# Cryptic Crossword — user reviews > 262 indexed App Store user reviews of Cryptic Crossword by Teazel, rated 4.80/5 from 1,056 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptic-crossword/id661608021/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptic-crossword/id661608021.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 890 · 4★ 133 · 3★ 25 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 4 ## What do users think of Cryptic Crossword? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Great mind workout - 👍 Excellent value for money - 👍 Fantastic and addictive challenges - 👍 Not too hard not too easy - 👍 Excellent intro to cryptic crosswords - 👍 Fun and straight forward cryptic crossword game - 👍 Challenging but not too difficult - 👍 Challenging enough without being frustrating - 👍 Relaxing and enjoyable - 👍 Tons of fun and challenge - 👍 Challenging without being ridiculously difficult - 👍 Clever and witty clues - 👍 Bare-bones interface that's easy to navigate - 👍 No advertising - 👍 Gameplay is simple and efficient - 👍 Good for beginners - 👍 Enjoyable for all the word nerds **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashing issues - 🐛 Backup/restore not working - 🐛 Purchased puzzles disappearing after device change - 🔍 Clues can be too easy or too obscure - 🔍 Too many anagrams and hidden word clues - 🔍 Clues can be derogatory or insensitive - 🔍 Interface can be awkward and glitchy - 🔍 Puzzles too easy for experienced solvers **Commonly reported bugs** - Backup/restore not working - Purchased puzzles disappearing after device change - Freezing and crashing issues **Most requested features** - Ability to reset/replay puzzles - More challenging puzzle packs - Explanations/hints for clues - Syncing progress across devices - Graded difficulty levels - Dark mode option - Ability to indicate wrong answers ## Newest reviews (18 of 262) ### 4/5 — Solid *2026-07-06, version 1.28* Good, well designed crosswords at the lower end of the cryptic range. Maybe they should include some tougher ones while keeping most of it a it is. ### 5/5 — Crypto cryptics *2026-05-09, version 1.28* Fantabulous! Lovely workout for the ol grey stuff ### 5/5 — Cryptic crosswords *2026-04-26, version 1.28* These same cryptic crosswords have been on this platform for years change them for some more, without having to pay for them. ### 5/5 — Recommended *2026-04-14, version 1.28* This is a faithful standby for waiting rooms or sleepless nights. Terrific clues that make sense, explanations of any that fox you and options to check guesses, if you’re not quite there. ### 5/5 — No ads *2026-03-19, version 1.28* Love having a crossword that doesn’t inflict you with useless ads. ### 5/5 — Boredom Beater *2026-03-12, version 1.28* Sat waiting for the car to have its MoT? Sat in the doctor’s waiting room? Sleepless night? Whatever dictates boredom can be pleasantly replaced with a good old crossword! ### 5/5 — Enkoyable *2026-03-06, version 1.28* Really liked this game but got a nit sad towards the end when i realised the game was nearly over. I’d be happy to buy another reasonable priced pack from this game any time. ### 5/5 — Riddle *2026-03-02, version 1.28* A great app with challenging but achievable cryptic challenges. ### 5/5 — Cryptic crossword *2026-03-01, version 1.28* Great value for money. ### 3/5 — Not bad *2026-02-16, version 1.28* Good clues, perfectly serviceable app, would be 5 stars if it kept the screen awake so you don’t have to keep randomly tapping whenever you stop to think for more than 10 seconds, with no option to turn this on. ### 4/5 — Almost great but.. *2026-02-04, version 1.28* I love the app but theres one flaw here that the regular crossword one doesn’t have. If I select a wrong letter it should highlight that its a wrong letter but here if I have to click Check Answer/reveal letter ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2026-02-02* This app is worth every penny! There are so many puzzles that when I have finished them all, I can go back and do them all over again because I am sure I will have forgotten the answers. There is a great variety of ways to solve so tests all your knowledge. ### 5/5 — Brain teaser *2026-01-28, version 1.28* Gone back to crosswords from games which is a nice change..too many adverts on games, and cryptic crosswords keeps your brain active ### 4/5 — Good game, despite cultural barrier *2026-01-07* It's a very clever and fun game. Unfortunately it's very hard to parse at times because the answers will be chiefly British words like "abseil" that no one across the pond would ever know. I do wish it stuck to more universal language, but it's a good challenge nonetheless. ### 3/5 — Not very cryptic *2025-12-04, version 1.27* Decent app but the puzzles are quite easy. ### 5/5 — Often confusing *2025-11-28* Often you just can’t see how they have come up with the clue, they often use random letters from the clue, grasping at straws so to say, otherwise a good app ### 3/5 — Very awkward and amateur dev *2025-11-10, version 1.27* Considering how basic and easy this coding is it’s shocking how awkward and clumsy, and glitchy it is to use. Some of the clues very odd. Paid version and expect better. ### 5/5 — Great mind workout *2025-10-11* Fantastic and addictive challenges mind but is not too hard. Perfect for someone learning. