How to play Daisy

The rules

• The starting word is revealed when you press Start, and the 60-second clock starts at the same moment. It runs on our server, so it keeps going if you leave the page.
• Each word must begin with the last letter of the previous word. That letter is filled in for you; type the rest and press Enter. If you type the whole word, including the given letter, that is fine too.
• Words need at least three letters and must be in our word list. British and American spellings both count; names and abbreviations do not.
• Each word can be used once, and the starting word counts as used.
• A word that is not accepted is simply rejected with a message. There is no penalty, so retype and carry on.

When time runs out your chain is sent automatically. If you have run dry early, "I'm done" finishes straight away.

How scoring works

Each word in your chain scores:

• One point per letter.
• +3 for a word of seven letters or more, and another +3 at nine letters or more. So a seven-letter word is worth 10 and a nine-letter word 15.
• A rarity bonus of up to 10, based on how few other players used that word today. Everyday words are treated as if lots of people had already used them, so they earn 0 or 1; a word nobody else used and few people know earns the full 10.

Your score is the total across the chain. The rarity part is live, so it can move a little through the day as more people play.

Tips and strategy

Choose your ending, not just your word

The word you type decides the letter you start the next one with. Land on letters that begin lots of words: S, C, P, T, B, M, D, R and A are the friendliest. Avoid endings that leave you stuck: X, Q, J and Z start very few words, and words ending in Y, K or V can slow you down too. If you think of RELAX, think again.

Plurals and endings are your friends

Plurals and other forms are allowed, so you can steer the chain. Adding an S lands you on S, the letter that starts more English words than any other. Words ending in -ED land you on D, -ER on R, -ING on G, and -TION on N. Having a few go-to endings ready keeps the chain moving when your mind goes blank.

Speed versus length

A three-letter word scores 3 and a seven-letter word scores 10, but a long word takes longer to think of and type. Most players score best by keeping a steady rhythm of four to six letter words and dropping in a long one when it comes to mind. Long words that end in a friendly letter, such as STARTERS or PRESENTS, are ideal.

Rare beats common, if it is quick

Very common words earn almost no rarity bonus. If an unusual word comes to you as fast as an ordinary one, use it; it can be worth several extra points. Do not stop to hunt for one, though. Sixty seconds goes quickly, and an extra word is worth more than a few seconds of searching.

A worked example

A made-up start: the word is HONEY. A good chain might run HONEY, YELLOWS, STAMPED, DRAWERS, SPRINTER, RAINBOWS, SAUCEPANS, SMILE, ELEPHANTS. Look at the endings: after the Y, almost every word lands on S, D or R, all easy letters to start from. YELLOWS, STAMPED and DRAWERS score 10 each at seven letters, SPRINTER and RAINBOWS score 11 each at eight, and SAUCEPANS and ELEPHANTS score 15 each at nine letters, before any rarity bonus.

A weaker chain from the same word might go HONEY, YAK, KNEE, EGG, GOAT, TAX and stall on the X while the clock runs.

Every finished day's starting word and the most popular chains are in the Daisy answers archive. The other five games are on the dailies page.

Frequently asked questions

What is a word chain game?

A word chain (sometimes called a last-letter game, or shiritori in Japan) links words so that each starts with the last letter of the one before: daisy, yellow, wander, rope. Daisy turns it into a 60-second daily challenge.

How is Daisy scored?

Each word scores a point per letter, plus 3 at seven letters and another 3 at nine, plus up to 10 rarity points depending on how few players used it that day.

Are plurals allowed in Daisy?

Yes. Plurals and other word forms are in the word list, as long as each exact word is only used once in your chain.

Is there a penalty for a wrong word?

No. A word that is not accepted is rejected with a message and you can try again. It only costs you the seconds it took to type.

Is Daisy free?

Yes. Daisy is free to play in any web browser, on a phone or a computer. There is nothing to install and no account to make.

What time does the new Daisy starting word come out?

At midnight UK time (GMT in winter, BST in summer). Everyone in the world gets the same starting word on the same day. If you already have the old puzzle open at midnight, you have 30 minutes to finish it and still have it count.

Can I play past Daisy puzzles?

Yes. Tap the calendar (Past puzzles) button in the game to replay any of the last seven days. Archive plays are scored with the same rules but are just for fun: they are not ranked and do not count towards your streak.

Where can I see yesterday's Daisy answer?

The Daisy answers archive shows every finished puzzle with its solution. Today's answer never appears there until the day is over.