A word game with one rule
TAILSPIN
Every word you play begins with the last two letters of the word before it.
You get a start word and a target word. Find your way from one to the other in as few words as you can.
There is a new puzzle every day, and every player gets the same one.
The card here is a short demo with a small word list. Play it, or turn it over for a how-to.
02 · How it works
INSIDE
The last two letters of one word are the first two of the next.
The highlighted pairs below appear twice each, once at the end of a word and once at the start of the one after it. That suffix to prefix connection is the main mechanic.
A puzzle's expected moves comes from searching the dictionary for the shortest chain from the day's start to its target. On the hardest puzzles it is set a little above that, so beating it is possible, and the app says so when you do.
A large vocabulary helps you find a short line faster. It does not decide the day on its own.
Today's line
- 01TAILSPIN
- ININSIDE
- DEDEMO
- MOMOVE
03 · The app itself
DEMO
A sneak peek of TailSpin
Home. The day's puzzle, your best runs, and how your friends are doing.
Daily
Our primary game mode: a fixed start and target that you need to connect.
Endless
No target, no expected moves. Build a chain until nothing follows your last two letters.
Versus
One opponent, same puzzle, same clock. Rated on the ladder, or an unrated challenge to a friend.
Past Dailies stay in the Archive. A day pass in tokens opens one for good, and Pro opens all of them.
04 · Get the app
MOVE
Your move.
Get TailSpin and play today's Daily.
Questions
Do I need a big vocabulary?
No. The target is usually reachable with ordinary words. A bigger vocabulary helps you spot a short line faster, but it will not find it for you.
Where does 'expected moves' come from?
It is computed when the puzzle is generated, by searching the dictionary for the shortest legal chain between that day's start and target. On the hardest puzzles it sits a little above that chain, so beating it is possible, and the app tells you when you have.
Can I play the days I missed?
Yes. Past Dailies stay in the Archive. A day pass in tokens opens one for good, or Pro opens all of them.
Is anything timed?
Only Versus, on a five-minute clock. The Daily and Endless will wait.
What happens if I play a word I think is valid and it's not accepting it?
If a word you play is not recognised, a Suggest this word link appears under the rejection. We record every suggestion and review them for the TailSpin dictionary.