June 28, 2026
Letters, lies, and bonus words
Show HN: Zanagrams
A tiny word game has players hooked, nitpicking the dictionary, and begging for more
TLDR: Zanagrams is a new word puzzle where players hunt for 14 hidden words, and early reactions say it is charmingly addictive. The comments quickly turned into praise, wish lists for endless puzzles, and a hilariously petty fight over which words the game should recognize.
A simple little puzzle called Zanagrams just dropped on Show HN, and the comments instantly turned into a mini fan club with a side of dictionary drama. The game asks players to find 14 hidden words from a grid of letters, and the biggest reaction was basically: wait, this is way more addictive than it looks. One player loved that the puzzle "naturally gets easier as you solve it," which is the kind of praise puzzle makers dream about. Another cheered the surprise "bonus word" feature, where the game celebrates words even if they were not part of the original plan. In other words, the crowd is not just playing — they are actively trying to outsmart the puzzle.
But no online word game discussion is complete without at least one word list scandal. Enter the funniest complaint in the thread: "Snus isn't in the word list btw," followed by the flex that they still found six bonus words. That is the exact energy of someone both enjoying the party and judging the playlist. Then came the classic internet move: one commenter posted a direct link to the puzzle data itself, giving the whole thread a tiny whiff of chaos gremlin behavior.
The mood overall is upbeat, curious, and a little greedy. People want to know how the words are chosen, whether the idea is original, and most importantly, whether there is a future with endless Zanagrams. Translation: the public has spoken, and they want more letter-based brain rot immediately.
Key Points
- •The article presents a puzzle titled "Zanagrams #5."
- •The puzzle challenges players to find 14 hidden words.
- •The visible puzzle content includes 16 letters: U, K, E, M, O, S, T, T, S, R, U, Y, T, N, I, A.
- •A "How to play" prompt is included with the puzzle.
- •The provided article content contains no additional explanation, technical details, or company information.