Weaver

What is Weaver?

Weaver is a word ladder. You receive a start word and a target word of the same length. Change exactly one letter at each step, making a valid word every time, until you reach the target. This independently built version has four-letter and five-letter puzzles with unlimited fresh rounds.

How to play

1. Read the start and target words above the ladder.
2. Type a word that differs from the current word in exactly one position. It must appear in this game's curated word graph.
3. Press Add step. The word joins your ladder if it is valid and has not already appeared.
4. Continue until your word matches the target. Undo step removes the most recent word if you want to take a different route.

The Hint button calculates a shortest available route from your current word and gives you its next step. It does not place that word automatically. If you move into a word from which the target cannot be reached, the hint explains that there is no route and you can undo.

Why one letter matters

In a ladder from COLD to WARM, you cannot jump directly to WARM. Four positions differ, and every move must change one position only. A valid route in the four-letter list is COLD → CORD → WORD → WORM → WARM. Each word keeps three letters from the previous word. Your own route can be longer; the shortest count above the board is a useful benchmark, not a turn limit.

Five-letter puzzles use the same rule. STONE can become STORE in one move because only its fourth letter changes. STORE can then lead toward several targets. A good move is one that brings you closer to the target while leaving more than one possible next word.

How hints and word validity work

The game searches a curated set of four- and five-letter words. Every accepted ladder step is in that set. Hint uses breadth-first search, which checks all one-step neighbors before considering longer routes, so the path it returns is shortest within this game's word set. The full Outspell board uses a broader acceptance list; a word can be valid there yet unavailable in Weaver's smaller ladder graph.

Strategy

Compare the current word with the target and identify which positions must change. A word that fixes one position is promising, but it may lead to a dead end. If a target letter is difficult to reach directly, change another position first to create a more flexible intermediate word. Use Undo step freely; there is no penalty for exploring.

When you are one letter away, confirm the target itself is the next valid word and enter it. If you are stuck after several changes, ask for a hint from your current position. The hint gives just one next word, leaving the rest of the path for you to discover.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change more than one letter?

No. Every new word must have the same length as the current one and differ in exactly one position. Changing two positions, adding a letter, or rearranging letters is rejected.

Is the shortest route required?

No. Any valid route to the target wins. The shortest-route number is there for comparison and for the hint calculation.

What happens if I reach a dead end?

You can undo your latest step and try another branch. The hint checks whether a route exists from your current word and tells you if no route is available.

Are there daily puzzles?

No. Choose New puzzle for another pair in the selected length. Changing between four and five letters also starts a fresh round.

For other logic games, try Dordle or Sedecordle. You can also play Outspell on a tile board.