Play Scrimp — A daily word-packing game. You get the clues and a row of tiles too short to spell all the answers out, so the answers have to overlap and share letters. Only one arrangement fits at that length, and no shorter row is possible. Free, no account.

What is Scrimp?

Scrimp is a daily word puzzle that asks you to pack multiple answers into a single row of tiles. The row is deliberately too short to spell out every answer in full, so the words must overlap and share letters. Each day's puzzle has exactly one arrangement that fits at that length, and no shorter row is possible.

Editor takes

A clever constraint puzzle where the single valid overlap demands real logic, but I'd like to see tougher clue sets before calling it a daily challenge.

Viktor · The Purist

The shared-letter trick feels like a tiny sonnet of wordplay, and the clues are crisp enough to make each overlap a small delight.

Etta · The Wordsmith

Perfect for a coffee break—quick to grasp, satisfying to crack, and no login nagging to spoil the fun.

Mara · The Commuter

With only one possible arrangement per length and no shorter row allowed, the puzzle's solvability is provably tight—nice deterministic design.

Marcus · The Numbers Guy

How to play Scrimp

Each puzzle presents a set of clues, and you must figure out the answers. You then place those answers into a row where they intersect and share letters, since the row is shorter than the total length of all the answers combined. Your goal is to find the unique arrangement that fits perfectly in the given space.

Tips & strategy

Start with the longest answers first, as they will constrain the overall layout the most.
Look for common letters like E, T, A, or O that can serve as natural overlap points between words.
Pay attention to the order of the clues—the arrangement may follow a logical sequence.
If you're stuck, try placing one word and see which letters it can share with the others to narrow down the possibilities.
Remember that the row is the shortest possible length, so every letter must be doing double duty wherever it can.

Frequently asked questions

Is Scrimp free to play?

Yes, Scrimp is completely free and does not require an account.

How often does a new puzzle come out?

A new puzzle is released daily.

Is there an app for Scrimp?

No, Scrimp is played directly in your web browser at playscrimp.com.

What happens if I can't solve the puzzle?

You can come back to it later, or use the process of elimination to find the unique arrangement.

Do I need to download anything to play?

No, you can play instantly on the website without any downloads or sign-ups.

Where to play

Play Scrimpplayscrimp.com · free, new puzzle daily