puzzlerzone
What Bridge Words is
Bridge Words is a free daily word puzzle that challenges you to connect two banks of clues. Each puzzle presents five clues on one side of a river and five on the other. Your objective is to find the single matching clue on the opposite bank for each clue, align them on the same row, and then type the word that bridges the pair. Once all five bridge words are built, the first letters of those words spell out a hidden keystone theme. The puzzle includes a scoring system that rewards careful play: you start with 1,000 points, lose 20 points for each wrong guess, and face a time penalty after the first two minutes. Hints are available at a cost, ranging from aligning clues to revealing the full answer. Created by Ben Stadler, the game also offers an archive of past puzzles for continued play.
How to play
Start by looking at the five clues on each side of the river. Drag any clue up or down to align it with the clue on the opposite bank that you believe matches. Once a pair is aligned on the same row, type the word that connects the two clues and confirm it. If the word is correct, the bridge is built; if not, you lose 20 points. After building all five bridges, read the first letters of the bridge words in order to spell the keystone. You can use hints at any time: aligning clues costs 50 points, revealing a letter costs 25, showing word length costs 25, and revealing the full answer costs up to 200 points per bridge. The time penalty begins after two minutes, deducting 10 points per minute up to a maximum of 200. You can also start a new daily puzzle or access archived puzzles.
Tips
- Align clues carefully before typing a bridge word; a wrong guess costs 20 points, so it pays to be certain.
- Use the word-length hint early if you are stuck; it costs only 25 points and can narrow down possibilities.
- Remember that the keystone is spelled by the first letters of all bridge words, so keep them in order as you build.
- Plan your hint usage to stay within your point budget, especially since time penalties add up after the first two minutes.
Common questions
How does the scoring system work?
Every puzzle starts with 1,000 points. A wrong guess deducts 20 points. There is no time penalty for the first two minutes, but after that you lose 10 points per minute up to a maximum of 200. Hints also cost points: aligning clues costs 50, revealing a letter costs 25, showing word length costs 25, and revealing the full answer costs up to 200 per bridge.
What are the hints and how do they help?
Hints form a ladder from mild assistance to full solution. You can pay to align clues, reveal a single letter, show the length of a bridge word, or reveal the entire answer. Each hint has a point cost, and the full-answer hint is capped at 200 points per bridge.
Can I play puzzles from previous days?
Yes, the game provides an archive of past puzzles. You can start a new daily puzzle or choose an archived one to play.