Word Search Online: free word search puzzles, from Easy to Expert
Our newest web game: four difficulty levels, a daily puzzle that is the same for everyone, 64 themed word lists, hints and printable grids, free in your browser.
Word Search Online is the newest game in Web Games Online, our collection of free browser games. It is classic word search: a grid of letters, a list of words, and the small pleasure of spotting each one. It runs in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer, it is free, and there is no sign-up and nothing to download.
How to play word search
Every puzzle has a grid of letters and a list of hidden words. Find a word in the grid and mark it. You can drag across the letters, or tap the first letter and then the last, which is easier on a phone or a trackpad. Found words are ticked off the list. Clear the whole list to finish the puzzle.
Words run in straight lines. On the easier levels they only go across and down. On the harder levels they can go in all eight directions, including diagonally and backwards.
Four levels, from Easy to Expert
| Level | Grid | Words | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 10 by 10 | 8 | Across and down only, no backwards words |
| Medium | 12 by 12 | 12 | Adds two diagonals, no backwards words |
| Hard | 15 by 15 | 16 | All eight directions, about half the words backwards |
| Expert | 18 by 18 | 22 | All eight directions, with filler letters chosen to create false starts |
The site opens on Medium, which suits most people. Each level keeps its own puzzle, so you can switch between them and come back to where you were.
The Daily Word Search
Every day there is one Daily Word Search: a 14 by 14 grid with 15 words, and the same grid for everyone. It resets at midnight, your local time, and the last 30 days stay playable, so you can catch up if you miss a few.
Word search for kids
Word Search for Kids uses big letters, short everyday words, and only across and down directions, so younger players can find words without getting lost in diagonals.
64 themed word lists
The puzzles are built from 64 word lists written for the site, on themes like Under the sea, Fruit, Cities of the world, Musical instruments and Things that glow, along with animals, food, places and hobbies. Every grid is made fresh in your browser and checked so that each word on the list appears exactly once.
Hints, score and timer
- Hints: a hint flashes the first letter of a word you have not found yet. Press H on a keyboard.
- Score: each word is worth 10 points per letter, multiplied by the level (1, 1.5, 2 or 3), with a bonus for finishing quickly. A hint costs 20 points.
- Timer: a timer runs alongside the board, if you like to race yourself.
- Rotate: turn the grid a quarter turn to see it fresh. Press R.
Print a puzzle
Any grid can be printed as a clean page with its word list, which is handy for a classroom, a waiting room or a quiet afternoon away from screens.
Make it yours
There are eight board themes (Lagoon, Violet, Steel, Ruby, Felt, Wood, Sunset and Ink, a dark theme for late-night play), five calm music tracks, and a layout setting that puts the board in the centre, on the left or on the right. Your progress is saved in your browser.
Tips for finding words faster
- Look for the rare letters. A word with a Q, Z, X or J is easier to find than one made of common letters.
- Hunt for double letters. Words with LL, EE or OO stand out once you look for the pair.
- Scan one direction at a time. On Hard and Expert, sweep the grid for backwards words on purpose.
- Watch for false starts on Expert. The filler letters are chosen to look like the start of your words, so check the whole word before you mark it.
Want a word search with a story?
If you enjoy word search, try our mobile game Word Search World Tours, where every level takes you to a new place with Miso the Adventure Cat. Word Search Online sits alongside our other free web games: Solitaire, Mahjong, Sudoku, Minesweeper and Backgammon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Word Search Online free?
Yes. Every puzzle is free to play in your browser, with no sign-up and nothing to download.
Is there a daily word search?
Yes. The Daily Word Search is a 14 by 14 grid with 15 words, the same for everyone. It resets at midnight local time, and the last 30 days are playable.
Can I print the puzzles?
Yes. Any grid can be printed as a clean page with its word list.
Is there a word search for kids?
Yes. Word Search for Kids has big letters, short everyday words and only across and down directions.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. You can drag across a word or tap its first and last letters, and the word list moves below the grid on small screens.
