Change the 1st letter N to G, turning NAMES into GAMES.
Change the 3rd letter M to T, turning GAMES into GATES.
Change the 1st letter G to R, turning GATES into RATES.
Change the 3rd letter T to C, turning RATES into RACES.
Change the 4th letter E to K, turning RACES into RACKS.
Change the 2nd letter A to O, turning RACKS into ROCKS.
Change the 5th letter S to Y, turning ROCKS into ROCKY.
Change the 2nd letter O to I, turning ROCKY into RICKY.
Q: What is the shortest path from NAMES to RICKY?
A: The optimal solution for the Word Ladder from NAMES to RICKY takes exactly 8 steps.
Q: Any tips for today's puzzle?
A: This puzzle involves 5-letter words. A good strategy is to look for common intermediate words or focus on changing vowels first.
Q: Where can I play past Word Ladder puzzles?
A: You can access our complete archive by clicking the "Puzzle Archive" link at the bottom of the page.