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Easy Crossword

An independent Easy Mode Crossword alternative: our own approachable 11×11 grid, clear clues and optional checks.

Easy Crossword

Gentle clues. A bigger little escape.

11 × 11
00:00

1 Across

Select a square to begin.

0 letters filled

Check:
Reveal:

Across

    Down

      Controls, checks & saving

      Choose a square or a numbered clue. Type letters or use the on-screen keyboard. Tap the selected square again, press Enter, or use “Switch direction” to change Across/Down at a crossing. Arrow keys move through open squares; Backspace erases. Spaces are omitted from multiword answers.

      Checks, reveals and Auto-check mark the result as assisted. Reveals fill a correct letter or entry; checks identify incorrect filled squares. Practice has no timer. Daily changes at midnight New York time. Progress is saved in this browser when local storage is available; it is not synced between devices.

      These original grids are intentionally sparse, connected blocked crosswords rather than dense newspaper fills. Every open letter belongs to a real numbered Across or Down entry. The collection contains 21 distinct 11×11 grids. Unlimited cycles this finite library; it does not promise newly generated puzzles.

      Every square in its place.

       
       
       
      A beginner-friendly crossword with real crossings
       
      Easy Crossword uses an 11×11 connected, blocked grid and straightforward clues. The open squares form actual Across and Down entries that share letters. The deliberately spacious layout has more black squares than a dense newspaper crossword; “11×11” describes its dimensions, not 121 answer letters.
       
      The aim is to complete every open square correctly. There is no need to know a specialist crossword code before starting: read a definition, fit the answer to its length, then use the crossings to solve another word.
       
      How to get your first answer
       
         
      1. Select a clue or one of its white squares. Check whether the entry runs Across or Down.
        2.  
      2. Count the available letters and choose a word that answers the whole clue.
        3.  
      3. Type it using the keyboard or the game’s letter keys.
        4.  
      4. Move to a crossing clue. Keep letters that satisfy both answers; revise uncertain guesses.
        5.  
      5. Use Check to locate an error, or Reveal for help. Review the final result once the complete grid is correct.
        6.  
       
      Choose a comfortable way to enter answers
       
      Use the on-screen keyboard or type with a physical keyboard. At a crossing, tap the selected square again, press Enter or choose Switch direction. Arrow keys move between open squares; Backspace erases. Previous clue and Next clue move by entry. Turn on Large cells if you prefer a bigger target; the board can scroll inside its own area.
       
      Check Letter, Word or Grid gives error feedback. Auto-check does that as you enter letters. Reveal Letter or Word supplies the intended answer. All these forms of help are recorded as assistance, so compare similar kinds of attempts.
       
      A simple pattern can narrow the answer
       
      For the teaching clue “A crunchy orchard fruit” with five squares, the pattern A _ P _ E points to APPLE. The known letters may have come from Down answers. If a crossing produces a conflicting final letter, check that crossing clue before forcing the word into place.
       
      This is not the green-and-yellow feedback of a word-guessing game. Each square is one shared letter, and changing it changes every answer through that square. The easy crossword solving guide explains how to separate confident answers from guesses.
       
      Daily, Unlimited and Practice
       
      Daily selects the same original crossword for everyone on the date in America/New_York. The date changes at midnight there, accounting for daylight saving time. For more play, choose Easy Crossword Unlimited and use the available puzzle and topic choices.
       
      Practice removes the pressure of a timed run. The library is finite, but there is no daily play cap in Unlimited. Your entered letters and progress remain in this browser when local storage is available; there is no account or cross-device sync requirement.
       
      Checks and reveals are learning tools
       
      Check helps identify an incorrect entered letter. Reveal supplies the intended answer and counts as assistance. A completed grid must be correct, so entering arbitrary letters into every square does not finish it. When help resolves a clue, read its explanation before moving on.
       
      A free Easy Mode-style alternative
       
      This game uses original clues and an independent 11×11 layout. It does not reproduce an official NYT Easy Mode grid, import its answers or unlock a subscription. The general comparison is a gentler crossword experience; the exact layouts and clue sets differ.
       
      See the six-game Bonus Puzzles alternatives guide for the access comparison. If you want a shorter grid, play Mini Mystery. For a longer central theme answer, try Crossword Stories.
       
      Questions from new solvers
       
       
      What makes this crossword easy?
      It favors direct definitions and familiar vocabulary, with a spacious blocked grid and optional help. Difficulty still depends on the words you know; no solve-time guarantee is implied.
       
      Does a black square need an answer?
      No. Black squares separate entries. Only the open letter squares are filled.
       
      Why is the board larger than the mini?
      The 11×11 layout provides more interconnected entries and a longer session. Mini Mystery uses a compact 5×5 format for a shorter challenge.
       
      Can I keep practicing for free?
      Yes. Unlimited mode has no daily cap and uses the finite original collection.