A daily puzzle to find the longest hidden word in the fewest guesses. Tap letters left to right across the grid, skipping any you like, to spell words.
The Daily Cryptic
A free daily cryptic clue with hints, explanations, and a vintage newspaper twist.
Play The Daily Cryptic on the official site
thedailycryptic.com · free, new puzzle daily
Play on thedailycryptic.comWhat is The Daily Cryptic?
The Daily Cryptic is a free daily puzzle that presents a single cryptic crossword clue in a vintage newspaper style. Each day offers a new clue to unravel, with built-in hints and full explanations to help you learn the craft.
How to play The Daily Cryptic
Each day, you're given one cryptic clue and asked to solve it. You can request hints if you're stuck, and after solving (or giving up) you'll see a detailed explanation of the wordplay. The goal is to crack the clue using the conventions of cryptic crosswords.
Tips & strategy
- Look for common cryptic indicators like 'sounds like', 'reversed', or 'inside' that signal wordplay.
- Read the clue both literally and as a set of instructions—cryptic clues often hide the answer in plain sight.
- Pay attention to the punctuation and surface reading; it's usually a misleading story.
- Try breaking the clue into two parts: a definition and a wordplay component.
- If you're new, use the hints liberally—they're designed to teach you the mechanics.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Daily Cryptic free to play?
Yes, the game is free to play every day.
How often is a new puzzle released?
A new cryptic clue is posted daily.
Do I need to be an expert at cryptic crosswords?
No, the hints and explanations are designed to help beginners learn, though some familiarity with cryptic conventions helps.
Is there an app or is it browser-based?
It's playable in your web browser at the provided URL.
Can I play past puzzles?
The site focuses on the daily clue, but you can likely access previous days' puzzles from the archive.
Where to play
Play The Daily Crypticthedailycryptic.com · free, new puzzle daily
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