Game guide
How to play Word search
In word search you find the words from the list hidden in a grid of letters. The game ends when you have found them all, and your time is your score.
Updated on October 3, 2026
The rules in 3 lines
- 01
Find the words on the list
They are hidden in the grid. The list shows every word you need to find.
- 02
Mark from the first letter to the last
Always in a straight line. A found word is colored in and crossed off the list.
- 03
List complete, game over
The clock stops when you find the last word.
How to play
On your phone
- Drag your finger from the first letter to the last.
- Or tap the first letter, then the last one.
- If the selection is not a straight line or not a word on the list, nothing is marked and you can try again.
- The Hint button lights up the first letter of a word and adds 30 seconds to your time.
On a keyboard
- The arrow keys move between letters.
- Enter or Space marks the first letter. Move to the last one and press again.
- Hint is also in the “⋯” menu. Esc closes the menu.
Step-by-step example
A 6×6 grid with three words found, each in its own color. In the game the grid is bigger: from 10×10 to 12×12.
Beginner strategies
- Look for the first letter. Pick a word from the list, find its first letter in the grid and check the directions around it.
- Start with rare letters. Words with Z, X, J or Q stand out in the grid and come out faster.
- Scan methodically. Read the grid row by row and then column by column, instead of jumping from corner to corner.
- Use the list as a map. When only a few words are left, look for those alone. The letters already colored show what you have covered.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the other directions. On Easy, words only run right and down; Medium adds diagonals; on Hard they can also run backwards.
- Lifting your finger before the last letter. A word only counts when it is complete, from the first letter to the last.
- Reading only left to right. Even on Easy, words also run down. Scan the columns too.
- Using the hint too early. Each hint adds 30 seconds to your time. It pays off most when one or two words are left.
Levels and scoring
Easy: 10×10 grid, 6 words, only right and down. Medium: 11×11, 8 words, with the ↘ and ↗ diagonals. Hard: 12×12, 10 words, in all 8 directions, backwards included. There are 10 themes, and each game avoids repeating the words from your last two games on the same theme. Your record is your best time on each level.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Dragging from the last letter to the first also marks the word.
Each hint adds 30 seconds to your time, and the final time counts toward your record for that level.
No. Each language has its own word lists, written for that language.
There is no evidence that it improves attention outside the game. Practice makes you faster at finding words in this grid.
IQNorth games are a pastime with a challenge. Practice makes you better at this game; it does not raise your IQ or your memory, and nothing here is a consultation with a psychologist. The games are in the member area.
Guides for the other games
Sudoku · Sun and Moon · Colors · Sequence · 2048 · Challenges · Blocks · Pairs · One Line · Shape Fit · Sum Maze · Pipes
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