Word Search
Free online word search puzzle · New puzzle every day · No sign-up
Word Search in a nutshell
Word Search hides a list of words in a square grid of letters. The words run in straight lines, and you mark each one as you find it. There is no clock and no penalty for a wrong guess, so it is a calm, gentle find a word game to enjoy at your own pace.
- Read the theme and the list. Every puzzle has a theme, such as Birds or In the Garden, and a list of words to find. Every word on the list is hidden in the grid exactly once.
- Look for a first letter. Pick a word and scan the grid for its first letter. Unusual letters such as K, W or Y are often the quickest to spot.
- Follow the line. From that letter, look in every direction for the second letter, then keep going in a straight line to see whether the whole word is there.
- Mark the word. Drag from the first letter to the last. Or tap the first letter, then tap the last letter. The word gets a soft coloured band and is crossed off the list.
At a glance
- Players
- 1 player at your own pace
- Length
- 10 to 20 minutes for the daily puzzle
- Equipment
- A grid of letters or a pencil and a printed puzzle
- Learn it in
- 1 minute find, then mark
Word Search questions
Is this word search puzzle online free to play?
Yes. Every puzzle on GamesBento is free, with no sign-up. There is a new daily word search every day and as many practice puzzles as you like.
What if dragging is fiddly on my phone or tablet?
Tap the first letter of the word, and it is marked with a yellow circle. Then tap the last letter. The letters in between are filled in for you. Tap the circled letter again to start over.
Can words go backwards or diagonally?
It depends on the size you choose. Easy puzzles (10 by 10) have words across and down only. Normal puzzles (12 by 12), including the daily puzzle, add diagonal words. Hard puzzles (14 by 14) can also have words that run backwards.
Could a word appear twice in the grid?
No. Each grid is checked so that every listed word appears exactly once, and the filler letters are checked so they never spell anything rude.
Do hints stop the puzzle counting?
No. A word you find after a hint still counts. Only choosing Show the words ends the puzzle without it being solved, and then the day’s puzzle does not count towards the leaderboard.
Can I choose the theme?
Yes. In Practice you can pick the size and any theme, from Fruit and Flowers to Space and Sweets and Treats, or let the game surprise you.
More free word games
Word GuessGuess the hidden five-letter word in six tries.
Word ScrambleUnscramble the letters to find the hidden word.
Word LadderChange one letter at a time to reach the goal word.
Word WheelMake words from nine letters, always using the centre one.
HangmanGuess the word letter by letter before the flower loses its petals.