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Bit of a shocker. *2025-08-17, version 1.27* Problem with cryptics is that the setter might be hyper weird. This one is. My first and last puzzle included the following clue: ‘Controversial novelist in a hurry to snuff it! ‘ Yeah, really? Rushdie had a fatwa place on him. And he was attacked a few years ago and lost his sight in one eye. Creepy as hell puzzle setter. ### 1/5 — Changed phone and lost everything *2024-05-11, version 1.25* I don’t even know where to start, loved the product but changed phone and now doesn’t know i paid ### 1/5 — Not very PC *2023-06-22, version 1.25* Sometimes the clues can be a bit offensive to minorities and not very sensitive to cultures. Also don’t appreciate the term ‘slut’ being used as part of a clue of ‘loose woman’ Very derogatory and sexist too.. great going for a crossword puzzle!! ### 1/5 — Want to buy. How? *2022-06-23* For the life of me, I can’t find a way to buy the whole list of puzzles ### 1/5 — Weak *2016-09-07, version 1.8* Many clues are either simplistic, unsatisfying, or poorly created, not following cryptic rules well. This app is a simple diversion but not at all impressive. ### 2/5 — Active mind *2025-08-04, version 1.27* The purchased puzzles disappeared when I changed my phone. ### 2/5 — Cannot reopen. Have to repurchase. *2024-01-21* First, I downloaded this to keep me occupied with something really simple to do that I don’t need to think about or concentrate on while waiting for around for flights, etc. instead of reading news sites which can be depressing. However I deleted it by mistake and now I cannot restore it without paying again. But I don’t think the developer has responded to comments for a couple of years so maybe they are no longer operational? PS Although it keeps my attention while I am waiting for other things, the clues are very easy, or are very arbitrary and don’t really relate to the answer. If you are still going it would be great to have a more challenging version. ### 2/5 — Low quality *2020-05-02, version 1.20* Huge proportion is anagrams and hidden words..sigh ### 3/5 — Keyboard compatibility *2026-04-01* I have an iPad case with Bluetooth key board. I’d really love it to be compatible so that I can type the letters into the crossword. I’d also love more free games - 2 per set just isn’t enough for me as I’m nearly running out. ### 3/5 — Good crossword with broken UI *2026-03-05* The puzzles are good overall, though some clues are so obscure they are are borderline random. BUT the UI is as cryptic as the clues. When filling in a partially completed clue, sometimes you have to type all the letters, other times it jumps them and you type only the missing letters. And if you overshoot .. as you will .. the app jumps to the next clue using logic that is obscure and dumps the extra letters in there. The result is you spend more time fixing up typing errors than you do solving clues. Very annoying. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great little app *2026-09-07* Easy to use. Not all the clues are standard cryptics, but most are good. Paid for it once and have used it for over a decade despite changes in phones. No ads. No problems. Just a nice app that does exactly what it should. ### 5/5 — Excellent training *2026-08-05, version 1.28* So worth it. Get this app it teaches you what you need to know to be able to solve cryptic crosswords ### 5/5 — Lover of cryptic *2026-07-19, version 1.28* Some easy some not so, good mix for amateur solver who wants to improve. Pack is a steal. ### 5/5 — Excellent training *2026-07-11, version 1.28* Really love this app. ### 5/5 — Great *2026-06-26, version 1.28* Great cryptic crossword puzzle app, hopefully more puzzles will be added ### 5/5 — Love this *2026-06-24, version 1.28* Ready for the next set of puzzles! ### 5/5 — Goes Hard *2026-06-20, version 1.28* Me and my partner do this when we’re hammered and it goes so hard oh my god ### 5/5 — Fun and affordable *2026-06-03, version 1.28* A great app. No troubles thus far. So many puzzles so little time :) ### 5/5 — Crossword *2026-05-23, version 1.28* No cross words ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-05-17, version 1.28* Great app --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-09.*