CROSSWORDS: Sources: Web Sites

Different Ways to Solve | Download Puzzle Files |
Selected US Sites | Lists of Sites | Cryptic Sites | Acrostics

Different Ways to Solve

  • There are countless sites with crosswords -- many listed later:
  • pdf 366.pdf: paper puzzles, .pdf or image file, print from browser or solving app
    -- the simplest, and best if you prefer paper (previous section)
  • web 135web: solve interactively on most devices, in most browsers, in a JavaScript applet
    in the old days, many required installation of malware-prone Java or Flash plugins
  • Check (or Reveal) answers if you get stuck; Print, other features.
  • scraper 64download .puz, .pdf from Crossword Scraper (CS) compatible sites
  • AL 45.puz: download puzzle files from sites for a solving app,
    e.g., Across Lite, Crosswords, XWord, etc.; some use an internal format, e.g., NYT Crossword
    -- more setup; best for solving offline; Check, Reveal, Print, other features;
    more consistent commands & navigation for multiple puzzle sources
  • later subsections: Select US sites; Other Site Lists; Cryptic Sites;
    later sections: Misc. Sites, by Constructor and Org.; Steve's puzzles;

browsersDownload Puzzle Files

  • Besides solving crosswords interactively (directly in your browser), you can download:
  • .pdf files for printing, or
  • AL 45.puz files for printing or interactive solving in a crossword application
    e.g., Across Lite, Crosswords, XWord, etc.
  • scraperscraper 64Crossword Scraper (CS), a free extension for Firefox & Chrome can convert [right]
    a crossword in a browser JavaScript (JS) applet to .puz, .jpz, .ipuz or .pdf;
    "CS" marks sites compatible with Crossword Scraper browser extension, e.g., New Yorker, NYT, Reagle,
    and compatible applets, e.g., Crossword Compiler, Crossword Nexus, PuzzleMe, XWordInfo;
    other applets, incl. non-CS: Constructing Crosswords: Solving: Applets in Browsers: Gallery
  • XWord app (Win, Mac, Lnx) can download puzzles from many sites [right]
    e.g., NYT?, Newsday, LAT, USA Today, Jonesin' (Th), WSJ (Mo-Sa),
    xwordUniversal (Mo-Su & Su), BEQ (Mo, Th), WaPo (Su), New Yorker (Mo-Fr),
    Atlantic (Mo-Fr, Su), NY Magazine (Su) -- also customizable feeds
    -- to solve directly, or File > Save as, e.g., .puz to solve in other apps.
  • If Python is installed on your system, you can convert multiple puzzles at a time
    to .puz for many sites with xword-dl
  • A refresher on downloading files from a puzzle link (.pdf, .puz, .jpz) follows:
  1. file linkfind file to download from text description or file (link) or button;
    e.g., NYT, Reagle (Sun); LAT @
  2. with cursor, check suffix (.puz, .pdf) in status/location bar; e.g., in Firefox
  3. iOS: tap, Mac: ctrl-click, Win: right-click -- the link or button
    note: what happens after a (normal) left-click/tap depends on the settings in your browser:
    will it use a browser plugin or helper app to open the file, save file to Downloads folder, or prompt you?
    If file displays in a browser window or tab, use your browser's File: Save As command.
  4. download puzin browser's popup menu, select "Save/Download" command
    • Firefox (example screenshot at right): Save Link As...
    • macOS: Safari: Download Linked File As...
    • Chrome: Save Link As...
    • Windows: Edge: -- no Save As command, just click link?
    • ios wsjiOS (Safari): .puz: Open in: Crosswords, Across Lite, ...
      .pdf: 'Share icon' > Print; AirDrop; Copy to iBooks, GoodReader (skip next 2 steps)
  5. choose location (folder) to save file (if not Downloads folder)
  6. open file in appropriate application -- double click file, or right-click: Open With
    e.g., .pdf with Adobe Acrobat; .puz with Across Lite
  7. enjoy and solve!

