# CrypticCrab Crossword — Your #1 cryptic crossword app > Interactive cryptic crossword learning and puzzle app with multiplayer. (iPhone/iPad app by Rodney Telford.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crypticcrab-crossword/id6759689690 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Rodney Telford](https://appshunter.io/developer/1423607163) - Category: Games, Education, Puzzle, Word - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.70/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 15 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-26 - Data updated: 2026-08-25 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crypticcrab-crossword/id6759689690/reviews.md ## What is CrypticCrab Crossword? Ever stared at a cryptic crossword clue and wondered if it was written in another language? You're not alone. CrypticCrab cracks the code on cryptic crosswords, one clue at a time. Most people think cryptic clues are impenetrable. The secret? Every cryptic clue has exactly two paths to the answer. Once you see the pattern, you'll never look at a crossword the same way again. CrypticCrab teaches you to solve real cryptic crossword clues through hands-on practice, not passive reading. Our four-phase lesson system breaks down each concept: TEACH: Watch as clues are dissected before your eyes. Colour-coded breakdowns show exactly how definition and wordplay work together. GUIDED SOLVE: Tap the definition words, identify the wordplay, classify the technique. Immediate feedback on every tap -- green for right, shake for wrong. ASSISTED SOLVE: Try solving with a safety net. Progressive hints when you're stuck (technique type is free; letters cost XP). SOLO SOLVE: You versus the clue. Enter your answer letter by letter, with a detailed breakdown after every attempt that reinforces what you've learned. NEW IN 2.0 -- MORE WAYS TO PLAY: DAILY CLUE: A fresh cryptic every day. Keep your streak alive. PAST CLUES: Missed a day? Replay any previous daily from the calendar archive. UNLIMITED PLAY: An endless library of clues. Pick your level -- Rookie, Standard, Expert or Master -- and solve as many as you like. HEAD-TO-HEAD DUELS: Race a friend or a rival in real time -- same clue, same clock. Climb the rankings in ranked matches, or keep it friendly. REFERENCE LIBRARY: A searchable glossary of indicator words and abbreviations, always a tap away. STATS HUB: Track your streak, XP, leaderboard standing and awards, all in one place. WHAT YOU GET: - Learning modules that build real skill: The Golden Rule (double definitions) and Indicator Words (anagrams, hidden words, reversals and more) - A fresh daily puzzle plus a full archive of past clues - Unlimited Play across four difficulty tiers - Real-time head-to-head multiplayer with Game Center rankings and achievements - XP system with 8 levels from Novice to Grand Master - Streak tracking that rewards consistency (and never punishes a missed day) - Three-star ratings on every lesson -- replay for perfection - A searchable reference glossary and technique summaries that unlock as you learn - Progress that syncs across your devices with iCloud CrypticCrab is a word puzzle game that teaches as you play -- now with a completely redesigned 2.0 experience. Free to start, with no ads. An optional Premium unlock (or one-time Lifetime purchase) adds the full past-clue archive, every learning module, unlimited solving and friend leaderboards. Lessons play offline; the daily clue, the archive and multiplayer need a connection. Whether you're a complete beginner who's never attempted a cryptic clue, or a casual solver looking to understand the method behind the madness, CrypticCrab meets you where you are and builds your skills one clue at a time. The answer to the clue is always there. You just need to learn where to look. ## Key features - Interactive lesson system - Daily and archived puzzles - Unlimited solving across difficulty tiers - Real-time head-to-head multiplayer - Searchable reference glossary - Progress tracking and stats ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | CrypticCrab Premium (3 Month) | $9.99 | per 3 months | | CrypticCrab Premium (1 Month) | $3.99 | per month | **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Learning Module 2 | $1.99 | one-time | | Learning Module 3 | $1.99 | one-time | | CrypticCrab Premium (lifetime) | $69.