Halo (word game)

About Halo (word game)

Halo gives one numbered puzzle a day, the same for everyone, and a new one arrives at midnight UTC. In the middle of the screen is a circle with a question mark: the hidden centre word. Below it are four halo words, which are its synonyms, opposites, members of the same group or close associations.

Every halo word hides its letters in the same pattern. On one day you may see only the first and last letters of each word, on another every other letter. You read the lengths and the letters you can see, work out what the halo words are and what connects them, and type the centre word.

You have four guesses. Each wrong guess uncovers one more letter in every halo word, so the puzzle gets easier as you go but scores less: five points for a first-guess solve, down to two for the fourth. Hard mode, switched on before your first guess, shows only the first letter of each word and allows three guesses, for double points.

The puzzles run in themed weeks, such as Weather and Seasons, and the screen shows which day of the seven you are on. A Stats tab keeps your points, streak and how many guesses your solves took, and practice rounds let you keep playing without touching your stats. The game is free in the browser, with no account, and carries ads.

How to play Halo (word game)

1. Open Halo; today's numbered puzzle shows the week's theme, a hidden centre word and four masked halo words.
2. Turn on Hard mode now if you want it: first letters only, three guesses and double points.
3. Use the visible letters and word lengths to work out the halo words and what they have in common.
4. Type the centre word and press Guess; a wrong guess uncovers one more letter in every halo word.
5. Solve within four guesses for five to two points, then check your stats or play practice rounds.

Screenshots

Tips

• Start from the halo word with the most telling letters, such as an unusual first and last pair, and let it suggest the theme.
• Remember the links can be opposites as well as synonyms, so one odd-looking word may be the reverse of the rest.
• Use the week's theme: on Weather and Seasons week the centre word is likely a weather or season word.
• A first-guess solve is worth more than double a fourth-guess one, so a moment's thought before typing pays off.

Questions