# Telegraph Puzzles: Word Games — user reviews > 275 indexed App Store user reviews of Telegraph Puzzles by TELEGRAPH MEDIA GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, rated 4.30/5 from 30 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegraph-puzzles-word-games/id6443410854/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegraph-puzzles-word-games/id6443410854.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 22 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of Telegraph Puzzles? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🧠 Keeps the mind active - 🕰️ Good way to spend free time - 🧩 Wide variety of puzzles **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - ⏱️ Slow loading times - 🤯 Annoying pop-ups and notifications - 🤔 Inconsistent user experience - 💰 Expensive subscription **Commonly reported bugs** - Puzzles not updating daily - Inability to access archived puzzles - Subscription not recognized - Freezing and crashing issues - Inconsistent performance on different devices **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Ability to reset puzzles - Sync progress across devices - Customizable puzzle selection - Leaderboards and competition features ## Newest reviews (19 of 275) ### 2/5 — Panagram problems and puzzle selection *2026-08-19, version 4.3.0 (1)* Panagram still unplayable despite alleged fix. Also when I use the mini Panagram button I get to play the mini Panagram but when I use the Panagram button I then have to further select between mini or standard. Why make life difficult? ### 3/5 — Keeps crashing *2026-08-18, version 4.3.0 (1)* Great app but sick of constant crashing - happens almost every day. Using with iPhone but husband has same issue with google pixel. Can you sort this out please? ### 3/5 — Dark Mode Missing *2026-08-13, version 4.3.0 (1)* Any chance someone could sort that out. Cheers ### 2/5 — Can’t come back to continue a puzzzle *2026-08-12, version 4.3.0 (1)* Recently I’ve found that answers in partially completed puzzles have disappeared if I close the app and back later intending to continue/ complete the puzzle. Very frustrating. ### 4/5 — Some good word puzzles *2026-07-31, version 4.0.1 (1)* Can't afford to spend £59 for an annual subscription. ### 3/5 — Panagram Problems *2026-07-28, version 4.0.1 (1)* Since the latest update, the panagram has become very slow. You need to press hardship on the letters and you can’t put in the next letter of a word without waiting a second at a time. Taking away all the fun when you are racing. ### 4/5 — Great games but clunky *2026-07-28, version 4.0.1 (1)* Please fix the touch delays especially with Panagram. It makes the game almost impossible to play. ### 2/5 — Button presses *2026-07-24, version 4.0.1 (1)* What has happened to the button presses on panagram? It’s too annoying to use. Tempted to ask for a refund. ### 2/5 — Some basic usability flaws *2026-07-22, version 4.0.1 (1)* There’s a link on the App Store to leave feedback, but it just goes to the Puzzles home page, so it’s not hitting the right place. I’ve got some feedback on some usability issues in the app. Not all touch events on the Sodukus are captured. You have to wait for an animation to end before filling out the value, otherwise the value you enter doesn’t register and is missed. You can imagine that this becomes tedious quickly. The strange thing is that this throttle/denounce behaviour is something that usually needs to be coded in. It’s usually put in on web submit buttons, for example, so that, let’s say, a “Buy now” button is disabled whilst the asynchronous request has received and parsed a response. I can’t see why it would be needed in a puzzle. There has been a recent update and now the Panagram suffers from the same affliction. You can’t just input the letters. Only every other one will register. There’s a separate bug here too - If you set the “Helpful gaps” setting on Panagram the words you enter are clipped to around four letters. Also this setting along with others seems to be reset on updates. ### 2/5 — Seems worse every week *2026-07-19, version 4.0.1 (1)* Unfortunately, what used to be quite a good and nippy little app has become increasingly slower and more annoying over the last couple of years. Every time I open it, “Have you tried our new mini puzzles?” More puzzles, lovely - though that means we’re forever pushing the ones you actually want to play even further off the screen. And when you find them and choose them, “would you like to play the mini puzzle?” It takes an increasing number of taps to get to play a puzzle, or to see