Write and Rung (Lex.Games)
Climb a clued word ladder from one word to another, a letter at a time.
Every day: One numbered word ladder a day, the same for everyone: climb from the start word to the end word one letter at a time, each rung given by a clue. New puzzle: Once a day; each puzzle is numbered and dated.
Write and Rung is Lex Friedman's daily clued word ladder on Lex.Games. Each numbered puzzle starts at one word and ends at another; you fill each rung in between by changing one letter, guided by a clue for every middle word.
About Write and Rung (Lex.Games)
Write and Rung is one of the handmade daily word games on Lex.Games, the site of puzzle maker Lex Friedman that also runs Conlextions, Lexicogs, Six Appeal and daily crosswords. Each puzzle is numbered and dated: puzzle 220, on 3 October 2026, ran from SMILE to SCORN over seven rungs, with a shared clue for the two end words, Look happy, or show disdain.
Every rung changes one letter from the one above, and each middle word has its own clue, such as Strike down, in biblical language or Pointy church top. You solve the clues to fill the ladder, and the letter-change rule helps confirm each answer.
A timer and a leaderboard track your solve. The games play in the browser and in the Lex.Games app, where some extras need a subscription.
It suits players who like word ladders but want clues to work from, a cross between a crossword and Weaver.
How to play Write and Rung (Lex.Games)
- Read the start and end words and their shared clue.
- Read the clue for the first middle rung.
- Fill in a word that matches the clue and changes one letter from the rung above.
- Continue down the ladder to the end word.
- Check your time on the leaderboard.
Tips
- Solve the easiest clue first; its letters constrain its neighbours.
- Use the one-letter rule to test answers you are unsure of.
- Work from both ends toward the middle.
Questions
How many rungs are there?
It varies; puzzle 220 had seven.
Is it the same puzzle for everyone?
Yes, one numbered puzzle a day.
Is there an app?
Yes, Lex.Games on iOS.
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