🐸 1. Fivefold
Guess the hidden 5-letter word in 6 attempts. Letter tiles turn:
- Forest Green: In the correct spot.
- Ochre / Gold: In the word, but different position. Duplicate letters are scored strictly by remaining count.
- Subtle Slate: Not in the target word.
🧩 2. Common Ground
Sort the 16 tiles into 4 categories of 4 without making 4 mistakes.
- Categories range from direct associations to playful wordplay.
- A polite notice appears when you are "One Away" (3 of 4 correct).
🌿 3. Word Trails
Trace adjacent letters across the 6×8 grid in any of the 8 directions to solve theme words.
- Every letter on the board belongs to exactly one theme word or the spangram.
- Spangram: The key trail spanning opposite sides of the board that reveals the puzzle's unifying theme.
- Hints: Valid dictionary words that are not theme answers earn hint tokens (every 3 words unlock a theme hint). The first hint outlines all letters of an unsolved word. Another hint before you solve it flashes its letters in order; further hints replay the sequence. You must trace the word yourself.
🪜 4. Frank's Ladder
Stuck? Choose Give up to end your attempt and reveal the shortest route. You’ll be asked to confirm; the saved result counts as a loss, not a win.
Unlocked after completing the day's Fivefold puzzle.
- Start with today's Fivefold word and find your way back to FRANK.
- Each move must change exactly one letter into another valid 5-letter dictionary word.
- There is no hard move limit — experiment and find your route!
- Use Backtrack to reverse a step. Backtracking removes the last row and returns to the previous word, but still counts as another move.
- Upon reaching FRANK, see how close your step count came to the shortest possible route and optionally reveal the optimal solution.