Rung by Rung
Rung by Rung is a daily word puzzle that plays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, for one player. It has a daily challenge, the same for everyone that day.
Change one letter at a time to climb from today's first word to its last, and every rung must be a real four-letter word. Par is the shortest possible ladder, and a hint fills in the next word if you get stuck. Finish to see your steps against par, or try past days from the 60-day archive and practice ladders.
How to play
- Type a word that changes one letter of the word aboveOn a touch screen: Tap letters for a word that changes one letter of the word above
- Press Enter to add it. Every rung must be a real wordOn a touch screen: Tap ENTER to add it. Every rung must be a real word
- Reach the last word. Par is the shortest ladder. Hint fills the next word
The game shows these steps as you play, the first time.
Controls
- Type a word and press Enter (or use the keys on screen)
- Backspace on an empty row steps back
- Hint fills a word
Tips
- No word may appear twice on one ladder, so a wrong turn is best undone with Back rather than climbed around; stepping back takes the step off your count.
- Par is 4 to 6 steps and never more, so a ladder that has reached step 6 with the goal still out of reach has gone the long way.
- Hint works from wherever you are, filling the next word on a shortest ladder from that rung, but a hinted ladder is left out of your par-or-better tally.
What counts as a valid rung?
A four-letter word from the game's own list of about 1,500 all-ages words that changes exactly one letter of the rung above and has not already been used on this ladder. The game names the problem when a word is refused, and a rung that leads nowhere can be stepped back.
Do the archive and practice ladders count?
No. Only today's ladder adds to your streak and to the count of ladders finished at par or better, and using a hint on today's ladder keeps it out of that tally. The 60-day archive and the practice ladders still show your steps against par and give a result line to copy.
About this game
Made by Sucia in Houston, Texas. Built with AI assistance, designed and tested by Sucia. Last updated October 4, 2026. It plays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download and no sign-in; your best scores and progress stay in this browser on this device. Without a pass, every game is free for 5 minutes a game and 30 minutes a day; an Arcade pass removes the limit. How Sucia makes and tests its games.
Also by Sucia
Sucia Studio, a video editor for streamers, runs on Windows and Linux: record, cut long VODs by transcript and make Shorts. YouEdit, a video editing service for stream recordings, turns a recording into a YouTube video, Shorts, titles and the upload text, quoted in credits before it is made. Streaming on Twitch, Kick or YouTube? Sucia Live makes highlight videos and Shorts from your VOD.
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