This is a hobby project, made by one person, still being actively worked on.
That means it’s genuinely still a work in progress. We’re actively reviewing, expanding and correcting the answer lists behind each bonus category to make sure they’re as accurate and fair as possible – but with tens of thousands of words across dozens of categories, some gaps, oddities or the occasional wrong answer are still likely.
Tip: you can now add Bookends to your phone’s home screen for quick access, just like a regular app. On iPhone, tap the Share button in your browser and choose Add to Home Screen. On Android, look for an install prompt in your browser menu.
Bookends is a free daily word game. Every day you get a starting letter and an ending letter, and the challenge is to find words that begin and end with those two letters.
Enter words that start with today’s first letter and finish with today’s last letter. Longer words score more in the Longest word category, shorter words score more in the Shortest word category, and there are three bonus categories each day too – only your best bonus category counts toward your total. Once you find a valid answer, you don’t have to stop there – keep trying for a better one if you like, and we’ll tell you if a stronger answer exists (without giving it away). Hit “Lock in” whenever you’re happy with your answer.
Yes. Bookends is completely free to play, with no account, sign-up, or download required.
Yes – a new puzzle goes live every day at midnight UK time.
Yes. Bookends works in any web browser on phones, tablets and computers.
Your total is the sum of your Longest word, Shortest word, and your single best bonus category for the day. Longer words score more in Longest; shorter words score more in Shortest; bonus categories score one point per letter.
You’ll be shown an example answer, but that category locks in at 0 points for the day.
No. Just type a name if you want to save your score to that day’s leaderboard – there’s no password or email required.
If a word didn’t work that should have, an answer feels wrong, something broke or you’ve got an idea for a new category – we’d genuinely like to hear it. This game will get better as people tell us what’s not quite right yet.
Email bookendsgame@gmail.comThanks for playing and for bearing with the rough edges while we sand them down.
Word lists from Wordnik and SCOWL – see credits and licences.