Play Crossword Online
Daily mini and full crosswords with easy to hard clues.
How to Play Crossword
Modes: Easy 5×5 Mini · Medium 5×5 Mini · Hard 5×5 Mini · Classic 7×7 · Daily
Fill the white squares with letters so every across and down answer matches its clue.
Click a square to select it, then type a letter. Tab switches between across and down.
Each clue number points to the first square of its answer, reading across or down.
When every square holds the correct letter, the puzzle is complete.
Rules
Every white square belongs to one across answer and one down answer.
Black squares separate answers; the first square of each answer is numbered.
All answers are common words from our clue list.
Scoring
| Win | complete the full grid |
| Time | fastest solve wins |
History & Origins of Crossword
The crossword was invented by journalist Arthur Wynne, whose first puzzle appeared in the New York World on 21 December 1913. It became a daily institution in newspapers worldwide.
Our mini crosswords keep the same black-square mechanics in a compact 5×5 grid, with easy, medium and hard clue packs and a fresh daily puzzle. A larger Classic 7×7 crossword adds longer runs and more crossings for players who want a traditional ten-minute solve.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filling a letter before its crossing clue confirms it.
- Reading clue grammar literally when a question mark means wordplay.
- Forgetting that the answer can be a different word form (plural, verb ending).
Tips & Strategy
Start with the easiest clues — short answers and obvious ones fill squares fast and unlock crossings.
When stuck on one direction, switch with Tab and solve the crossing words instead.
Use the Check button to flag wrong letters, then correct only those squares.
Use the Hint button when you are stuck — it fills one correct letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Crossword free to play?
- Yes — Crossword on ThinkyPlay is completely free, with no download and no sign-up.
- What size is the Crossword?
- The Mini is a quick 5×5 grid solvable in a couple of minutes; the Classic is a larger 7×7 crossword that takes around ten minutes. Daily puzzles rotate through them.
- Can I play Crossword on my phone?
- Yes — tap a square and use the on-screen keyboard. It works on desktop, tablet and mobile.
- What do Check and Hint do?
- Check highlights wrong letters in red; Hint fills one correct letter for you.
- What is the difference between Mini and Classic?
- Mini is a fast 5×5 brain break. Classic is a traditional 7×7 crossword with longer answers, more crossings and richer clues.
- Who wrote the first crossword?
- Journalist Arthur Wynne published the first crossword in the New York World on 21 December 1913.
- What are the difficulty differences?
- Easy uses blocky grids with extra given letters, while Hard is a fully open word square that needs careful crossings.
- Who owns the crossword clues and puzzles?
- Our clue text, grids and curated puzzles are original ThinkyPlay content. Please don’t scrape them or use them to train AI; the underlying answer word list is separately credited under its MIT license in our third-party notices.