A daily word puzzle that tracks what you learn — so the words you meet today are the words you keep.
WordMaster started as a personal problem.
Like a lot of people, I got hooked on daily word puzzles. The five-letter grid, the green and yellow tiles, the satisfaction of cracking a word in three guesses — I played every day. But after a year of it, I noticed something. I was guessing the same kinds of words over and over. The words I didn't know on Monday, I still didn't know on Friday. The game was fun, but nothing stuck.
That bothered me. The most rewarding thing about reading a hard book or watching a show in another language is the words you carry away from it. Daily puzzles had everything except that part. I'd encounter a word like LOATH or QUELL or PLUSH in a game, and by tomorrow it would be gone.
So I built WordMaster — the word game I wanted to play.
WordMaster is a daily word puzzle with one core difference: every word you encounter is tracked. You can see the words you've met, the words you've struggled with, and how your vocabulary is growing over time. The puzzle is the entry point; the learning is what stays. It's not a flashcard app pretending to be a game, and it's not a game pretending to teach. It's both, designed so neither one feels bolted on.
For bilingual learners — especially anyone learning English as a second language — this matters more. New vocabulary doesn't stick the way first-language words do. It needs a hook. The daily ritual of a puzzle, paired with the satisfaction of seeing your own progress, gives the words a place to live.
WordMaster is a one-person project. No team, no funding, no investors. I'm not trying to disrupt anything. I just wanted a daily word puzzle that would actually teach me something — and figured a few other people might want the same.
If you're playing along, thank you. If you have ideas, please send them.
WordMaster is a free, browser-based word puzzle. No account required. No download. No subscription. Just open your browser and play — from any device, anywhere.
Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. After each guess, color-coded tiles reveal how close you are: green for the right letter in the right spot, yellow for the right letter in the wrong spot, and grey for letters not in the word.
What makes WordMaster different is what happens after the puzzle. Every word you encounter gets added to your personal vocabulary log, where you can review meanings, see which words you've struggled with, and track your progress over time. The puzzle ends, but the learning keeps going.
WordMaster is used by students, language learners, ESL learners, and anyone who wants vocabulary growth without the friction of flashcards. Whether you're preparing for the SAT, studying for IELTS, or just looking for a smarter five-minute habit — there's a mode for you.
A new 5-letter word every day, shared by all players. Compare your solve in as few guesses as possible.
No limits. Play as many rounds as you want, any time, with a fresh random word each game.
Perfect for beginners, younger players, or anyone who wants a quick warm-up.
An extra challenge for experienced players. Longer words mean more combinations to consider.
Read today's BBC headlines, then guess the 5-letter word hidden within them. Real-world vocabulary, updated daily.
Two alternate puzzle formats for the same vocabulary. Anagram trains spelling; hangman trains letter-frequency intuition. Both pull from your chosen word category.
Animals, food, and more themed word sets for focused vocabulary practice.
Browse and replay the past 30 days of daily challenges. See each word's definition and how it was used.
WordMaster isn't just a game — it's a vocabulary learning platform. Our blog covers the science behind word games, proven strategies for winning puzzles, high-frequency SAT and IELTS vocabulary lists, and practical daily habits for building word power. Browse the blog →
WordMaster is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to The New York Times or any other word puzzle platform. The word-guessing game format is a classic puzzle type with no single owner. WordMaster is free to use and always will be.