The timer will restart if the entire puzzle is cleared.Select the Continue button to resume puzzle play and start the timer again.Pause the time by selecting the pause button or leaving the puzzle.You can time how long it takes to solve a puzzle using the timer, which displays above the puzzle. Blue - Letters that have been confirmed with Check.Black - Letters entered in the default pen mode.The letter colors that appear in the Crossword indicate the following: Deselect the pencil icon to return to the default pen mode.

Select the pencil icon (so it’s highlighted) to solve in pencil mode.

Letters entered in the default pen mode are black, while letters entered in pencil mode are gray.

For both app and online, select the pencil icon to switch from one mode to the other. When playing the Crossword, you can alternate between pen and pencil modes. You can toggle Clue View on/off by selecting the Clue View icon:

Switch to Clue View, this presents clues in list form.

Spread your thumb and index finger open to zoom in on the puzzle.There are two ways to adjust the puzzle size in the app: You can switch from the standard keyboard to the secondary by selecting the More button in the lower left corner of your screen. There is a secondary keyboard in the app for symbols and numbers. Players have the option to turn the following cursor settings on/off: To customize cursor movement in the app, select the gear icon in the upper right corner of any puzzle to open the Puzzle Settings menu. Tab + Shift keys - Jump to the previous clue.Backspace (Delete on Macs) - remove words or a letter from a word.Spacebar - clear the current square and advance, toggle between Across and Down.Arrow keys - stay in the same square, move in the direction of the arrow, jump back to the first blank in the word, or jump to the next clue.You can use the following keyboard shortcuts to play the Crossword on a computer: This could mean they were solved after midnight EST on the publication date, you skipped a puzzle day, or you used Check or Reveal. Blue Stars are puzzles that were solved but do not qualify as part of a streak.Gold Stars reflect the number of consecutive puzzles solved before midnight EST on the publication date without using Check or Reveal.If the board is completely filled in and you don’t receive a message, this means there is at least one incorrectly filled square.Ĭompletion of the puzzle is represented with different colored stars.When you solve the puzzle correctly, music will play and a congratulatory message will appear on the screen.How do I know if I’ve successfully solved the puzzle? The Sunday puzzle is approximately on the same difficulty level as the Wednesday or Thursday puzzle, and is larger than other daily puzzles.The New York Times Crossword increases in difficulty from Monday to Saturday.Whether you're a seasoned crossword puzzler or just starting out, tackling a difficult puzzle can be a satisfying and rewarding experience.The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases that cross each other, by solving clues in the Across and Down columns which lead to the answers. The cryptic crossword puzzles found in British newspapers such as The Guardian and The Times are also notoriously challenging, requiring a different set of skills to solve than traditional crossword puzzles. The New York Times Saturday crossword, for example, is often considered the gold standard of crossword puzzles and is notorious for its difficulty level. However, there are a few puzzles that have gained a reputation as being among the most challenging. Some puzzles may be difficult due to the use of rare words or phrases, while others may require a deep knowledge of pop culture or history. Some are notoriously difficult, with obscure clues and complex answers that leave even the most seasoned puzzlers stumped.ĭetermining the most difficult crossword puzzle is subjective, as everyone has different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to wordplay. However, not all crossword puzzles are created equal. They challenge our vocabulary, intellect, and problem-solving skills. Crossword puzzles have been a popular pastime since their creation in the early 20th century.

Free daily difficult crossword puzzles