Selected US Sites

lists: Crossword Fiend | Cruciverb | Daily Crossword Links | Johnston, Will

puzzles: [Andrews McMeel]: Universal | [Arkadium:King] |
Brendan Emmett Quigley (BEQ) | [Creators]: Newsday | Jonesin' (Matt) |
Los Angeles Times (LAT) [Tribune Content Agency] | New York Times (NYT) | New Yorker |
USA Today | Wall Street Journal (WSJ) | Washington Post (WaPo)

misc.: Other Site Lists | Cryptic Sites | Misc. Sites, by Constructor and Org. | Steve's puzzles

  • source: site name, newspaper, author may include [syndicate], e.g., McMeel:Universal
  • a site should work with any web browser/computer, subject to Format requirements
  • sites may change puzzle providers or formats, restrict access,
    e.g., subscribers only or no ad blockers, or even disappear (I usually check/update these before start of course)
  • some sites are free (w/ ads) or offer free samples (AV Club; Crossword Nation);
    some are premium(subscription) sites, e.g., NYT $, Telegraph;
    others LAT (.puz) may require free cruciverb.com account @
  • downforacross.com
    online website for sharing crosswords and playing collaboratively with friends in real time;
    puzzles from subscription or limited sites might be uploaded there
  • older sites/years may still be accessible via WayBack Machine': web.archive.org
    -- mostly .puz, .pdf files interactive versions generally don't work
  • formats
  • pdf 366list: links for selected site
  • .pdf: printable puzzle / solution; maybe image (.gif, jpg)
  • scraper 64web 135web: runs in all browsers;
    download .puz, .pdf from "Crossword Scraper (CS) compatible sites
  • AL 45.puz: download file; Open in an app e.g., Across Lite, Crosswords
    .jpz, .ipuz: newer / rarer formats
  • features
  • availability/location of commands (e.g., Check, Reveal), and
    keyboard navigation (next clue; toggle between Across and Down) will vary for each site/puzzle app
  • many sites allow printing from browser and include solutions
  • many sites limit puzzle availability: 1 week - 1 month archive; lag for online access;
    *: marks time-limited archives
  • additional links may be provided for other formats and puzzles
  • some sites may not display well (or at all) on smaller devices -- use an Application?

[Andrews McMeel]: Universal

[Arkadium:King]

BEQ

[Creators]: Newsday: daily, Sun

fiendCrossword Fiend

  • list w/ links to *current web, .pdf, .puz -- "recommended" [right]
  • daily: LAT @; Newsday; NYT $; Puzzle Society; Universal; WSJ;
    Sun: Cruciverbalist at Law; Universal; Washington Post (WaPo);
    Mon: BEQ; The Grid Kid; The New Yorker $;
    Tue: Club 72; Crossword Nation $; Jonesin;
    Wed: Glutton for Pun;
    Thu: AVC $; BEQ; Fireball $;
    Fri: Club 72; Gaffney $; The Week;
    Sat: Devil Cross;
    mo./other: Blindauer; Life as a Puzzle; Music Meta; Cross Nerd
  • also available: reviews / solutions

cvCruciverb

  • list w/ links to a few *current web, .pdf, .puz [right]
  • web, .pdf: Newsday[Creator], New Yorker, USA Today; also sites; blogs
  • .puz: BEQ; Jonesin; LAT @; Universal; WSJ; WaPo (Sun);
    LAT *30-days; @ requires free cruciverb.com account;

dxl2dxl1Daily Crossword Links (DXL)

  • most comprehensive, mostly up-to-date list
  • [on right: sample daily email with recent puzzles]

Johnston, Will

Jonesin'

Los Angeles Times (LAT); [Tribune Content Agency]

xwd nytNew York Times (NYT) $

New Yorker

USA Today

Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

Washington Post (WaPo)

Lists of Sites

Selected Cryptic Sites

Selected Acrostic Sites