How to play Zonkey.

  1. 01 · Follow the wordsTwo starting words. You and Zonkey’s AI each choose one word that connects them. Its answer is locked in before you submit.
  2. 02 · Find your matchDifferent answers become your next two words. From guess two, synonyms can connect too.
  3. 03 · Score your DailyEveryone gets five starting pairs. Each round allows five guesses. Connect on guesses 1–5 to earn 1,000, 800, 600, 400, or 200 points. A missed round scores 0. Finish all five for your total out of 5,000 and player comparison.
  4. 04 · Keep it wildUnlimited gives you a fresh pair with eight turns. Archive lets you play past five-round Dailies.

For example

donkey↔zebra
You pick
Zonkey
AI picks
Zonkey

Same word. Connected.

A zonkey is a donkey–zebra hybrid. Finish each Daily on its UTC day to grow your streak, or play past puzzles in the archive as practice.

Two words.
One wild match.

Five daily rounds. Five guesses each.
Connect faster to earn up to 5,000 points.

donkey + zebra → Zonkey

Archive
Zonkey FAQ
What is a word association game?

A word association game asks players to find a word that connects two ideas. In Zonkey, you and an AI independently choose a connection, then keep following the new words until your answers match.

How do you play Zonkey?

Start with two words, enter one word that links them, and reveal the AI's answer. For example, donkey and zebra can connect with Zonkey, a donkey–zebra hybrid. Different answers become the next pair. Daily has five rounds, with five guesses per round. Connecting sooner earns more points, up to 5,000 in total. Unlimited allows eight turns per game.

Is the Daily puzzle the same for everyone?

Yes. Every player receives the same five Daily starting pairs on the same UTC date. The AI's committed answer is shared whenever players reach the same pair at the same guess in a round. Finish all five rounds to compare your score with other players.

Can I play more than once a day?

Yes. Daily is one shared puzzle each day, while Unlimited gives you as many random word association games as you want. You can also play past Dailies in the archive as practice.

How do Daily streaks work?

Finish all five Daily rounds before midnight UTC on their original day to add to your streak. Any completed score counts, including zero. Yesterday's streak stays active while you have time to finish today's puzzle. Missing a day resets your current streak, but your best streak is saved. Previous on-time Daily completions still count. Archive practice does not change your streak.

How do I play past Daily puzzles?

Choose Archive on the home page to open a calendar and a list of past Dailies. Play a date you haven't played, view your saved score for a completed puzzle, or resume an unfinished game. Scores stay with your anonymous identity in the same browser. Archive practice does not change your Daily streak.

Is Zonkey free, and do I need an account?

Zonkey is free to play in your browser on a phone, tablet, or computer. No account is required, and your scores are saved with an anonymous player identity.