Play & Learn
The Animal Chain
A word game played with real animals. Buddy names one, you name an animal that starts with its last letter, and the chain grows until somebody gets stuck.
Name an animal that starts with the last letter of the one before. No repeats. If nothing starts with your letter, you’re stuck!
Hello! I am Buddy. I open with the Alaskan Husky.
Your turn: an animal starting with Y
6 animals start with this letter.
How to Play
Four rules, one dog
- Buddy opens with an animal from the library.
- Name an animal that starts with the last letter of the one before. After Tiger comes an animal starting with R.
- No repeats. Once an animal is in the chain, it is used up.
- If nothing in the library starts with your letter, you are stuck and the chain ends. Land Buddy on a letter like that and you win.
Tips
How to beat Buddy
- Friendly Buddy plays mostly at random. Tricky Buddy hunts for letters that leave you stuck.
- Stuck? Tap one of the suggestions under the box to keep going.
- Watch for animals ending in letters few animals start with. Those are the ones that end games.
- Your best chain is saved on this device, so you can try to beat it tomorrow.
For Parents & Teachers
A spelling game in disguise
Every turn is practice in spelling, first and last letters, and recalling animal names. It also works without a screen: play it out loud on a car trip, or around the classroom with one turn each.