How to Play Chainle
Chainle is a daily word chain game. Each UTC day has five rounds. Your goal is to earn as many points as possible by finding the bridge words that link the clues.
The five rounds
- Two-word bridge (×3) — You see LEFT — ? — RIGHT. Type the single word that links both sides through a common compound or phrase (example: HOT — DOG — HOUSE).
- Three-word bridge (×1) — You see LEFT — ? — ? — RIGHT. Enter both missing words in order.
- Closest meaning (×1) — Choose the option closest in meaning to the prompt word.
Scoring
Each round allows up to 3 tries. Points for a solved round: 3 on the first try, 2 on the second, 1 on the third. A miss scores 0. Maximum daily score is 15.
When you finish, share a result line with colored dots — without using trademarked puzzle phrasing from other games.
Daily UTC reset and streaks
The puzzle uses the UTC calendar date, so every player gets the same Chainle for that UTC day. Streaks and in-progress answers are stored in your browser only. Clearing site data resets local progress; it does not change the global daily puzzle.
Practice modes
After you finish today’s puzzle, open Unlimited for random practice, or browse soft clues on the Archive. More rules and answers live in the FAQ.
Independent daily puzzle. Not affiliated with chainle.io or the New York Times.