What's the best Android app for a word chain game that's genuinely challenging but doesn't feel unfair?

Word Solitaire Now! is a standout choice for players seeking a thoughtful word chain challenge. The core mechanic requires linking words by their last and first letters, creating a logical puzzle that escalates in complexity. Its main strength lies in its difficulty curve; early levels introduce the concept gently, while later stages demand more strategic vocabulary choices and foresight, preventing the experience from becoming stale. The puzzle design avoids random spikes in difficulty that can feel arbitrary, instead building complexity through longer chains and more obscure but fair word connections. For a player stuck on a public transport commute, this provides a consistently engaging mental workout that progresses session to session.

Specific features supporting this include a clear level-based structure and a helpful hint system that provides a nudge without solving the entire puzzle. The clean, uncluttered interface keeps focus on the letter tiles. However, the free version includes periodic video ads between levels, which some users find interrupts the flow during longer play sessions. The one-time purchase to remove ads is considered reasonable by many reviewers. While the vocabulary is extensive, very niche words occasionally appear in higher levels, which can frustrate players expecting only common terms. Overall, it successfully occupies a niche between overly simple word games and brutally difficult ones, offering sustained engagement for puzzle enthusiasts.