Chainle
Rate itLink the day's start word to its end word, changing, adding or removing one letter a step.
on daily.zalize.com
Chainle is a free daily word ladder from Zalize. You turn the start word into the end word one step at a time, and each step may change, add or remove a single letter as long as the result is a real word. Reach the end in par or fewer steps to earn a star; on Sundays the chain runs through a middle word.
About Chainle
Chainle is one of the daily puzzles on Zalize's games portal. Each puzzle is numbered and dated: puzzle #81 on 18 October 2026 asked players to get from MOVES to DOCKS and on to LICK, with a par of 7.
The rule is broader than in a classic word ladder. A step can swap one letter for another, add a letter or take one away, so the words can grow and shrink on the way. Every word in the chain has to be a real English word, and you type each one on the on-screen or physical keyboard. Letters that already sit where the end word needs them turn green, so you can see how close each rung brings you.
The puzzles get harder through the week. Sunday brings a double chain: two ladders back to back that share a middle word, which you have to pass through.
Each puzzle has a par, the number of steps a good solution takes. Match or beat it for a star. Undo lets you step back out of dead ends, and every two undone words earn a hint token you can spend later; if you are stuck for good, Give up shows the way. A streak strip counts the days of the week you have played, past puzzles wait in an archive, and a random puzzle mode gives extra practice that does not touch your streak. The menus can be switched to several languages, but the words are always English.
It suits players who like Weaver but want more freedom in each step, and anyone who already plays the other Zalize dailies.
How to play Chainle
- Open Chainle and read the day's start word at the top and end word at the bottom (on Sundays, also the middle word you must pass through).
- Type a real word that differs from the last one by one changed, added or removed letter, then press Enter.
- Watch which letters turn green: they already match the end word.
- Keep adding words until your chain reaches the end word.
- Use Undo to back out of a dead end; spend hint tokens if you need a nudge.
- Finish in par or fewer steps to earn the day's star and keep your streak.
Screenshots
Tips
- Adding or removing a letter is often a shortcut when the two words differ in length or shape.
- Work backwards from the end word in your head: words one step from it are your targets.
- Common short words with many neighbours make good stepping stones.
- On Sundays, treat the double chain as two short ladders: get to the middle word first, then start fresh from it.
Questions
What counts as one step in Chainle?
Changing, adding or removing exactly one letter, as long as the new word is a real English word.
What is par in Chainle?
The number of steps a good solution takes. Matching or beating it earns a star.
When does Chainle reset?
The game says a new ladder drops every day at midnight; it follows the date on your own device.
Can I play old Chainle puzzles?
Yes. The archive lets you replay past days, and a random puzzle mode gives extra practice. Neither affects your daily streak.
Is Chainle free?
Yes. It is free to play in the browser on Zalize's portal, with no signup and no ads.
Ratings and reviews
Games like Chainle
Weaver
A start word, an end word and one changed letter per step, the plain ladder Chainle builds on.
CraftWord
Turn the start word into the goal in as few steps as possible, scored much like Chainle's par.
Morphl
A daily ladder from start word to target with a par to beat, though only by swapping letters.
Junctures
Start-to-end word steps again, but each of the four moves has its own rule, such as add two or shuffle.
Noodle
Uses the same add, remove and replace moves as Chainle, each one once, plus a move step.
Flipple
Another daily start-to-end ladder, changing one letter at a time.
Heatword (Zalize)
A Zalize word daily from the same site, finding a secret word by closeness in meaning.
WordBridge (Zalize)
Also from Zalize, sorting sixteen words into four groups and naming the theme between them.