Coil is a word-chain game. Each answer must share one more letter with the previous word than the last answer did: match at least one letter with the opening word, then two with your first answer, three with the second, and so on. The keyboard shows three states for each letter: still needed, already used, or untouched. Four bonuses appear below the input, each with its own unlock condition.
How to play Coil
Read the starting word at the top. Its letters light up on the keyboard.
Enter a word of at least three letters in the boxes. When it meets the requirement, the row turns green. Each new word must share one more letter with the word you just submitted than the previous round required.
The keyboard tracks the chain: dark keys mark letters still needed for the current word, green keys show letters already placed, and underlined keys mark letters that have not appeared in the chain.
The three-state keyboard makes Coil manageable. You do not have to hold the whole chain in your head: the current requirements are visible at a glance. Dark keys show what the round still needs, green keys confirm coverage, and underlined keys show gaps in your alphabet use. The result feels more like a coverage puzzle than a memory exercise.
Reading the feedback
The feedback is immediate. A row turns green as soon as the word meets the round’s requirement, so you do not need to submit it separately. The keyboard updates with each keystroke and keeps a running record of the chain. Each round has its own countdown. It starts with a generous amount of time and increases slightly as the rounds continue.
Modes
Daily
Everyone starts from the same word each day.
Free play
You choose the starting word. The rules are the same, and both modes count toward the same series.
Keep a spare letter in reserve. As the required overlap increases, a chain with no margin will eventually stall. A word that uses every available letter may score now, but it leaves no room for the next round.
Repeated letters count once. BANANA has three distinct letters—B, A, and N—not six. Count the unique letters before submitting to avoid misjudging the overlap.
The boxes show the minimum word length, not a fixed target. Longer words score more and may leave you more flexibility in the next round.
Look for underlined keys. They have not yet appeared in your chain and point toward the eleven-letter goal mentioned in the help, as well as anything beyond it.
All four bonuses are visible from the start, along with the condition for unlocking each one. Knowing what the replay, skip, and joker card require can help you plan across games.
Common questions
Is there a timer?
Yes. Each round has its own countdown. You start with plenty of time, and the limit grows slightly with each round.
Do both modes count toward the series?
Yes. Daily and Free Play use the same rules, and both contribute to your series progress.
What is the minimum word length?
Three letters, as long as the word appears in the dictionary. You can use each word only once in a chain.