Day #197
Start guessing to find the secret word
Contexto - Free Online Word Guessing Game
What is Contexto?
Contexto is a word guessing game based on meaning. You type a word, and the game tells you how close it is to the secret answer by giving it a rank from 1 to over 1000. Rank 1 is the word itself. The lower the number, the closer you are.
Rankings come from word embeddings - a way of measuring how often words appear in similar contexts across real text. If two words regularly show up near each other in books, articles, and web pages, they get close ranks. It is about meaning and usage, not spelling or rhyming.
How to play Contexto
Each round has one secret word. You try to find it by guessing words and reading the rank numbers the game gives back.
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Step 1 - Guess a word
Type any word into the input box and tap Guess. Common nouns work best for opening guesses.
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Step 2 - Read your rank
The game returns a number. Lower is better. A rank of 30 means you are close. A rank of 800 means you are far off.
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Step 3 - Check the color
Green rows (1–100) are close. Yellow rows (101–300) mean there is a loose connection. Red rows (301+) mean you should try a different direction.
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Step 4 - Narrow it down
Compare your ranks. If "kitchen" got rank 200 and "oven" got rank 40, follow that thread. Think of related words and synonyms.
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Step 5 - Find the secret word
Keep going until you hit rank 1. That is the answer. Most people solve it in 15 to 40 guesses.
Stuck? Tap the Hint button to reveal a word ranked between 100 and 200. It points you in the right direction without giving away the answer.
Want the full walkthrough? How to play Contexto
Contexto tips and strategy
A few patterns that help once you have played a few rounds.
Start broad
Open with category words like "food", "animal", "place", or "tool". You are trying to find the general topic before narrowing down. One good category guess can eliminate entire areas at once.
Watch rank drops
If your rank jumps from 300 to 80 between two guesses, that tells you something. Follow it. A sudden drop means you just got much closer to the right semantic neighborhood.
Use hints when stuck
Hints give you a word in the 100–200 range. That is the yellow zone. If you have been above 300 for ten guesses, a hint saves time. There is no penalty beyond the counter in your stats.
Think context, not category
The ranking is based on how words appear in real text, not dictionary categories. "Leash" is closer to "dog" than "wolf" is, because leash and dog show up together in sentences more often. This trips people up at first, but once you get it, the game clicks.
Want more strategies? Contexto tips and strategy
Game modes
Contexto has two ways to play.
Learn more
Detailed guides if you want to dig into the game.
Frequently asked questions
What is Contexto?
Contexto is a word guessing game where you try to find a secret word by typing guesses. Each guess gets a rank from 1 to over 1000 based on how semantically close it is to the answer. Lower ranks mean closer.
How do you play Contexto?
Type a word and the game gives it a rank. Use the rank to guide your next guess - lower numbers mean you are getting closer. Green rows are close (1–100), yellow are medium (101–300), and red are far (301+). Keep guessing until you reach rank 1.
What do the colors mean in Contexto?
Green means the word ranks between 1 and 100, so it is semantically close to the answer. Yellow covers ranks 101 to 300 - there is some connection. Red is 301 and above, meaning the word is far from the answer.
Is Contexto free to play?
Yes. Contexto is completely free with no account required. Your progress is saved in your browser's local storage.
How are words ranked in Contexto?
Words are ranked using word embeddings (GloVe). These are mathematical models trained on billions of words of text. Words that frequently appear near each other in real writing get close ranks. The ranking reflects meaning and usage, not dictionary definitions.
What is the difference between Contexto and Semantle?
Both games rank guesses by semantic similarity, but they use different word embedding models and scoring scales. Contexto shows a rank from 1 to 1000+. Semantle uses cosine similarity scores. The gameplay feel is similar, but the specific rankings differ.
Can you play Contexto unlimited?
Yes. Contexto has an unlimited mode with random puzzles and no daily limit. Stats are tracked separately, so it does not affect your daily streak.
Can you play Contexto in Spanish?
Contexto is available in English and Spanish. The full interface, puzzles, and all content pages are translated. Switch languages using the button in the header.