The rules
- There are no black squares. Every square that isn’t a letter is a clue square and holds one or two clues.
- An arrow in a clue square shows where the answer starts. You write the answer from the square the arrow points to, in a run of letters, until the run ends.
- A straight arrow points to the next square along the row or to the one below. A bent arrow means the answer starts in the neighboring square and runs the other way.
- Across answers are written left to right, down answers from top to bottom.
- Every letter belongs to at least one answer, and most belong to two: one across and one down. A letter you solve helps with both clues.
- The puzzle is solved when every letter is filled in correctly.
How to play
- Pick a clue: tap a clue square. The first tap selects its first answer, and the second tap its second answer, if it has one.
- Pick a letter: tap a letter square. Tap the same square again, or press Space, to switch between across and down.
- Type with the keyboard under the grid or with your own keyboard. After each letter the selection moves to the next letter of the answer.
- Erase: Backspace erases the letter, or steps back and erases if the square is empty.
- Move between clues: Tab and Shift+Tab, or the buttons in the clue bar. The arrow keys move between squares.
- Clue bar: above the keyboard it shows the selected clue in full, with its arrow, even when it is small inside the square.
- Undo and redo: Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y (on a Mac: Cmd+Z and Cmd+Shift+Z).
Your progress is saved automatically in your browser, so you can close the page and come back later.
Difficulty levels
The level sets the size of the grid and also the clues: easy has simple clues and everyday words, and the higher levels have clues that need more knowledge or thought.
| Level | Grid (columns × rows) |
|---|---|
| Easy | 7×7 |
| Medium | 9×9 |
| Hard | 9×11 |
| Expert | 11×13 |
Techniques
Follow the arrow
The arrow tells you where the answer starts and which way it runs. Count the squares in the run: the answer has exactly that many letters.
Use crossings
Most letters sit in two answers. A letter you know for sure gives you a letter in the crossing answer.
Short answers first
An answer of two or three letters opens quickly, and its letters help in the crossings.
Hints
Each press of Hint helps a bit more on one answer: first it marks the wrong letters in an answer (or gives a letter when none is wrong), then it gives one letter, and last the whole answer. A hint never writes in the grid. You type the answer yourself.
Tips
- Start with what you know: go over the clues and fill in the ones you are sure of first.
- Check the arrow: it sets where the answer starts and which way it runs.
- Short answers are a chance: their letters help in the crossings.
- Use the crossings: every letter also helps the answer that crosses it.
- Don’t be afraid to be wrong: you can always erase, and Check tells you if something doesn’t fit.
FAQ
- What is an Arrow Word?
- A crossword with no black squares and no list of clues. The clues are written in squares of the grid itself, and an arrow in each clue shows where the answer starts and which way it runs.
- How is it different from a regular crossword?
- In a regular crossword the clues are in a numbered list outside the grid. Here there are no numbers and no list: the clue sits right next to its answer.
- How do I read a long clue?
- Inside the square the clue is shown in small type. When you select it, the clue bar above the keyboard shows it in full, with its arrow.
- Some squares have two clues. How do I pick each one?
- The first tap on the square selects its first answer, and the next tap selects its second. The first clue is in the top part of the square and the second in the bottom part.
- How do I know if I made a mistake?
- The board doesn't tell you while you type. When you want to check, press Check to learn whether there are mistakes. Press it again to mark where they are.
- Is there a new puzzle every day?
- Yes. A new Arrow Word is published every day at each of the four levels: easy, medium, hard and expert. Earlier puzzles are in the archive.
- Do I need an account to play?
- No. You play right in your browser, with no sign-up and no cookies. Your progress is saved in your browser.