Hard mode

What makes it hard

Every Hard clue is chosen so that only a single word in the word list produces those colours. There is no room for a near miss that still counts. A word that is valid but not the one counts as a try, and the clue stays the same until you find the right one.

You can play as many Hard clues as you like, and the mode keeps its own puzzle and progress separate from your other modes.

A method that works

• Write the letter pattern from the green tiles, leaving gaps for the unknown spots.
• List every yellow letter and the spots it cannot occupy.
• Cross out every grey letter, after checking for repeated letters.
• Test candidate words against all three constraints before you submit.

Where players slip

The most common mistake is ignoring a constraint. A word can match the green letters and still break a yellow rule by placing a letter in the spot where it was marked yellow. The second is mishandling repeated letters. With only one correct word, either error means a wasted try.

Is it worth it?

Hard mode rewards careful reasoning more than vocabulary. Once you can solve a few in a row without a wrong try, the other modes feel easy. It is also a good way to see how much a clue can narrow things down when the colours line up.

When to move up

Start with the daily set or the word hunt until solving on the first try feels routine. Then try a handful of Hard clues. If they feel too tight, go back for a while. Switching between modes costs nothing and never touches your daily streak.