts your time on the leaderboard, keeps your streak and lets you race friends in a private league. There is also a practice mode, an archive and yesterday's ladder for anyone who missed it. It suits players who like Weaver-style ladders and want a clock on them.

How to play Break 5

1. Read the start word at the top and the target word at the bottom.
2. Type the next word, changing exactly one letter; the fifth letter submits it.
3. If the word is rejected, backspace and try another.
4. Keep going until you reach the target, ideally in par steps and inside the par time.
5. Share your result or check the day's leaderboard.

Tips

• Work from both ends: think about which words sit one letter away from the target.
• Vowel changes open up more words than consonant changes.
• Hints cost 30 seconds, so take one early if you are stuck rather than late.

Questions