Universal Crossword

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The daily syndicated American crossword from Andrews McMeel, played on GoComics and in many newspapers.

on gocomics.com

Universal Crossword grid: a full American-style crossword with WORD, HASTY, ACER, FIND and RUN filled in

The Universal Crossword is a daily American-style crossword syndicated by Andrews McMeel Universal and edited by David Steinberg, printed and carried online by many newspapers. Each day has one dated themed grid for everyone, with a 21x21 grid on Sundays. On GoComics Puzzles it comes with a GoComics subscription; some newspaper sites carry it free with ads.

About Universal Crossword

The Universal Crossword is Andrews McMeel Universal's flagship daily crossword, which its syndicate calls the original hit puzzle that sets the standard for daily crosswords. It is edited by David Steinberg and runs in print and online in newspapers across the United States and beyond, and on GoComics as one of the Puzzle Society games.

Each weekday grid is a standard American crossword about fifteen squares across, with a theme tying its longest answers together, and Sunday brings a bigger 21x21 grid. The Puzzle Society sums up its style as universal themes, clues and answers: you could spot nods to both the Beatles and Beyoncé. It aims to be approachable rather than obscure, so it suits solvers moving up from mini crosswords as well as regulars.

On GoComics the puzzle is part of the Premium subscription, alongside the Puzzle Society's other crosswords and word games. It came there when the Puzzle Society closed and moved its 34 games to GoComics, each with a new level every day and its full archive; Premium was priced at $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year at the move and is ad-free. Newspapers that license it, such as Stuff in New Zealand, show the same day's grid on their own puzzle pages, often free with ads.

How to play Universal Crossword

Open the Universal Crossword on the GoComics puzzles page and sign in with a GoComics subscription, or find it on a newspaper's puzzle page that carries it.
Pick a square; the highlighted entry shows which clue you are answering, across or down.
Type your answer; letters you fill in also count toward the crossing answers.
Look for the theme linking the longest answers, and use it to fill the rest of the grid.

Tips

Start with fill-in-the-blank clues: they are usually the quickest to get.
Once you spot the theme, apply it to every long answer.
A question mark at the end of a clue means wordplay.

Questions

Who edits the Universal Crossword?

David Steinberg, for Andrews McMeel Universal.

Is the Universal Crossword free?

On GoComics it is part of the Premium subscription, which the Puzzle Society's move notice priced at $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year. Newspapers that license it, such as Stuff in New Zealand, often show it free with ads.

Is there a Sunday Universal Crossword?

Yes. Sundays bring a larger 21x21 grid.

Can I play past Universal Crosswords?

Yes. GoComics keeps the archive of past puzzles for subscribers, as the Puzzle Society's move notice promised for all 34 of its games.