COMPLETE PLAYER GUIDE
How to play Word Search
Find every listed word hidden in the grid. A valid selection must form one straight horizontal, vertical or diagonal line and match an unfinished word exactly.
Game goal
Find every listed word hidden in the grid. A valid selection must form one straight horizontal, vertical or diagonal line and match an unfinished word exactly.
Learning focus: Word recognition and spelling. Completed answers feed the shared Word Factory learning-progress and weak-word system.
Step-by-step instructions
- Read the word list below the grid.
- Press the first letter, drag in one straight line to the final letter, then release.
- Correct words stay highlighted and are checked off the list.
- Continue until every word is found. Hint · 50 flashes the first and last cells of one remaining word.
Winning, mistakes and rating
Complete the level
Find every listed word. There is no countdown and an incorrect selection does not remove a life.
Mistakes and failure
A straight selection of more than one letter that is not on the remaining list counts as a missed attempt and clears immediately.
Score and stars
Each found word awards 100 points. Finish without a missed selection for three stars; finish after any missed selection for two. A hint costs 50 of the 1,000 round coins.
How the 1,000 levels become harder
Levels 1–1,000 are mapped across 30 gradual difficulty stages. Individual word length and vocabulary difficulty also follow the current level.
| Level range | What changes |
|---|---|
| Levels 1–100 | Small 4×4 grids, three short words and horizontal or vertical paths. |
| Levels 101–500 | Grids expand through 5×5 and 6×6, the list grows, diagonals appear and limited overlaps begin. |
| Levels 501–800 | Larger grids add more words, reverse directions and denser overlaps. |
| Levels 801–1,000 | The full 8×8 format can contain eight words in any straight direction, including reverse diagonals. |
Controls and device support
- Mouse: press a letter, drag in a straight line and release.
- Touch: hold the first cell, slide to the last and lift your finger.
- Keyboard: Esc pauses; puzzle selection uses mouse or touch.
New-player tips
- Start with the longest word.
- Check first and last letters before tracing the middle.
- Scan every row and diagonal in both directions.
- Save hints for dense late-level grids.
Word Search FAQ
Can a word turn a corner?
No. This mode accepts only one straight horizontal, vertical or diagonal path.
Do wrong selections cost a life?
No. They count as missed attempts and affect the rating, but do not remove a life.
What does Hint reveal?
It flashes the first and last cells of one unfinished word.