USA TODAY Crossword

USA TODAY publishes a new crossword every day and gives each one a title, even the themeless ones, which the paper calls freestyle and titles after one of their answers. Themed puzzles hide their theme in the title: Check Back, for example, had theme answers ending in words that pair with check, such as blank check and rain check. Each puzzle names its constructor and its editor; on 21 October 2026 the grid was Sweet P's by Norman M. Aaronson, edited by Amanda Rafkin.

The puzzles are known for modern, inclusive clueing with plenty of pop culture. For several years USA TODAY also ran Off the Grid, a column by Sally Hoelscher that broke down each day's puzzle with notes on the theme and the trickier answers.

The crossword now lives on USA TODAY Play at play.usatoday.com, beside the 4x4 Quick Cross and the 9x9 MidGrid. Open today's puzzle and, after a short video ad, the grid opens with the clue lists beside it on a desktop and a clue bar above and below it on a phone. A timer can be turned on, and the toolbar has reveal tools and a print button. Today's crossword is always free; a free account keeps streaks and stats, and a USA TODAY Play subscription removes the ads and opens the archive of past days. The app, USA TODAY PLAY Crosswords, is on the App Store and Google Play. The site is not available in some countries, including the EU.

It suits solvers who want an approachable daily crossword with current references, from beginners to regulars looking for a quick themed solve.