Word Box
Rate itSwap letters in the day's box until every row and column is a word.
on wordbox.game
Word Box is a daily letter-swapping puzzle from SourceGear. You start with a box of scrambled letters, and each tile carries clues: blue if it is in place, arrows if its letter belongs elsewhere in its row or column. Swap any two letters until every row and column forms a valid word, using as few swaps as possible.
About Word Box
Word Box starts you with a grid of letter tiles, such as four rows of six. Tiles already in the right place are blue. The others carry small markers: a vertical arrow means the letter appears elsewhere in that column, a horizontal arrow means it appears elsewhere in that row, and no marker means it belongs in neither. You tap any two letters, next to each other or not, to swap them, and the clues update after each swap.
The goal is to make every row and every column a valid word, and your score is the number of swaps you needed. When you finish, a chart shows how your swap count compares with other players, and a coloured graphic of your result can be pasted on social media. The word list is the NASPA Word List (NWL23).
Each day has a Main puzzle and three Extra puzzles, all dated. Word Box is made by SourceGear, which also makes the word games Word Max and Word Zero, and plays in the browser at wordbox.game or as a free iPhone app released in 2025.
How to play Word Box
- Open wordbox.game, or the iPhone app, and choose the day's Main puzzle.
- Read the tile clues: blue is in place, arrows show a letter belongs elsewhere in its row or column.
- Tap any two letters to swap them.
- Keep swapping until every row and column is a valid word.
- Compare your number of swaps with other players, then try the three Extra puzzles.
Screenshots
Tips
- Fix letters that belong in neither their row nor their column first: they must move far.
- Use the arrows to find pairs of tiles that both land in place with a single swap.
- Look for common word endings along the bottom row and right column.
- Plan two or three swaps ahead; every swap counts against your score.
Questions
How is Word Box scored?
By the number of swaps you need; fewer is better, and a chart compares you with other players.
How many puzzles are there each day?
A Main puzzle and three Extras.
What do the arrows mean?
A vertical arrow means the letter is elsewhere in the column, a horizontal one that it is elsewhere in the row; blue tiles are already correct.
Is there an app?
Yes, WordBox.game is free on the iPhone App Store.
Ratings and reviews
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate Word Box.
Games like Word Box
Guess The Grid
Swap scrambled letters until every row and column of the day's grid spells a word
Tessera
Swap tiles on a 4 by 4 grid until every row and column is a word
Waffle
The swap puzzle many players know: six crossing words in fifteen moves or fewer
Barter (Mind Loft)
Trade two tiles at a time until six crossing words read true
Align (Boston Globe)
Swap letters in a scrambled grid until all the words line up
Reunion
Swap scrambled letters until every word in the grid reads true, in few moves
Verbicular
Place letters on a 5x5 grid so every row and column reads as words
Crossle
Find three crossing words that share a starting letter, in six tries.