How to play Hourglass
Hourglass is a word puzzle in the shape of an hourglass. Each word contains the letters of the word above it, plus or minus one letter. The rows get shorter down to the narrowest point and then longer again. A clue per row helps, and once you have one word you already know almost every letter of its neighbours.
Hourglass rules
- Each row holds one word, and each row has its own clue.
- Going down towards the narrowest point, every word uses the letters of the word above it minus one letter.
- Below the narrowest point, every word uses the letters of the word above it plus one letter.
- The letters may be rearranged: a word does not have to keep the same order as the one above it.
- You can start on any row; you don't have to begin at the top.
How to solve an Hourglass
Start with the shortest row in the middle
The narrowest row has the fewest letters, so it usually has the fewest possible answers. A three- or four-letter word is often easy to get from its clue. Once it is in, you have a firm base to build on in both directions.
Add or drop one letter
From any word you have found, the rows directly above and below are close relatives. Moving towards the middle, take one letter away; moving outwards, add one. Ask yourself which letter is missing or new, rearrange the rest and test the result against the clue for that row.
Let the clues settle anagrams
Sometimes the same set of letters can make more than one word. That is where the clue for the row does its work: it tells you which of the possible words is meant. If you are stuck between two options, look at the next row as well. Only one of your choices will lead to a word that fits there too.
Playing Hourglass in Vellara
In Vellara you fill in the letters yourself. Use Type to enter letters, Check to see how you are doing, and Hint to reveal a single letter when you are stuck. Clear empties the puzzle so you can start again. You can make the grid smaller or larger, or fit it to your screen.
There are five levels. The easiest has 5 rows of everyday words; the hardest has 9 rows, a longer funnel and rare words. The more stars, the longer the hourglass and the less common the vocabulary.
A clock runs while you play, but there is no time pressure. Take as long as you need to think of the right word.
Hourglass puzzle FAQ
Is an Hourglass the same as a word ladder?
They are related but not the same. In a word ladder you change one letter at a time and keep the length; in an Hourglass you add or remove one letter and may shuffle the rest.
Do I have to solve the rows from top to bottom?
No. Start wherever you can. Most people find the short middle rows easiest, and every word you find gives you nearly all the letters of the rows next to it.
What if two words fit the same letters?
Read the clue for that row; it decides which word is meant. The rows above and below can also tell you which choice works.
Can I get help if I'm stuck?
Yes. The Hint button reveals one letter at a time, so you only get as much help as you want.
Is Hourglass free to play?
Yes. Vellara is free to download and play, and you don't need an account.
Download Vellara
Vellara is free for iOS and Android, needs no account, works offline and never sends you notifications.