CrissWord

About CrissWord

CrissWord is a small daily word puzzle made by Chris Ward. Each puzzle is a crossword with only two clues, but the two answers cross at several letters rather than one, so every letter you get in one answer is a foothold in the other. A clue may be a plain synonym of its answer or a piece of wordplay, and some lean on general knowledge. The number in brackets after a clue gives the answer's length, split by word when the answer is a phrase.

There is a new set of puzzles every day, the same for everyone. If you want more, a drop-down menu at the top lets you play the previous five days. When you are stuck you can reveal a random letter, but each reveal costs points, so the score rewards solving on your own. A timer runs while you play; it does not change your score and can be switched off.

The game runs in the browser and as the CrissWord Games app for iPhone and Android, which also carries CrissWord:GRID, a second daily puzzle by the same setter. The app listing notes that CrissWord has been featured by the Guardian. It suits crossword solvers who want a few minutes of clue-solving rather than a full grid.

How to play CrissWord

1. Open CrissWord and read the tutorial the first time.
2. Read the two clues and their answer lengths.
3. Type an answer you are sure of; its letters fill the squares the two answers share.
4. Use the shared letters to work out the other clue.
5. Reveal a random letter only if you are stuck, since each one costs points.
6. Share your result, and use the menu at the top to play any of the last five days.

Screenshots

Tips

• Start with whichever clue looks like a straight synonym; wordplay clues are easier once a few letters are in.
• Mind the bracketed lengths: a split like (3,4) tells you the answer is two words.
• Shared letters are the whole trick, so test a guess against the other clue before you commit.

Questions