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.