About Word Search
Trains: Visual scanning & vocabularyWord Search is the classic puzzle in which a list of words is hidden inside a square grid of letters. On Quizlino the grid is 10×10 and each puzzle hides eight words, running across, down or diagonally. You choose a theme, such as Animals, Countries, Sports, Space, Fruits or Science, and a fresh grid is generated every time, so no two puzzles are the same. There is no time limit, but the clock is running and a faster finish earns a higher score.
How to play
- Pick a theme from the menu above the grid. A new puzzle starts straight away.
- Read the list of eight words shown under the grid.
- When you spot a word, drag from its first letter to its last letter. On a phone you can also tap the first letter and then the last letter.
- A correct word is marked with a coloured highlighter stroke and crossed off the list. Words can be selected in either direction.
- Stuck? Press Hint and the first letter of a word you have not found will flash.
- Find all eight words to finish the puzzle and see your score.
🏆 Scoring
Each word is worth 100 points, so a completed puzzle gives 800. A time bonus of up to 300 points is added on top: it starts at 300 and drops by one point for every second you take. Each hint you use takes 40 points off the final score.
🧠 What it trains
Word searches train visual scanning, the skill of picking a pattern out of a crowded background, along with concentration and spelling. Because you must hold the spelling of a word in mind while your eyes move over the grid, the game also gives working memory a gentle workout. It is a calm game, which makes it a good break between timed quizzes.
💡 Tips for a higher score
- Look for unusual letters first. A word containing Z, K, Q or J is much easier to find than one made of common letters.
- Scan one row at a time for the first letter of a word, then check the letters around it.
- Double letters, such as the FF in GIRAFFE, stand out in a grid. Use them as landmarks.
- Do not forget the diagonals. Most people check rows and columns and leave the diagonal words until last.
- Start with the longest words. Once they are green, the shorter ones have fewer places to hide.
Frequently asked questions
Can words be written backwards?
In this version words are placed reading left to right, top to bottom or along a diagonal. You may select a word starting from either end.
Is there a time limit?
No. You can take as long as you like, but a quicker finish earns a larger time bonus.
Do I get the same puzzle every time?
No. The letters and the positions of the words are generated afresh for every game, and each theme has more words than one puzzle uses.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. You can drag across the letters with a finger, or tap the first and the last letter of a word.
What does the Hint button do?
It flashes the first letter of one word you have not found yet. Each hint costs 40 points.
More brain games
All Quizlino games are free, work in your browser and need no download. Every finished game is saved to your Quizlino score history.