CNN Daily Crossword
A full-size daily crossword on CNN's free games page.
Every day: A new full-size American crossword each day, dated and bylined, the same for every solver, with a calendar of earlier days. New puzzle: Once a day; the site does not state the time.
The CNN Daily Crossword is a free, full-size American crossword on the CNN Games page, still marked as a beta. Each day's grid is dated and carries its constructor's byline, with editing by Patti Varol, and a calendar lets you go back to earlier days.
About CNN Daily Crossword
The Daily Crossword went up on CNN Games in June 2024 and sits beside Jumble Crossword, Sudoku, Photo Shuffle, Sudoblock and the 5 Things news quiz. CNN pitches it as a check on your news know-how, but the grids are classic general-knowledge crosswords: the clues run from film and music to geography, wordplay and everyday phrases, with the odd current name mixed in.
Each puzzle is a full-size American grid of about 15 by 15 squares. The title gives the date, such as Daily Crossword, Fri, Oct 2, 2026, and the byline names the constructor and the editor, Patti Varol, who also edits the Los Angeles Times crossword. The puzzles are supplied by Tribune Content Agency.
You solve it in the browser on CNN's page. Tap a square to see its clue, type answers, and switch between Across and Down. A timer runs as you go. There is no running autocheck, so wrong letters are not marked as you type. A calendar opens earlier puzzles, and the grid can be printed.
It is free with ads and needs no account. It suits solvers who want a full-size daily crossword with a steady editorial hand and no paywall.
How to play CNN Daily Crossword
- Open the Daily Crossword on CNN Games and let the grid load.
- Tap a square or a clue to select an answer; tap again to switch between Across and Down.
- Type the answer; the cursor moves along the word.
- Cross-check doubtful answers against the crossing words, since wrong letters are not marked as you type.
- Finish the grid to stop the timer, or pick an earlier day from the calendar.
Tips
- Start with fill-in-the-blank clues and short answers; they are the quickest to confirm.
- If the longest answers share a theme, working it out early helps with the others.
- A question mark at the end of a clue signals wordplay.
- Since wrong letters are not flagged, settle a doubtful corner from its crossings before building more on it.
Questions
Is the CNN Daily Crossword free?
Yes. It is free with ads and needs no account.
Who makes the CNN Daily Crossword?
Each puzzle carries its constructor's byline and is edited by Patti Varol. The copyright line is Tribune Content Agency's.
Are the clues about the news?
CNN pitches it as a test of news know-how, but most clues are general knowledge and wordplay, as in any American daily crossword.
Can I play old CNN crosswords?
Yes. The calendar in the game opens puzzles from earlier days.
When does a new puzzle appear?
Once a day. CNN does not state the time.
Games like CNN Daily Crossword
LA Times Daily Crossword
The daily crossword edited by the same editor, Patti Varol, with its own streaks and stats.
Jumble Crossword (CNN)
CNN's other crossword: unscramble the letters to fill the grid.
Washington Post Daily Crossword
Another newspaper site's free full-size daily crossword.
Stan Newman's Daily Crossword
Newsday's free daily crossword, a similar size and level.
The New York Times Crossword
The best-known American daily, with a difficulty that climbs through the week.
The Mini Crossword
A five-by-five crossword for days with only a few minutes.
Right Again! Trivia Sports
AARP's daily trivia round, for solvers who like the general-knowledge side of crosswords.
Notigrama (ABC)
The Spanish daily crossword built from the day's news.