Cryptic Crossword

Cryptic crosswords take the form of a normal crossword, but each clue is in itself a word puzzle. They first began to appear in various forms in the UK during the mid-1920s and are popular in a number of Commonwealth nations, as well as Israel and the Netherlands.

Cryptic crossword clues generally consist of two parts – definition (the answer) and wordplay (the rest of the clue). The wordplay uses a number of established cryptic devices such as Anagrams, Charades, Containers, Double Definitions, Homophones, Reversals and Subtractions. Each cryptic device poses its own challenge and helps to preserve the uniqueness of each clue given.

You could try Skeleton Crossword, which requires you to fill the virtually empty crossword grid with its black squares and clue numbers, as well as solving the traditional crossword clues.

Like to play your puzzles online? We have a huge selection you can play right now in your web browser! 

Our Cryptic Crosswords Puzzler app is perfect for cryptic fans. Or, if you fancy something different, check out Crosswords Puzzler, Piecewords Puzzler and Backwords Puzzler.

Cryptic crossword puzzles are very popular with our readers, and so feature in a number of our magazines, including:

Fans of cryptic crosswords may be interested in the following printable puzzles and books: