How do I mark a word?

Drag from its first letter to its last, or tap the first letter and then the last. If the letters spell a word on the list it is circled and crossed off.

Which ways do the words run?

Easy: across and down. Normal: across, down and both diagonals. Hard: all eight directions, so words can also run backwards and upwards.

Is there a new puzzle every time?

Yes. Every game lays a new grid with new words.

Yes. Hint lights up the first letter of a word you have not found yet.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.

Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.

How do I play with my friends?

Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.

Play Word Search Online Free

Word Search, free in your browser: a grid of letters with a list of words hidden in it. Drag across a word, or tap its first and last letters, and it is circled and crossed off the list. Easy hides eight words across and down in a 10×10 grid; Normal twelve words in 12×12 with the diagonals; Hard sixteen words in 15×15 running every way, backwards included. A new grid every game, a hint when you are stuck, and a clock to beat. No download, no signup.

Solo · ~10 min · free forever · Word Games

How to play Word Search

Find every word on the list hidden in the grid of letters. A word runs in a straight line: across, down or diagonally, and on Hard backwards and upwards too.
Drag from the first letter of a word to the last (or tap the first letter, then the last). If the letters spell a word on the list it is circled and crossed off.
Words can cross and share a letter. The letters left over are just filler.
Stuck? Hint lights up the first letter of a word you have not found yet.
EASY: a 10×10 grid with 8 words, across and down only. NORMAL: 12×12, 12 words, diagonals too. HARD: 15×15, 16 words, every direction including backwards. Word lists: ENABLE (public domain) and SCOWL by Kevin Atkinson (word lists copyright 2000-2016 Kevin Atkinson, used under its permission notice).

Word Search strategy

The basics that turn knowing the rules into winning games — what to do first, what to keep, what to avoid.

Scan for the rare letters first. A word with a Q, J, X, Z, K or W stands out, because there are few of them in the grid.
Hunt one word at a time: find its first letter wherever it appears, then look at the eight letters around each for its second.
Long words are easier to spot than short ones. Clear them first, and the short ones are left in a less crowded grid.
Do not forget the diagonals, and on Hard the words that run backwards or upwards.
Double letters (LL, EE, SS, OO) are easy to see in a sea of single ones. Use them to find the words that have them.

Word Search FAQ

How do I mark a word?: Drag from its first letter to its last, or tap the first letter and then the last. If the letters spell a word on the list it is circled and crossed off.
Which ways do the words run?: Easy: across and down. Normal: across, down and both diagonals. Hard: all eight directions, so words can also run backwards and upwards.
Is there a new puzzle every time?: Yes. Every game lays a new grid with new words.
Is there a hint?: Yes. Hint lights up the first letter of a word you have not found yet.
Do I need an account?: No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.
Is it really free?: Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.
Can I play on my phone?: Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.
How do I play with my friends?: Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.
Can I play against the computer?: Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.