Catena (Cruciverba Lab)

About Catena (Cruciverba Lab)

Catena is one of the daily games on Cruciverba Lab, the Italian site built around a free crossword of the day. The site describes it as its own daily take on the word chains made famous by Reazione a Catena, the Rai 1 quiz show: one chain a day, no opponent, with points that count on the site's leaderboard.

Eight words are stacked in a column. The first and last are uncovered; for each of the six hidden ones you see its length and first letter. Every word links to the next to form a fixed Italian expression: an idiom, a compound word or a set phrase, never a mere synonym. Opening a word also reveals an extra letter in its neighbours, and you can work from the top, the bottom or the middle.

Each link opened is worth 100 points, and a time bonus adds up to 400 more if you close the chain within two minutes, falling to nothing at twelve. A wrong guess adds half a minute to your time; a hint reveals a letter but reduces that link's points. When the chain is done the game explains each link.

Today's chain is free without an account. A free account reopens the last three days and Premium the full collection, though past chains do not score. It suits Italian speakers and learners who enjoy idioms and quick, timed word puzzles.

How to play Catena (Cruciverba Lab)

1. Open the Catena page and press the start button; the clock begins.
2. Tap a covered word and type your guess; you see its length and first letter.
3. Each word must form an Italian expression with the words above and below it.
4. Open all six links; your score is 100 per link plus a time bonus.

Tips

• Start from whichever end gives you a familiar phrase, not necessarily the top.
• Opening a word shows an extra letter in its neighbours, so solve the easy links first.
• Guessing wildly costs time: each mistake adds 30 seconds to the clock for the bonus.

Questions