How to Play Reword
The word game where building isn't enough — you have to steal. Learn the rules, master every mode, and level up your strategy.
Play Free Now →What is Reword?
Reword is a free online multiplayer word game inspired by the classic tile-based game Anagrams. Letter tiles are gradually revealed on a shared board. Players take turns building words from those tiles — but here's the twist: you can steal any word already on the board by rearranging it with one or more new tiles to make a completely different word.
No board positions, no racks, no complicated rules. Just tiles, words, and the constant threat of having your best word taken right out from under you.
The Basic Rules
Drawing tiles
On your turn, press Draw Tile to reveal one letter from the bag onto the shared board. Tiles are visible to everyone — there are no hidden hands.
Building a word
- Tap (or click) the board tiles you want to use — they highlight as you select them.
- You can also type the word directly using your keyboard — Reword will auto-select the matching board tiles.
- Words must be at least 3 letters long and must appear in the standard dictionary.
- Press Play Word (or hit Enter) to claim it. The tiles move from the board to your word pile.
Turn structure
In a standard turn-based game, each player either draws a tile or plays a word — not both. In simultaneous play, everyone acts at the same time and there's no turn limit per round.
The game ends when the tile bag is empty and no more valid words can be formed from the remaining board tiles. At that point, scores are tallied.
How to Steal Words
Stealing is the heart of Reword. You can steal any word on the board — including your own or an opponent's — by adding at least one new tile from the shared board and rearranging all the letters to make a completely different word.
The stealing rules
- You must use all the letters in the original word, plus at least one new tile.
- The result must be a different word — you can't just add a letter to make a longer version of the same root (e.g. STEAL → STEALS is not allowed).
- Rearranging the letters is fine — and often necessary. PLATES → STAPLE + extra tile would be a steal if the new arrangement is a valid word.
- You can combine tiles from the board and letters from a word to form the steal.
Example steal
Suppose the board has an S, and your opponent has the word PAINT. You can steal it by combining their tiles with the S to form PATINS or TAPINS — completely different words. The tiles transfer to your pile.
Defending your words
You can steal your own words to extend them before an opponent does. If you have RIDE and see an S on the board, turning it into RIDES (not allowed — same root) won't work, but DRIES might, or SIREE could. Proactive self-stealing is a key defensive move.
Scoring
Points are awarded by word length. Longer words score disproportionately more, which means a single long steal can swing the entire game.
| Word length | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 3 letters | 1 pt | CAT, RUN, OAK |
| 4 letters | 2 pts | PLAY, WORD, JUMP |
| 5 letters | 3 pts | STEAL, CRIMP, FLOWN |
| 6 letters | 4 pts | PIRATE, STORMS |
| 7 letters | 5 pts | STRANGE, WRITERS |
| 8 letters | 6 pts | SPLINTER, CREATING |
| 9+ letters | 7+ pts | REWRITTEN, OUTPLAYED |
Stolen words score the same as newly built words — the stealer gets full points for the word's length. The original owner loses those tiles but keeps any other words they've built.
Game Modes
vs AI
Quick gamePlay against one, two, or three AI opponents at 8 difficulty levels — from Rookie Rex (great for learning) up to The Oracle (genuinely brutal). Auto mode adapts to your skill level. Perfect for practice or a quick solo session.
Default: 50-tile bag (~15 min). Enable Full tile set for the classic 100-tile game (~30 min).
vs Friends
MultiplayerCreate an open game and share the link — up to 4 players total. Choose between turn-based (async, up to 24 hours per turn) or simultaneous play where everyone acts at once. A per-turn timer option (15–90 seconds) adds pressure for live play.
Daily Challenge
DailyEach day a secret target word is chosen. Every player gets the same starting board and tile bag — your goal is to build the highest-scoring path to (or through) that word. Compete on the shared leaderboard to see how your score compares to everyone else who played that day. One attempt per day; results carry over to your profile stats and badge collection.
Speed Blitz
90 secondsA 90-second solo sprint. Tiles fly onto the board faster than normal — how many words can you build before time runs out? Every player gets the same starting board and tile bag — your goal is to build the highest-scoring path. Compete on the shared leaderboard to see how your score compares to everyone else who played that day. One attempt per day; results carry over to your profile stats and badge collection.
Daily Puzzle
DailyA hidden set of tiles has a single specific target word. Use any tiles from the board to find the longest word you can — the answer is always possible, but may not be obvious. You have 90 seconds once you start — the timer begins the moment you open the puzzle. After the puzzle closes, the solution and leaderboard are revealed. One attempt per day.
Daily Word
DailyEach day a target word is chosen and revealed in the Daily hub. Build that exact word in any completed game — vs AI, vs Human, Speed Blitz, or Puzzle — to earn the 🎯 Daily Word badge. The word changes at midnight; one badge per day. Your running tally of daily words found is tracked in your profile stats.
Tips & Strategy
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Watch the board, not just your words. New tiles that combine with existing words are often more valuable than tiles that let you build fresh. Scan opponents' words after every draw.
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Prioritise length over quantity. Two 4-letter words (4 pts) are worth less than one 8-letter word (6 pts). Don't rush to grab 3-letter words if you can see a longer opportunity building.
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Steal your own words defensively. If you can extend your own word, do it before your opponent does. Even adding one letter to make a steal harder is worth the effort.
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Think in anagrams. Practice rearranging letter sets mentally. Words ending in common suffixes (–ING, –TION, –EST, –ER, –ED) are often stealable with a single new tile.
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Don't draw if you can play. Drawing reveals tiles for everyone — including your opponents. If you can see a word on the board, play it before drawing another tile.
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In simultaneous mode, speed matters. Both players see the same board at the same time. If you spot a word, type it fast — if two players submit the same target simultaneously, the first to confirm wins the tiles.
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Common steal-friendly patterns. Words with common letter clusters make great steal targets. Adding a single tile like S, R, E, or T often opens many anagram possibilities — for example, BARE + S gives BEARS or SABER; NEST + R becomes STERN or RENTS; LATE + S unlocks TALES, STEAL, TEALS, SLATE, or LEAST. Build a feel for these short-word anagram families and you'll spot steals others miss.
FAQ
Is Reword free to play?
Yes — completely free, no download, no subscription. Create a free account to save your scores and streaks, or play as a guest for a quick session.
What dictionary does Reword use?
Reword uses a standard English dictionary. Most common English words are accepted. Proper nouns, abbreviations, and very obscure words are excluded. If a word is rejected, try a synonym or a different form.
Can I play on mobile?
Yes — Reword is a Progressive Web App (PWA) optimised for phones and tablets. You can also install it to your home screen for a full-screen, app-like experience without visiting an app store.
How long does a game last?
A default quick game with 50 tiles takes roughly 10–15 minutes. Enabling the full tile set extends this to around 30 minutes. The Speed Blitz challenge is always exactly 90 seconds.
What's the difference between turn-based and simultaneous play?
In turn-based mode, players take turns in order — each player draws a tile or plays a word, then the next player goes. In simultaneous mode, everyone acts at the same time with no waiting. Simultaneous play is faster and more chaotic — ideal for live play with friends.
Can I extend a word without stealing it?
No. To use letters from an existing word, you must add at least one new tile from the board and form a completely different word. You cannot simply add a letter to the end of your own word (e.g. CAT → CATS is not allowed as a steal).
What happens to tiles on the board when the game ends?
Any tiles still on the board at the end of the game are not scored — they simply don't count for anyone. The winner is determined purely by the words each player has claimed.
How do I invite a friend to play?
Go to New Game → vs Human, create an open game, then share the game link or lobby link with your friend. They can join directly from the link — no account required to join, though creating one saves their score.