the answers when you give up, or to get back to the Home Screen... As well as load times are getting frustratingly long. It will also forget at least some of your preferences on a semi regular basis. By the way - “Have you tried our new mini puzzles?” Even the button presses are getting unresponsive, which feels like the final straw. How on earth is an app for playing simple word games this slow and getting slower? It never used to be! The puzzles are good. I just wish they’d stopped tinkering with this app years ago, when it worked, instead of running it into the ground. But importantly, “Have you tried our new mini puzzles?” ### 4/5 — Glitch with PlusWord *2026-06-23, version 3.4.0* Still a glitch with PlusWord where app freezes before entering last letter of PlusWord answer. If you know the answer you can enter the last letter before others and can still complete puzzle and have result confirmed ### 2/5 — Desperately slow *2026-06-21, version 3.4.0* Somewhat chaotic app filled with good puzzles. So slow to load and refresh though, bit of a mess. ### 3/5 — Last update poor *2026-06-20, version 3.4.0* The latest update, circa 4 weeks ago, has made the app very glitchy for me. Now, every time I play, once I complete one puzzle and then select another, it just hangs there and never opens the next game. I have to come out of the app and then go back in. Whatever you guys did in the last update, please adjust asap. Plus, we should be able to pick ‘favourite’ games on the home page - rather than having to sift through all the ones I don’t want play. Thanks. ### 3/5 — Dark screen version not available *2026-06-13, version 3.4.0* Would be really easier on the eyes if you could switch it to dark screen mode. ### 1/5 — Poor app *2026-06-04, version 3.4.0* I have to reload it at least 4 times a week ### 3/5 — Poorly curated *2026-05-17, version 3.2.0.(1)* Most of the puzzles are fine. The 1% Club is just advertising and is annoying when they use pictures which cannot be zoomed. The crosswords just about scrape by, albeit with frequent use of foreign language words to fill in the awkward spaces. The Pangram is the worst of the lot, being whacked out by a computer and left unchecked. For most of the puzzles you’ll need to be a top-notch lexicographer to get anywhere close to finishing it. So, overall, it’s OK but is poorly curated. ### 4/5 — Fun puzzles but timer issues in the app *2026-05-03, version 3.0.0 (7)* I enjoy playing the puzzles daily on the app and they generally work well and the user interface is very intuitive. My only gripe is with the timer. The timer should end when I complete the puzzle, but I t always moves on by up to 3 seconds as the finishing screens load up. This is frustrating, especially when getting so close to getting new personal best scores ### 1/5 — Extremely slow *2026-04-28, version 3.0.0 (7)* Very slow app, take ages to load and ages to switch between the different puzzles, Also, the crosswords are clunky where you have to click the grid to change from across to down - please take a note of how other apps use navigation in crosswords Very frustrating ### 2/5 — If it ain’t broke… *2026-04-28, version 3.0.0 (7)* Agree with other reviewers that the latest update is dreadful. Slow to load, archives hidden away, achievements not being recorded correctly etc. Oh, and I have an excellent internet connection, thank you very much, so please stop randomly telling me that I don’t! Why this endless need to muck about with stuff that was perfectly fine, and we were all enjoying? Stop it. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Steaming pile of garbage *2026-08-28, version 4.5.0 (1)* Worst app ever ### 1/5 — Version 4.0.1 has ruined letter selection in Panagram *2026-08-14, version 4.3.0 (1)* Edit:Update 4.3.0 claims to have fixed Panagram. Sadly, it hasn’t. Doing the Panagram this morning. Selecting letters is very hit and miss. So much so that I checked if there’d been an update; and there had. Selecting letters is now hard work and makes the puzzle not enjoyable ### 1/5 — Latest update is unplayable *2026-08-09, version 4.3.0 (1)* The latest update has wrecked this app. Playing panagram is now impossible, as you have to hit any letter repeatedly to try to get it to register. Unplayable. Terrible update. ### 1/5 — Glitchy - Slow to enter letters and sticky *2026-08-03, version 4.0.1 (1)* In the last few weeks I have found that it is increasingly slow to enter letters for puzzles. Of particular frustration are the sticky letters on the mini panagram, which always seem to include the middle letter, making the timed