SHIFT Word Puzzle

About SHIFT Word Puzzle

SHIFT is built on the old word ladder, or doublet, puzzle. Each numbered daily shows your current word at the top, the target word in green at the bottom, and a row in between where you type the next word. Every word you enter must be a valid word, and it may differ from the current one by exactly one letter. You have six moves to reach the target, so FLASK to GLIDE, say, needs a careful route.

If you get stuck there is a button for help, and you can view the path you have taken so far. Finishing in the fewest moves earns a Perfect Shift. Rankings order players by moves first, then solve time, then fewest guesses, and the previous day's winner is shown as Yesterday's Champion; global wins earn Champion trophies. Results can be shared without giving away the solution.

Private Leagues, free to create and join with invite codes, give you your own daily, weekly and monthly leaderboards with friends. SHIFT+ is an upgrade that adds puzzle packs with hundreds of extra puzzles and the Daily Archive of past days.

SHIFT is made by Andrew James Harris and came out on the App Store in June 2026. It suits players who like Weaver-style word ladders and a small competition with friends.

How to play SHIFT Word Puzzle

1. Open the day's numbered SHIFT puzzle to see the start word and the target word.
2. Type a new word that changes exactly one letter of the current word.
3. Keep changing one letter at a time; every step must be a valid word.
4. Reach the target word within six moves.
5. Share your result and see where you rank on the daily leaderboard.

Screenshots

Tips

• Compare the start and target letter by letter: positions that already match should usually stay.
• If a direct swap makes a non-word, change a different letter first to open a path.
• Vowel swaps (A to I, O to E) are often the bridge between two families of words.
• Plan two or three steps ahead before typing, since moves are limited and time counts in the ranking.

Questions