Swap two word letters
by selecting both.
Hit the PLAY button
to complete the move.
Place a word letter in a slot
to rearrange
the word.
Hit PLAY to complete the move.
Select a single word letter.
Hit PLAY to delete it
and make a new valid word.
A move can also use a letter from the grid.
Select a word letter
and a grid letter to replace it.
Hit PLAY to confirm.
Select a slot
and a grid letter to put there
Engage PLAY to make it so.
That last move
completed a grid column.
New letters appear
in completed rows or columns.
Bonuses are earned for passing milestones.
Play a grid refresh bonus
by pressing the # button.
Existing grid is replaced with a fresh one.
A bonus no-penalty setup move
is exactly what it sounds like.
To use one, select a move as normal but
hit the || SETUP button
instead of PLAY.
This allows you to use an invalid word
to bridge the gap to your next word.
Consecutive bonuses up to
the player's total number of lives
may be used before incurring a penalty.
Lost lives still count.
Reach or exceed six letters
and the grid expands to 4x4.
Milestone rewards are
active from the start of the game,
but the milestones button only appears
when the 4x4 grid is unlocked for 6+ letters.
Players get one-time rewards
for passing game milestones
and achieving no-bonus streaks.
Words 7+ letters are worth an extra life
until you reach the maximum of 12 lives.
invalid word
-1 life -half || # -half
You lose one life and half your bonuses
for attempting to play an invalid word.
consecutive bonus use
-1 life
You can use consecutive bonuses up to
your total number of lives without penalty.
Even lost lives count towards
the consecutive bonus allowance.
Wildcards are not bonuses.
Use them anytime if you have them.
What's a wildcard?
Get past chain 128 to find out.
Attempting to play a previously played word does not incur a penalty.
This word will be highlighted in your wordlist to help you plan your next moves.
You can see your remaining lives and track your consecutive bonus use under the current word.
Enjoy!
ABOUT
Big shoutout to dictionaryapi.dev, wiktionary.org and wordgamedictionary.com for
providing free dictionary resources. This is
the spirit of
random collaboration that embodies the internet at its best.
Without whoever they are, whoever I am couldn't have made this game for whoever you are.
The internet has lots of bitesize daily puzzles. These are great, but Stringchain is more
open-ended and user-driven.
You can play as much as you want, whenever you want. It's not a subscription, it's not an appointment. You
choose when and how much. Take breaks, be healthy.
The core game, switching letters around, making words, it's really basic and simple.
The mechanics around that should incentivise exciting gameplay. Find your flow. Complete a mission. Enjoy the scenery.
Get a high score. Beat that high score. Screenshot that high score and challenge your
friends. Look at your wordlist, you made that! Look at all the words you know, all these rhymes and connections! Writers, rappers, poets, word enthusiasts, this is your jam.
Future tweaks and updates may happen, but the core game is in place now. Have at it!
If you enjoy this game, consider buying me a coffee or putting my kids through college.
Word nerd,
Dave
Pick a letter or save for later
After 128 words, a wildcard is awarded. It appears the next time a grid row or column refreshes.
Another wildcard is earned for every 32 additional words.
THIS GAME
ALL TIME