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 numbered set every day, the same for everyone: on 22 October 2026 it was CrissWord #1737, two puzzles long, a pair of seven-letter answers and then a pair of eight-letter ones. 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 board shows one row of squares: green ones hold letters both answers share, split ones hold a different letter for each, and once both answers are in, the two words sit one above the other. The game keeps a streak of days played and has no ads and no sign-up.

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.