Tangleword: free word puzzle game

Tangleword is a quick word puzzle: the letters of a common English word are scrambled, and you rebuild it before the clock runs out. Each correct word adds points and a few seconds back.

How do you play Tangleword?

Press Play. A scrambled word appears as a row of letter tiles.
Tap tiles in order, or type the letters, to fill the answer slots above them.
When every slot is full the answer is checked. A correct word scores 10 points per letter plus a small bonus for time left, and adds 3 seconds.
Stuck? Shuffle the tiles, clear your answer, or skip the word for a 5 second penalty.
The round ends when the timer reaches zero.

What are the controls?

Input	Action
Type a letter	Places the first matching tile
Backspace	Removes the last letter
Space	Shuffles the tiles
Enter	Submits the answer
Tap	Picks a tile, or returns a letter from the answer row

Tips for a higher score

Look for common endings first: -ER, -ING, -ED, -LE and -OW show up often in the word list.
Shuffle early. A new letter order often makes the word jump out faster than staring at the same row.
Skipping costs 5 seconds, so it is worth it once you have spent more than about 8 seconds on a word.
Short words are worth fewer points but take less time, so a steady pace beats waiting for long ones.

Tangleword FAQ

Is Tangleword free?

Yes. It runs in your browser with no download, sign-up or payment.

Can I play Tangleword on my phone?

Yes. Tap the letter tiles to build each word, so you do not need the on-screen keyboard.

What words are used?

Everyday English words of 5 to 7 letters, such as animals, foods, places and household objects. There are no proper nouns or obscure dictionary words.

Is my high score saved?

Your best score is saved in your browser's local storage on this device. Clearing site data resets it.