CH!WORD*
ChaoswordDaily crossword?
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How to Play Chaosword

Three crosswords a day. The same puzzles for everyone. Morning (5x5), Evening (7x7), and Midnight (11x11). Fresh grids, fill, and clues each evening. The grids are always solvable. The clues range from direct definitions to playful wordplay.

1

Filling in

Tap a square and type. Arrow keys move between squares. Space or Enter flips between Across and Down. Tab jumps to the next clue.

Tip: On mobile, tap Keyboard for the on-screen keys. Hit Pause to freeze time.
2

Checking & revealing

Check marks wrong letters in red without spoiling the answer. Reveal fills in stubborn letters or words when you are stuck.

Scorecard: Clean solves without reveals earn a ranked score on the leaderboard.

The three clue stamps

Every clue carries an editorial stamp next to its number that signals its personality. If you know the word, you can solve any of them.

Ink

A straight, fair clue. A real dictionary definition or direct synonym.

Smudge

A sideways clue: a metaphor, a literary nod, or a wry perspective stated as fact.

Riot

Pure wordplay. Sharp puns, cheeky double meanings, and lateral misdirection that still point firmly to the answer.

Every day is rolled from these dials

Before daily generation starts, the date deterministically sets a series of dials. The same day is the exact same setup for every player worldwide.

Daily editions

Morning (5x5)Fast warmup slip. Seeds the day with core anchor words.
Evening (7x7)Standard tabloid. Echoes roots and words from the morning.
Midnight (11x11)Broadsheet capstone. The largest grid, weaving clues from all editions.

Symmetry

RotationalThe classic. Spin the grid 180 degrees and the black squares land in the same places.
MirrorLeft half reflects the right half. A different silhouette from the usual crossword.
FreeformNo symmetry rule at all. The black squares fall where they fall.

Density

OpenFew or no black squares. Long answers, heavy crossing.
StandardA normal daily-mini amount of black.
DenseMore black squares, shorter answers, still nothing under three letters.

Grid shape

DiamondBlack squares frame a diamond-shaped playfield.
CrossBlack squares in corners form a plus or cross shape.
PinwheelRotational arms create a spinning pinwheel outline.
StandardClassic organic crossword black-square flow.

Theme

ThemedThe grid answers share a hidden connection: from domain worlds (maritime, jazz, culinary, cosmic, noir) to letter patterns and wordplay (alliteration, homophones, hidden words, double meanings), among many creative possibilities. Revealed on your result card once you solve.
ThemelessNo connection. Just the fill and the clues.

Palindromes

PalindromesIncludes answers that read the same backwards, clued with symmetrical nods.
StandardNo special palindrome requirements.

Reversals

ReversalsSelect answers reverse into another valid word, with clues winking at the opposite direction.
StandardDirect clue definitions.

Meta bonus

Meta bonusThe first letters of across answers spell a secret bonus word revealed upon completion.
StandardStandard standalone across clues.

Chaos mix

CalmMostly direct clues, with one wordplay riot for the road.
StandardA normal spread of Ink, Smudge, and Riot.
UnhingedWordplay and pun-forward. One direct clue is still guaranteed.

Clue style

TerseShort, clipped clues.
StandardNormal clue length.
OrnateLonger clues with a bit of scene-setting.

Cross-edition links

Hard cross-linksOne or two clues explicitly reference a specific clue on an earlier board. The clue will not fully click until you solve that one first.
Trilogy echoAnswers from earlier boards appear as flavor or context inside clues. Gettable on their own, but rewards solving in order.
StandaloneEvery clue stands alone. No cross-edition references today.

The grid is always fair

Whatever dials are rolled, a rigorous validator tests every grid before publication. Every square crosses cleanly, every word is standard English, and every puzzle is 100% solvable.

Guest or signed in

Play freely without an account: your progress is stored on this device. Sign in via passwordless magic link to sync streaks and in-progress puzzles between your phone and computer.

Ready to solve?

Today's three editions are live on the press.

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