How to play

1. Daily challenge: From the title screen, choose DAILY PUZZLE. A new puzzle appears each UTC day and changes at 00:00 UTC. A puzzle already open keeps its original date; daily results stay saved by date on this device.
2. Play streak: Complete any puzzle each day to build your streak. It uses this device’s local calendar date and stays saved on this device. Missing a day starts a new streak on your next completion.
3. Gold Anchors: Fixed starting letters on the grid that help you get started. Words can connect through any placed letters too. Matching numbered badges pair a connector strip with its two gold endpoints.
4. Strip Rack: Browse all remaining pieces, four at a time, using the arrows or swiping the count below the rack. Every piece is available at any time. Hints show the right page automatically.
5. Drag & Direction: Drag letter strips from your tray onto the grid. Tap any strip (or press Rotate) to rotate through all four directions, including reversed letter order.
6. Guided Board: Enable this in the pause menu for your next puzzle. Shaded boxes are blocked and cannot hold letters. No word yet? Turn or move a strip with no penalty.
7. Connect: Strips must connect to a fixed gold letter or an already-placed letter.
8. Place all strips: Any dictionary word of 3 or more letters scores once per attempt. Words stay movable. Finish by placing every strip with every movable letter in a valid across or down word. The length chips suggest optional bonus words worth 5 extra points; gold letters guide placement but are not required in every word.
9. Rearrange & Hints: Tap a placed strip to rotate it in place. If there is no room, lift it to open space first. Move placed strips anytime. Stuck? Press Undo (↶), or use a hint (💡). A hint marks a strip 1 and a board square 2. Place strip 1 beside square 2 so their edges touch; corners do not count. Rotate if needed. The hint clears after a strip is placed. You get two hints per puzzle attempt. Hints show one useful connection, not the full word, and limit the rating to 2 stars. Undo, Restart, and reopening an unfinished puzzle keep the spent quota; replaying a completed puzzle starts a new attempt.