Reveal a shortest route
How to play SHITle
SHITle turns an ordinary word into SHIT. Each accepted step makes a valid 4-letter English word by changing exactly one letter. All the other letters stay in their positions. The destination is always visible; your challenge is finding the shortest path to it.
- Read the starting word above the board.
- Type your next 4-letter word, or use the on-screen keyboard. Press Enter to check it.
- Build the next move from your last accepted word.
- Reach SHIT. Compare your move count with par, the shortest route in this game’s dictionary.
Rejected guesses do not add moves. There is no timer or move limit. Undo removes one accepted move; Reset starts the same puzzle again. Matching letters are highlighted, but you may change them later. Reusing an earlier word is allowed and costs a move.
A small ladder, step by step
This example takes 4 moves. The starting word does not count as a move. Each neighboring pair changes one letter without moving the others.
A direct jump from BOOK to SHIT changes too many letters. The words between them make the route possible. This fixed example explains the rules; daily puzzles use a rotating starting word.
Find the shorter route
Try replacing one position at a time. A vowel swap or a new first letter may open a useful connection. Think backward from SHIT too: which familiar words are one step away?
A good detour can temporarily remove a matching letter. The highlights help you compare spellings; they do not lock a letter in place. If a branch goes nowhere, Undo and try another. More than one shortest route can exist.
Why a move may be rejected
Your entry needs 4 letters and exactly one changed position. The same word changes nothing. Swapping two letters changes two positions. A correctly shaped entry must also appear in our reviewed English word list.
The dictionary includes everyday slang, plurals and inflections. It excludes proper names and initialisms, and may omit a word another dictionary accepts. A rejection describes this game’s list; it does not mean the word never exists.
Daily or another quick game?
A fresh daily start arrives at midnight UTC. Everyone using the same UTC date and this game version gets the same start. Your device clock determines the date. Daily starts cycle through 200 verified familiar words, so the finite schedule eventually repeats.
Practice offers another start whenever you want. Daily and practice paths save separately in your browser. Your first daily finish counts toward statistics; replays and practice do not change that record.
Count the moves. Keep the words secret.
Reach SHIT to see your accepted moves and the shortest-path score. A longer route is still a win. Par comes from a breadth-first search of this game’s licensed dictionary; another dictionary could give a different minimum.
Copy results shares your score and a tile pattern without the route words. Share opens device options when supported, with a copy fallback. X and WhatsApp open a draft only when you select them. You decide whether to send it. Copy link points to the game, not your saved attempt.
Questions about SHITle
What is SHITle?
SHITle is a free daily 4-letter word ladder game with one fixed goal: SHIT. Change one letter per valid English word and aim for the fewest moves. There is also practice whenever you want another puzzle.
Can I change two letters or rearrange them?
No. Exactly one position must change from your last word. Every word stays 4 letters long. You can change a letter that already matches SHIT if it helps your route.
Which words can I use?
Use the 2127 reviewed 4-letter words in this game’s English Speller Database selection. All daily starts have a verified route to SHIT. The dictionary is openly licensed; credits and its permission notice are linked below.
When does the daily puzzle change?
At 00:00 UTC, based on your device’s date. Keep your clock accurate. A new day saves your old path and loads the new start. Local midnight may be a different time.
Will SHITle remember my progress?
Yes, when browser storage is available. Your path, unfinished word and daily statistics stay on this device. Clearing site data removes them. Blocked storage shows a notice and you can still play. There is no account or cross-device sync.
Does sharing give away the answer?
No. Solved results hide your route words and show your move count with a tile pattern. The worked example and fixed target are public, but your daily starting word is omitted from the shared result.
What happens if I reset after winning?
You can replay the same ladder. Your first finish for that UTC date remains the daily record. Undo after a win reopens the route. Reveal a shortest route becomes available after finishing.
Do I need an account or payment?
No. SHITle runs in your browser with JavaScript, a physical or on-screen keyboard, and no paid API. This game has no active ads or third-party fonts. Google Analytics is optional and starts only if you allow it; change your choice in Privacy & analytics. It does not guarantee an offline reload.