You can make a Splitword puzzle for anyone, on paper, in a chat or on a whiteboard. It takes about five minutes, and it's a good game for a party, a long train ride or a family group.
How to make one
Pick a theme. Something everyone playing knows: a trip you took, a friend's wedding, your office, a film.
Choose four words. 6 to 10 letters each works best. Shorter words are too easy to spot.
Cut each word into three pieces. Two to four letters per piece.
Shuffle all twelve pieces and share them with the theme.
Making it fair and fun
Cut in odd places. BAC|KP|ACK is harder than BACK|PA|CK, because KP can't start or end a word. Middle pieces that look strange are what make the puzzle.
Add one decoy. Short pieces like ER or ES fit many words. One is fun. Four makes it a guessing game.
Check there's only one answer. Make sure no three pieces spell a different real word that fits the theme.
Split into two teams. Each team makes a puzzle for the other on a sheet of paper. The fastest team to rebuild all four words wins, and every wrong word adds 10 seconds. Swap and play again.
Want a new puzzle every day without making it yourself? That's what the daily Splitword is for.
Questions
How many pieces should each word have?
Three pieces of two to four letters each, like the daily puzzle. Words of 6 to 10 letters split best.
Can I play Splitword with friends?
Yes. Everyone gets the same daily puzzle, so you can compare results, or make your own puzzle for each other.