ZigZag — Free Daily Themed Word Puzzle
Trace connected letters in any direction. Every letter belongs to a theme word.
ZigZag is a free daily themed word puzzle. Every board hides a set of words connected by one theme, and the words snake through the grid in any direction — the letters are used exactly once, with nothing left over. It is free, needs no signup, and a new themed board is published every day at 00:00 UTC.
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ZigZag difficulty
Difficulty
Unlock with ProToday's ZigZag board
Today's theme
Musical instruments
0 of 5 theme words found (free half)
Free play covers 5 of 9 theme words — Pro unlocks the whole board.
How to play
Rules
Every board hides a set of words that all fit one theme — and together they use every single letter on the grid.
Drag across neighbouring letters (up, down, sideways or diagonally) to trace a word, then release. On desktop you can also tap letters one by one and tap the last letter again to submit.
Letters can't be reused inside one word. Correct words lock into colour.
Stuck? Use a hint to outline one unfound word, or surrender to reveal the whole board. A new theme drops every day at 00:00 UTC.
How to play ZigZag
- 1Read the theme clue at the top of the board.
- 2Drag or tap through adjacent letters — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — to trace a word.
- 3Correct theme words lock in with their own colour and their path stays visible.
- 4Every letter on the board belongs to exactly one theme word, so the grid empties as you solve.
- 5Find all theme words to complete the day's puzzle.
ZigZag strategy
Start from the corners
Corner and edge letters have the fewest neighbours, so the number of paths through them is small. Words anchored at an edge are usually the easiest to spot and they cut the remaining grid into smaller pieces.
Let the theme narrow your vocabulary
Before tracing anything, list five or six words you would expect from the theme, then hunt for their first letters. Searching for a specific word is far faster than scanning for any word.
Use leftover letters as a checksum
Because every letter is consumed, an isolated leftover letter proves one of your locked words is wrong or that a nearby word must pass through it. Treat orphaned letters as clues, not noise.
ZigZag vs Strands
Both are themed word-path puzzles that use every letter on the board. The differences are practical.
| ZigZag | Strands | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme clue | Always shown up front | Shown up front |
| Path display | Colour-coded trace per word | Single highlight colour |
| Practice | Unlimited practice boards | One a day |
| Archive | Last 30 days | Subscription |
ZigZag — frequently asked questions
What is ZigZag?
ZigZag is a free daily themed word puzzle where you trace hidden words through a grid of letters. Every word relates to the day's theme and every letter is used.
How do you play ZigZag?
Drag across adjacent letters in any direction to form a theme word. Correct words lock in with a coloured path; find them all to finish the board.
Is ZigZag free?
Yes, the daily board is free with no signup. Practice boards and the archive extend it for Pro members.
Is ZigZag similar to Strands?
It uses the same themed word-path idea, with colour-coded traces per word and an unlimited practice mode.
How often does ZigZag change?
A new themed board goes live every day at 00:00 UTC, identical for every player.
Can words go diagonally?
Yes. Paths may move in any of the eight directions and may bend as often as needed, which is why the game is called ZigZag.
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