Crosswords are ideal for people who love words and general knowledge and want to test their problem solving skills.
We have the best selection of high quality free online crossword puzzles. We have games for those looking for something fast and smooth, even options for players looking for more complex puzzles to solve.
And with our games, you can save a monthly score to track your performance evolution and challenge yourself to keep improving.
So what are you waiting for? Join tens of thousands of people now and start playing our online crossword collection right away! No registration is required, although you can make your name on the leaderboards if you decide to create an account with unlimited access.
How to play crossword in 3 steps
Crosswords are the perfect way to test your vocabulary and logical thinking. They ask you to access their word bank, decipher clues and make connections between letters.
If you're new to crosswords or want to try your first crosswords, it's important to spend a little time learning how to play them.
By following these three steps, you can get started, enjoy and complete online crosswords quickly:
- Understand how crosswords work
- Master the clues in the daily crosswords found here on Arkadium.com or in the pages of The New York Times
- Learn the different types of new crosswords
Tips for playing crosswords online
Playing our free online crosswords is very easy. Start by choosing your favorite puzzle (or multiple puzzles for some crossword puzzles). Then choose which crossword you want to play.
Some of our crosswords are updated daily, while others are changed weekly. After making a choice, you can start completing the puzzle! Just read the clues and enter the answers in the crossword.
If you wish, you can go to the menu and adjust its settings. For example, you can skip already filled boxes when typing new answers.
Also, you can see the answers to all crosswords, individual words or even specific letters.
Lots of luck!
How crosswords work
Whether you're trying out a printed newspaper poster, solving printable crosswords, or doing free online crosswords, each of these word games works the same way - you answer questions to form words.
The puzzle board is a rectangular grid made up of multiple sets of rows and columns made up of clean white squares and shaded black squares. Your objective is to fill in the white boxes by solving the questions and completing the sentences defined by the game's developers. Questions often cover a wide range of topics, including science and technology, art, travel, politics, food and culture. Crossword puzzles, regardless of difficulty level, are best practiced in a newspaper like The New York Times or in an app on a large-screen digital device like your desktop computer or an iPad or Android tablet.
It is important to note that the squares and queries are numbered. This way you can combine them in your crosswords.
What clues are used in crosswords?
The fun of online crosswords is solving clues. But it's not very convenient if you're not sure how the hints work. Crosswords can also be a great way to improve your language skills.
The easiest way to master them is to understand that they fall into two categories - direct crossword clues and indirect crossword clues.
How to complete both types of daily puzzle hints:
Direct crossword hints
These are simple, uncomplicated teasers that challenge you to solve straightforward questions. There are some common types of these cues:
- Abbreviations:You must fill in the blank with an abbreviated word
- Colloquial answers:convert a phrase into a colloquial term
- Synonym:Provide an alternative word
indirect crossword
These are less obvious clues and use puns. This means that one of the words can have several meanings, for example "crane" can mean:
- The name of the animal or bird common in eastern history
- a mechanical object
- move your neck
What are the different types of crosswords?
Some crossword puzzles mix things up by using themes that extend the standard question and answer format. These are the main types our members expect when playing web-based crosswords:
- Cryptic:The hints are not literal, instead they offer hints on how to complete them.
- Blocked networks:the classic crossword with grids and squares for words
- Blocked grades:Word endings and hyphenations are indicated by dashes instead of grids
- Codewort:You don't get any hints and each letter of the alphabet is replaced by a number.
- Rebus:You can use a letter (or symbol) more than once
- Connection:Answers must follow or precede other answers to make sense
- To quote:famous quotes separated into different parts
- Additive:Puzzles where you have to add a letter, letter or words to words/sentences
- Subtraction:You remove a letter, letters or words to create words/sentences
- Tax:Puzzles that celebrate a person or event
- Synonym:All answers are synonyms for a single sentence
Each of these puzzle types provides support, providing feedback as you approach the end of the puzzle. If you can't fit a solution to the puzzle because the letters don't match your chosen words, you may need to go back to your answers and re-evaluate them.
3 tips to improve your crossword skills
Dan Feyer holds the record for most wins in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Feyer has a strong claim to the Best Living Crossword Player title, and he has three top tips to use when playing crosswords on our site:
Tip number 1: Choose the right crosswords
There are a huge number of crossword puzzles to choose from, from introductory challenges to expert level quizzes. This includes cross-puzzles and special puzzle types, as well as custom formats available only through a subscription.
Dan Feyer says you should pick the ones that are right for you. So, check out our list of free online crosswords and find the options you are comfortable with.
Tip number 2: Ask for help if you get stuck on a crossword puzzle
One of Dan Feyer's best pieces of advice is that if you don't know the answer to a crossword puzzle, don't be embarrassed.
He recommends that whenever you get stuck, use a resource with unlimited access like Google or Wikipedia to find answers.
Tip number 3: Test yourself by trying harder crosswords
You won't become the best at a crossword by following the same pattern every time you play one. Follow Dan Feyer's recommendation and test it out for yourself.
Testing your crossword skills doesn't necessarily mean more complex options.
One way to make your puzzles harder and build your skills is to set a time limit for solving them. You can also set an overall points target.
This is something you can do with our free online crosswords because they give you a monthly score. So if you want to improve your skills, start one now and decide how many points you want to get this month!
Are crosswords good for the brain?
Crossword puzzles are good for brain health because they help improve memory and thinking skills. Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times puzzles are essential when imagining the daily crossword icon.
A joint 2017 study by King's College London and the University of Exeter Medical School suggests that people who play crossword puzzles are more likely to have sharper brains later in life.
The researchers said their results show a link between doing word puzzles like crosswords and memory and thinking skills, but we can't definitively say that regular puzzles improve these skills.
Who invented the crossword puzzle?
The world's first known crossword puzzle was created by British journalist Arthur Wynne and published in the New York World newspaper in 1913. His puzzle appeared in the "Fun" section of the newspaper.
Wynne named his creation the Word Cross Puzzle and was inspired by a series of word puzzles. What made his contribution unique was the introduction of vertical and horizontal lines that gave people boxes to enter letters.
Wynne expanded his word puzzle by adding black squares to separate words into columns and rows.
Try our free online crosswords
With fourteen different types of free online crosswords to choose from, our archives have a word game for everyone. Some of our crosswords are updated daily, while others are updated daily.Domingo.
If you're looking for quick and fun crosswords, check out our new puzzles likeDaily mini crosswordor oursdaily crossword. Both puzzles are perfect to challenge your mind and provide a new crossword challenge every day.
We also offer bigger and more challenging crossword puzzles with different levels of difficulty - fromsimplyForHartSo you can find your perfect crossword based on your personal preferences.
All of our free online crosswords are constantly being updated, so come back every day for new clues and exciting puzzles! You can play our games anywhere, anytime - no download required!
Good luck to you and happy resolution!