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (3 of 3) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crypticcrab-crossword/id6759689690/reviews.md ### 2/5 — paywalled *2026-05-20* can’t even get through all the lessons without a paywall, fun concept but not worth the money for stuff i could google ### 5/5 — This is the first cryptic crossword app I’ve used that actually helps things click *2026-03-28* It breaks clues down clearly, teaches patterns well, and makes solving feel rewarding rather than frustrating. Brilliant idea and very well executed. ### 5/5 — I learned a thing or two *2026-03-28* If you want to level up your cryptic crossword skills, this is the way 🏆 ## Frequently asked questions about CrypticCrab Crossword ### How does CrypticCrab teach cryptic crosswords? CrypticCrab uses a four-phase lesson system: Teach (dissected clues), Guided Solve (interactive clue breakdown), Assisted Solve (progressive hints), and Solo Solve (independent solving with feedback). This hands-on approach breaks down concepts like definitions and wordplay. ### Can I play CrypticCrab offline? Lessons in CrypticCrab can be played offline. However, features like the daily clue, the past clue archive, and multiplayer require an internet connection to function. ### What are the pricing options for CrypticCrab? CrypticCrab is free to start with no ads. An optional Premium unlock is available as a one-time Lifetime purchase or through monthly/quarterly subscriptions, which grants access to the full past-clue archive, all learning modules, and unlimited solving. ### Does CrypticCrab have multiplayer modes? Yes, CrypticCrab offers head-to-head duels where you can race a friend or rival in real time on the same clue. It also includes ranked matches with Game Center rankings and achievements. ### What is the age rating for CrypticCrab? CrypticCrab has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for a wide audience, including children, due to its non-violent and educational nature. ### How often is CrypticCrab updated? The latest version, 2.0.1, was last updated on June 17, 2026. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, the release of a major 2.0 version suggests ongoing development and improvements. ### What devices does CrypticCrab support? Currently, CrypticCrab is supported on iPhones. Progress can sync across your devices using iCloud. ### What makes CrypticCrab different from other crossword apps? CrypticCrab focuses specifically on teaching the mechanics of cryptic crosswords through interactive lessons and guided practice, rather than just providing puzzles. It offers a structured learning path and unique multiplayer modes. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.0.1 — 2026-06-17 A FRESH NEW LOOK The whole app has been rebuilt around clear tabs -- Play, Learn, Stats and a dedicated Reference library -- with a warmer, cleaner design throughout. New here? A quick guided tour now welcomes you on first launch and shows off every feature (you can replay it any time from Settings). NEW WAYS TO PLAY - Daily Clue: a fresh cryptic every day to keep your streak alive. - Past Clues: missed a day? Replay any previous daily from the calendar archive. - Unlimited Play: an endless library of clues across four difficulty tiers -- Rookie, Standard, Expert and Master. Solve as many as you like and earn XP. - Head-to-Head Duels: race a friend or a rival in real time over the same clue, on the same clock. Play ranked to climb the leaderboard, or keep it friendly. Share a lobby code to invite someone instantly. SHARPER SOLVING TOOLS The Help Me shelf now bundles smarter assistance -- free technique hints, definition reveals, a letter jumble, an anagram solver, a thesaurus and an instant reference lookup, so you're never truly stuck. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS A new Stats hub gathers your streak, XP, leaderboard standing and awards in one place. Progress now syncs across all your devices with iCloud, and Game Center brings leaderboards and achievements. Plus countless fixes and polish throughout. Smoother animations, clearer screens and a more consistent feel everywhere. CrypticCrab is free to start, with no ads. An optional Premium (or one-time Lifetime) unlock adds the full past-clue archive, every learning module, unlimited solving and friend leaderboards. Thanks for playing. Now go get cracking! ### 2.0.0 — 2026-06-16 A FRESH NEW LOOK The whole app has been rebuilt around clear tabs -- Play, Learn, Stats and a dedicated Reference library -- with a warmer, cleaner design throughout. New here? A quick guided tour now welcomes you on first launch and shows off every feature (you can replay it any time from Settings). NEW WAYS TO PLAY - Daily Clue: a