nature of this entirely pointless. I hope it gets sorted, as it is really frustrating as it is. ### 1/5 — Panagram broken *2026-07-27, version 4.0.1 (1)* This is a great app with excellent puzzles, but in the latest version the panagram game isn’t registering taps properly. You tap a letter and it doesn’t register. Hoping someone from the DT will see this and escalate. Otherwise, it’s really good. ### 1/5 — Update July 2026 *2026-07-27, version 4.0.1 (1)* I have just updated as requested and have spent a very frustrating time trying to do a cryptic crossword. I find the update has reverted to a former way of answering where the cursor jumps over letters already in place instead of allowing you to print all letters in sequence regardless of what is already in situ in some of the squares as before. I have constantly been misspelling and doubling up on letters I insert thus having to go back and delete and try again. If this is an unintentional result of the update please revert to what it was doing before otherwise I’ll be reverting to printed paper and pencil. ### 1/5 — Version 4.0.1 has ruined letter selection in Panagram *2026-07-17, version 4.0.1 (1)* Doing the Panagram this morning. Selecting letters is very hit and miss. So much so that I checked if there’d been an update; and there had. Selecting letters is now hard work and makes the puzzle not enjoyable ### 1/5 — Charged £49! *2026-07-17, version 4.0.1 (1)* I used this App over a year ago. When I changed my phone in September 25, the App didn’t move over, so I’ve not used it for 10 months. I’ve now been charged £49 for an App I don’t even have on my phone. No warning of the upcoming charge. Can’t get a refund, and can’t login to my old account. What am I supposed to do? Delete account so I don’t get charged next year? Use App being as though I’ve spent £49 on it, but can’t access the account I’ve grossly overpaid for? No way of contacting customer support or anyone. Can I get a response due to not being able to contact anyone any other way? Thank you. ### 1/5 — Wot no subscription *2026-07-07, version 4.0.0 (8)* Enjoyed a years subscription immensely and then renewed. When I attempt to log on I am given a screen inviting me to renew. Although the money has been taken from my bank account I am informed that I have cancelled. Absolutely no where to get assistance. Shocking ### 1/5 — CrApp *2026-06-10, version 3.4.0* I can play through the website but the app won’t let me log in and directs me to manage my account through the website. WHY IS THERE NO OPTION TO LOG IN, IVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THE YEAR?? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — A new Panagram variant? *2026-04-25, version 3.0.0 (7)* Great games. Can you also provide a Panagram variant with fewer letters but all the letters are reusable multiple times? Also my phone gets really hot when I’m only using this. Please fix this. ### 5/5 — Cuts boredom *2025-12-29, version 2.6.3* If you have a few minutes or longer, there is nothing better than tucking into a few puzzles. The telegraph has such a variety, that I actually look forward to a bit of spare time. ### 5/5 — Star sights *2025-12-14, version 2.6.2 1* In my eighties it keeps the mind active and challenging. ### 5/5 — Great fun! *2025-12-12, version 2.6.2 1* Dozens of entertaining games and there is something for all abilities. A great way to spend a few minutes or an entire evening. ### 5/5 — Love these games *2025-12-11, version 2.6.2 1* Compact and challenging games to keep the brain cells active. Really enjoying them. ### 5/5 — Always something new *2025-12-07, version 2.6.2 1* Every day looking forward to all the different puzzles. Keeping mind active with word and number puzzles and all available at the touch of a button. Always trying to do better each day, but not always achieving this task. ### 5/5 — Puzzle Page Review *2025-11-26, version 2.6.1 Build 5* I thoroughly enjoy playing all the crosswords, sudokus, panagrams and the new Sorted puzzles. Great Fun!! When is the COGS puzzles going to appear on the App? ### 5/5 — Morning Work Out *2025-10-23, version 2.4.2* Great way to start my day, coffee, music and an app full of puzzles. ### 5/5 — Wide variety *2025-10-06, version 2.4.2* Love the literary breadth and depth of practically all the crossword types, especially the prize general Knowledge and Hercules versions ### 5/5 — Good Selection to Exercise Your Grey Cells *2025-09-13, version 2.3.3* Love limbering up mentally every morning with a coffee --- *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 2026-09-07.*