Getting Started
How to Play
Draw 7 Tiles
Every player draws 7 tiles face-down at the start of a round. Keep them hidden until the Caller shouts "Storm!" — then flip them all at once.
Build Your Grid
Arrange your tiles into a crossword-style grid — words connect horizontally or vertically, and the whole grid must be fully connected. 2-letter words count. Rearrange at any time.
Shout "Draw!" for More Tiles
When all your tiles are placed in your grid, shout "Draw!" and take 3 new tiles from the bag. There's no waiting — draw as often as you empty your hand.
Win with "Letterstorm!"
When every tile in your hand is placed in a valid, fully connected grid, shout "Letterstorm!" Play pauses while other players verify your grid. All words must be real and commonly known — no proper nouns, abbreviations, or acronyms.
Special Rules
Swaps & Scrambles
Tile Swap (Once per Game)
Return 1 unwanted tile to the bag, shake it up, then draw 2 new tiles. Each player gets one swap per game — use it wisely.
Timer Scramble (Once per Round)
Any player can flip the 60-second sand timer once per round. When it expires, every player immediately returns 2 tiles to the bag and draws 2 random replacements. Use it to disrupt a player who's close to winning.
Blank Tiles (Wildcards)
Blank tiles can represent any letter. Once you place a blank in your grid and assign it a letter, that letter is locked in for the rest of the round.
Help
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rookie Mode?
Rookie Mode gives newer players a helping hand. The starting hand increases to 9 tiles, you can swap up to 2 tiles once per game, you get a "Peek" power to look at 3 bag tiles before drawing, and you're immune to the first Timer Scramble of the round.
Is my grid valid if two word groups don't touch?
No. Your entire grid must be fully connected — there can be no isolated words or islands of tiles. Every tile must connect to every other tile through a chain of adjacent tiles.
Can I use 2-letter words?
Yes — 2-letter words are allowed, as long as they are real, commonly known English words. Every tile must be part of at least one word of 2 or more letters.
What happens if someone calls "Letterstorm!" but their grid is invalid?
That player is eliminated from the round. All other players keep their tiles and continue playing until someone else calls a valid "Letterstorm!"
How does multi-round scoring work?
Scoring is optional. Each round awards: 3 pts for winning, 2 pts for the longest single word in your grid, 1 pt each for using Q or Z, and 1 pt for a fully connected grid with 10 or more words. Best of 3 rounds wins the match.
My tile won't snap to the grid — what do I do?
Make sure you're dragging the tile slowly and releasing it over an empty cell. The grid highlights valid drop zones as you drag. If a tile appears stuck, tap it once to pick it up and try again. Restarting the app resolves most persistent display issues.
How do I restore my Storm+ subscription on a new device?
Open the app and tap the coin balance pill in the lobby to enter the Marketplace, then tap Restore Purchases. Your subscription is tied to your Apple ID — make sure you're signed in with the same account you used to subscribe.
Does Letterstorm work offline?
Yes. Solo practice, local pass-and-play, and daily puzzles all work without an internet connection. Online multiplayer requires a connection. iCloud sync will catch up automatically when you reconnect.
How do I set up the Classroom plan for my school?
Purchase the Classroom subscription through the app, then use the teacher dashboard to create a roster and invite students. Each student joins using the class code displayed in your dashboard. For bulk or institutional licensing, contact us directly.
Where can I find the Privacy Policy?
Our full Privacy Policy is available at letterstorm.app/privacy-policy. It covers what data we collect, how it's used, and your rights.
Contact
Still Need Help?
Get in Touch
Can't find an answer above? Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Email Support