Game guide · Rules, tips and strategy
How to Play Word Hunt
Learn the timed 4 by 4 letter hunt, adjacent-letter paths, scoring, and ways to find longer words.
Word Hunt is a fast word-finding challenge played on a four-by-four letter grid. Connect neighbouring tiles to form valid words before the 90-second round ends. Longer words earn more points, so quick scanning and efficient paths both matter.
The objective
Find as many valid words as possible before the 90-second timer runs out.
How to play Word Hunt
- 01
Start a round and scan the four-by-four board for common prefixes, endings, and short words.
- 02
Tap a letter to begin a path, then select a touching tile to extend it.
- 03
Submit a valid word to add it to your score. Use Undo or Clear to adjust a path before submitting.
- 04
Continue finding new words while the timer counts down.
- 05
Prioritise longer words when you can see them quickly, but do not spend the whole round searching for one difficult path.
Word Hunt rules
- A path moves between neighbouring letters on the four-by-four board.
- A tile cannot be reused within the same word.
- Valid words score according to length: 3–4 letters = 1 point, 5 = 2, 6 = 3, 7 = 5, and 8 or more = 11 points.
- Each round lasts 90 seconds.
Word Hunt tips and strategy
- Look for common endings such as -ED, -ER, -ING, and -LY.
- Try starting from unusual letters to uncover paths that are easy to overlook.
- Use Undo to test a different branch without rebuilding the entire selection.
- Balance word length with speed: several short words can be better than missing the timer while searching for one long word.
Helpful answers
Word Hunt questions, answered
More detail about the rules, controls, and strategy for Word Hunt.
How do I play Word Hunt?
Find as many valid words as possible before the 90-second timer runs out. Start a round and scan the four-by-four board for common prefixes, endings, and short words. Tap a letter to begin a path, then select a touching tile to extend it. Submit a valid word to add it to your score. Use Undo or Clear to adjust a path before submitting. Continue finding new words while the timer counts down. Prioritise longer words when you can see them quickly, but do not spend the whole round searching for one difficult path.
What are the rules of Word Hunt?
A path moves between neighbouring letters on the four-by-four board. A tile cannot be reused within the same word. Valid words score according to length: 3–4 letters = 1 point, 5 = 2, 6 = 3, 7 = 5, and 8 or more = 11 points. Each round lasts 90 seconds.
What tips can help me with Word Hunt?
Look for common endings such as -ED, -ER, -ING, and -LY. Try starting from unusual letters to uncover paths that are easy to overlook. Use Undo to test a different branch without rebuilding the entire selection. Balance word length with speed: several short words can be better than missing the timer while searching for one long word.
Where can I play Word Hunt?
Open the game using the Play link above or browse the full game collection.
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