Best Practices for Designing Word Puzzle UI (Inspired by Letter Boxed) in Figma

Hi everyone,

I’m working on designing a word-puzzle interface that’s loosely inspired by the Letter Boxed style where players connect letters around a shape to form valid words. I’m in the early design phase and would love to get your thoughts on best practices when approaching something like this in Figma.

A few specific things I am thinking about:
 

How to layout the letter groups or nodes so they feel balanced and easy to interact with

Tips for designing smooth interaction prototypes (e.g., drag-to-connect letters)

How to visually show feedback (valid/invalid word, selection paths, etc.)

Any recommended component structure or auto layout setup that makes iterating easier
 

I’ve been using auto layout for the basic grid, but I’m not sure if there’s a better way to structure the puzzle components so they’re reusable and flexible as the design evolves.

If you’ve designed interactive puzzle screens before — especially anything with touch gestures and dynamic states — I’d love to hear how you structured your Figma files or any tips that helped you prototype interactions faster.

Thanks in advance! 🙌