What is Word Chain Typing?
A typing game where you type words you think of yourself, instead of copying a word on the screen. The dictionary robot Dictiobot answers each of your words in a word chain: its word starts with the last letter of yours. Then you type a word that starts with the last letter of the robot’s word, and so on. Go back and forth like a chat, and see how long you can keep the chain going in 60 seconds. Nothing to install: play for free in your browser.
How to play
- Press “Start” (or the space bar) to begin the 60 seconds.
- Dictiobot says the first word. The letter above the input box (“Starts with …”) is the letter your next word must start with.
- Type a word that starts with that letter.
- Press Enter to send it, and the robot answers with its next word. To fix a mistake, delete letters with ⌫ (Backspace).
- If you can’t think of a word for 8 seconds, the robot suggests one from its dictionary. Using it never costs points.
- After 60 seconds, your score and title are announced.
Word Chain rules
- Each word must start with the last letter of the word before it. After “apple”, start with “e”.
- Words use the letters a to z only, and must be 2 letters or longer.
- You can’t use the same word twice in one game (this includes the robot’s words).
- If a word starts with a different letter or has been used, you don’t lose points, and the clock doesn’t stop. Just type another word.
About Dictiobot
Dictiobot is a round robot that carries a dictionary. At first it is gentle and answers with short words that are easy to follow. As your level goes up, it gets serious and answers with words that end in hard letters such as “y” or “k”. When the robot can’t think of a word (words that end in “x” are hard for it), it says “You got me!” and gives you a bonus. Words that are not in its dictionary are fine too: the robot is happy to learn them (but they score half the points).
Score and titles
Each word you send scores 50 × letters × level × rush multiplier. Longer words score more. Answer within 5 seconds of the robot’s word to get a speed bonus, and dictionary words that come with a picture get an extra bonus. Send 5 dictionary words in a row to start a Word Chain Rush (×2 → ×2.5 → ×3), and your score grows much faster. Depending on your score, you earn a title: Word Chain Apprentice → Word Chain Expert → Word Professor → Dictionary Master → Legendary Word Chain King.
For parents
Word Chain Typing is free and needs no sign-up, with nothing to buy. Scores, the practice log and the dictionary words your child typed are saved only in this browser (in the Word notebook) and are never sent to a server. You can erase them from the Word notebook. Mistakes never cost points and there is no game over, so children who are just starting to type can practice without worry.
To check whether a word is in the dictionary, the game uses the robot’s own words and the New General Service List (NGSL), a list of common English words for learners (CC BY-SA 4.0). Any word is accepted, even one that is not in the list.
From “⚙ Settings” on the title screen, you can choose lowercase or UPPERCASE letters and show or hide the on-screen keyboard to suit your child.