fresh cryptic every day to keep your streak alive. - Past Clues: missed a day? Replay any previous daily from the calendar archive. - Unlimited Play: an endless library of clues across four difficulty tiers -- Rookie, Standard, Expert and Master. Solve as many as you like and earn XP. - Head-to-Head Duels: race a friend or a rival in real time over the same clue, on the same clock. Play ranked to climb the leaderboard, or keep it friendly. Share a lobby code to invite someone instantly. SHARPER SOLVING TOOLS The Help Me shelf now bundles smarter assistance -- free technique hints, definition reveals, a letter jumble, an anagram solver, a thesaurus and an instant reference lookup, so you're never truly stuck. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS A new Stats hub gathers your streak, XP, leaderboard standing and awards in one place. Progress now syncs across all your devices with iCloud, and Game Center brings leaderboards and achievements. Plus countless fixes and polish throughout. Smoother animations, clearer screens and a more consistent feel everywhere. CrypticCrab is free to start, with no ads. An optional Premium (or one-time Lifetime) unlock adds the full past-clue archive, every learning module, unlimited solving and friend leaderboards. Thanks for playing. Now go get cracking! ### 1.1.0 — 2026-04-06 What's New in v1.1 - New Help Tools: Reference Lookup, Anagram Solver, Thesaurus, and Letter Jumble now open as dedicated bottom sheets instead of inline in the solve screen, giving each tool more space and a cleaner solve experience - Native Text Selection: Select words in the clue using standard iOS long-press in Reference Lookup and Thesaurus cards (requires iOS 18) - Letter Jumble Card: Shuffle your letters visually in a dedicated card with a Shuffle button — tap Done when you're happy with the arrangement - Smarter Anagram Solver: Hint-revealed letters are now locked to their positions when searching, so results only show words that fit - Hint-Revealed Letters Stand Out: Letters given by the Letter hint now display in the theme colour (coral for daily, teal for archive) so you can tell them apart from letters you typed - Letters Kept on Wrong Answer: Submitting an incorrect answer no longer clears your letterboxes, so you can keep using tools against what you've entered - "Not Quite" Feedback on Past Clues: Archive puzzles now show the same "Not quite — try again!" card that daily puzzles show on a wrong answer - Tool XP Costs: Using the Anagram Solver (−15 XP) or Thesaurus (−10 XP) now reduces the XP you earn when you solve the puzzle - iOS 18 Minimum ### 1.0.3 — 2026-04-03 Bugfixes. ### 1.0.2 — 2026-04-01 Minor bugfix for lifetime plan. ## Apps similar to CrypticCrab Crossword | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Bullpen: Logic Puzzle Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bullpen-logic-puzzle-game/id6642673670) | 4.9 (1,270) | Free | Games | | [Nonogram.com Color: Logic Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nonogramcom-color-logic-game/id1516617231) | 4.7 (25,402) | Free | Games | | [GUBBINS — It's a word game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gubbins-its-a-word-game/id1551894081) | 4.7 (1,625) | Free | Games | | [Connect Words - Puzzle Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/connect-words-puzzle-game/id6476164708) | 4.6 (50,152) | Free | Games | | [Logic Grid Puzzles](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/logic-grid-puzzles/id919571269) | 4.8 (38,739) | Free | Games | | [Hexa Words: Match Associations](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hexa-words-match-associations/id6753587430) | 4.6 (2,760) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Rodney Telford - [PigPen](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pigpen/id6764156945) - [Bunny Burrow](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunny-burrow/id6767036533) - [Faultline Puzzle](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/faultline-puzzle/id6767724943) - [Letter Weave](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/letter-weave/id6770888037) All apps by Rodney Telford: https://appshunter.io/developer/1423607163 ## Related topics [one minute cryptic](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/one-minute-cryptic) · [cryptic crossword](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cryptic-crossword) · [minute cryptic](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/minute-cryptic) --- *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 2026-08-25.*