Rung #24: WOOD to GAME — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 7, 2026: WOOD to GAME, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from WOOD to GAME. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs, so it cannot be beaten. The leap does not shorten this one: 5 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 54 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. WOOD → GOOD — the first letter, W becomes G.
2. GOOD → GOLD — the third letter, O becomes L.
3. GOLD → GOLE — the fourth letter, D becomes E.
4. GOLE → GALE — the second letter, O becomes A.
5. GALE → GAME — the third letter, L becomes M.

Other routes as short: WOOD · WOLD · GOLD · GOLE · GALE · GAME; WOOD · GOLD · GOLE · GALE · GAME; WOOD · GOOD · GOLD · GALE · GAME; and more.

The answer

WOOD · GOOD · GOLD · GOLE · GALE · GAME — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #23 (Sun, Sep 6) · Next: Rung #25 (Tue, Sep 8)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day. How to play Rung, or play today’s.