How to play Word search
A word search is a grid of letters with a list of words hidden in it. Each word runs in a straight line, and your task is to find every word on the list. In Vellara, the letters left over once all words are found spell out the solution, which gives the puzzle a final answer.
The rules of a word search
- At most levels a list of words appears below the grid. Every one of them is hidden in the grid.
- A word runs in a straight line: across, down or diagonally, depending on the level.
- At the easiest level, words only run to the right and downward. Harder levels add diagonals and finally backwards words.
- Words may cross each other and share letters.
- Find all the words on the list. A counter shows how many you have found.
- The letters that belong to no word are the leftover letters, and together they form the solution.
At the hardest level of Vellara the word list stays hidden, so you have to discover the words yourself.
Tips for finding words faster
A word search is not solved by logic but by searching in an organised way. These habits save a lot of time.
Hunt for the unusual letters
Take a word from the list and pick its rarest letter, such as a Q, Z, X or J. There are only a few of those in the grid, so you can check each one and see whether the neighbouring letters match the word. Common letters like E or A appear everywhere and take much longer to check.
Scan in one direction at a time
Do not look at the whole grid at once. First read along the rows for the first letters of your words, then go down the columns, and only then check the diagonals. On the easier levels you can skip the backward directions entirely, because those words never run that way.
Start with the long words
Long words are easier to spot because they contain a combination of letters that rarely occurs by chance. Find those first. The shorter words then become easier, because fewer letters are left to search. In Vellara, the hint button is there for the moments when you cannot find a word.
Playing Word search in Vellara
Every puzzle has a theme that is chosen at random, and every grid is freshly generated, so you rarely see the same one twice. The words you are looking for are listed below the grid, with a counter showing how many you have found. When all words are found, the leftover letters form the solution. Word search has five levels, from 8×8 to 17×17.
- Level 1 is 8×8 with words only to the right and downward. Level 2 is 11×11 and adds diagonals, but no backwards words yet.
- Level 3 is 13×13 with all eight directions. Level 4 is 15×15 with all directions and many crossings. Level 5 is 17×17 and the word list stays hidden.
- Above the grid: smaller or larger letters, fit to screen, pan, a hint, a button for the leftover letters and an info button with help.
- No time pressure: a clock runs along, but you can take as long as you like.
Questions about word search
In which directions can words run in a word search?
That depends on the puzzle. In the simplest form, words run only to the right and downward. Harder ones also use diagonals and backwards words, so all eight directions are possible. In Vellara the level decides which directions are used.
How do you find words faster in a word search?
Search for the rarest letter of a word, such as a Z or an X, and check its neighbours. Scan the grid in one direction at a time rather than looking at everything at once. Starting with the long words also helps.
What are the leftover letters in a word search?
They are the letters that are not part of any word on the list. In Vellara they spell out the solution, so a finished puzzle has one more answer to discover.
What is the difference between the levels of Word search in Vellara?
The grid grows from 8×8 to 17×17, and the words can run in more directions at each level. At the highest level the word list is hidden as well.
Is Word search in Vellara free?
Yes. Vellara is free to download, needs no account and works offline.
Play Word search free in Vellara
Vellara is calm, free and works offline. It sends no notifications and puts no time pressure on you.
More puzzles in Vellara
If you like Word search, you may also like these other word puzzles: