This article contains all information you need about Arkadium’s Crossword Games.


Choose one option from the list below:



NOTE: for our new Crossword games, your score will be saved to the leaderboard in a new way - by collecting the total score


Tips


Please watch this video to learn Crossword tips & tricks:




Crossword puzzles are a classic and enjoyable way to test your vocabulary, problem-solving skills, and general knowledge. Whether you're new to crosswords or looking to improve your puzzle-solving abilities, these top tips will help you enhance your crossword game and make the most of your solving experience.


1. Start with the easy clues:

Begin by filling in the answers to the clues you're confident about. This will provide you with some letters for the more challenging clues and help you build a solid foundation for the rest of the puzzle.


2. Focus on short words first:

By solving short words early on, you'll quickly fill in letters for longer words, making them easier to decipher. Additionally, short words are often common and can help you identify patterns within the puzzle.


3. Identify the theme (if applicable):

Many crossword puzzles have a theme, which can help you predict the answers to certain clues. Pay attention to the puzzle's title, if there is one, and look for patterns or connections between clues to determine the theme.


4. Don't be afraid to guess:

In crossword puzzles, it's sometimes necessary to make educated guesses. If you think a word fits the clue and the available spaces, go ahead and write it down. If it doesn't work with other clues, you can always erase and try again.


5. Use a pencil:

Using a pencil with a good eraser allows you to make corrections easily. This will enable you to try different answers without the stress of making mistakes in ink.


6. Learn common crossword words:

Some words appear frequently in crossword puzzles due to their unique letter combinations. Familiarize yourself with these words to make future puzzles easier to solve.


7. Break down complex clues:

Long or complex clues can be daunting, but breaking them down into smaller parts can help you decipher their meaning. Look for wordplay, anagrams, or hidden words within the clue to help you find the solution.


8. Practice consistently:

The more crossword puzzles you solve, the better you'll become at recognizing patterns, understanding clue structures, and expanding your vocabulary. Make it a habit to solve puzzles regularly to improve your skills over time.


9. Use reference materials (if allowed):

Don't be afraid to use a dictionary, thesaurus, or the internet when you're stumped. These resources can help you learn new words and concepts, making you better equipped for future puzzles.


10. Enjoy the process:

Remember that crossword puzzles are meant to be a fun and engaging pastime. Don't get discouraged if you can't complete a puzzle or if you need help from time to time. The more you practice and learn, the more enjoyable the process will become.


By employing these tips and practicing regularly, you'll become a more proficient crossword solver. Embrace the challenge and enjoy the intellectual workout that crossword puzzles provide. Happy solving!



Calendar


When entering any of the Crosswords, you'll encounter a calendar. This can be used to scroll forward and backward through the available crossword puzzles. Use the arrows on the sides or the slider on the bottom to scroll through the dates. You can see your progress in each of the puzzles, and click to "Play" on the one you would like to solve.



When choosing a puzzle, some of them may appear locked. Different users will have different access to puzzles.


  • Users who aren't registered with a free Arkadium Account will only be able to play the latest Crossword puzzle
  • Users who are registered and Signed in to their Arkadium Account, will be able to play the latest and the previous day's Crossword puzzle.
  • Users who are subscribed to Arkadium Advantage will have the last 30 days of puzzles at their disposal.



Settings


The Settings feature is located in the top left, by using the hamburger icon (3 lines)



In the Settings menu, you can modify various features in the game.




If you place your mouse over each of the options, an explanation of each option will appear.



  • Show timer allows you to choose whether the timer on top is shown. The time will keep ticking while you play, regardless of whether it's shown. It will still affect your final score.


  • Arrow keys change direction allows you to toggle whether pressing the arrow keys only changes the cell you're on or whether it changes the direction in which you type.


  • Skip over filled squares allows you to keep typing while skipping over the squares you've already filled.


  • Skip to next word allows you to keep typing in the next word on the puzzle without selecting the square.


  • Increase clue size makes the letters in the clue section larger without changing the size of the rest of the game.


  • Display clues as a list toggle between your clues displaying as a list on the side of your puzzle or displaying only a single clue for the word you've selected on the bottom of the puzzle.


  • Sound turns the sound effects on or off.


  • Clues Position changes whether the clues are displayed on the left or the right side of the grid.


For mobile devices


Keyboard Navigation. If you're playing the game on a mobile platform, such as a smartphone or a tablet, you will notice one extra option - Keyboard Navigation. 



The function of this option is to let you use your mobile keyboard as you would use a computer keyboard when navigating the puzzle by introducing arrows on your screen. You can use these to move around the puzzle and the space bar to switch between horizontal and vertical words.




Pinch and zoom. If you play on a mobile device, you can pinch the grid to zoom in and see the letters closer.





Check and AutoCheck


The Check feature checks whether the letter, word, or puzzle you've typed is correct. So, if you want to check answers in the Crossword game, this option is exactly what you are looking for.



After you've completed a word, you can check 



You can check the letter you've selected, the word, or the whole puzzle. If you've toggled "Autocheck," the puzzle will automatically check whether you've made mistakes as you type.



Reveal


Reveal can show you a part of the puzzle that hasn't yet been guessed.



You can choose between revealing a letter, a word, or the entire puzzle.



By choosing to reveal a word or a letter, please note that you will not receive any score for that same word.





Pencil Feature


If you're indecisive about a word or letter and you're not sure if it fits, you can use the Pencil Feature.



The Pencil feature allows you to insert any letter into any cell without it being recognized as having been completed in the puzzle. If you're unsure about a word or a letter being the right one, but you'd still like to write it, perhaps to erase later, you can click on the pencil icon in the top right and type any word as you would. The letter will appear grey instead of black, so you can know which ones you've inserted as a temporary choice or as your final answer.


This is great for when you'd like to check for answers, but you're not sure about all of your choices.



Print


Print is for when you'd like to print the puzzle on a sheet of paper.



The Print menu allows you to print the puzzle differently, with clear visual options on how to do so.




Scoring


ATTENTION: Please note that the Crossword game features a cumulative scoring system. Players are required to submit their TOTAL SCORE on a daily basis for all three leaderboards: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly. In order to secure a favorable position on the leaderboard, it is essential to maintain consistency and participate in the new crossword game each day.



How is the daily score calculated?

  

The daily score consists of 3 parts:


  • The Puzzle Score. It equals the % of the puzzle that was completed without help X 100 - This is the percentage of cells filled without using the "Reveal" and "Check" buttons.


  • The Time Bonus.
    • Two Minute Mini - (120 - Solve Time in Seconds) * 10
    • Arkadium Mini - (210 - Solve Time in Seconds) * 10
    • The Daily Crossword - (720 - Solve Time in Seconds) * 10
    • Easy - (850 - Solve Time in Seconds) * 10
    • Hard - (1,700 - Solve Time in Seconds) * 10
    • Sunday - (2,700 - Solve Time in Seconds) * 10
    • All Others - (1,000 - Solve Time in Seconds) * 10


    - If your puzzle is finished within the allowed time, you will receive a time bonus. (This time bonus will only be awarded if you complete at least 50% of the puzzle manually, without help).


  • The Daily Bonus. It equals 50 points - For example, if you completed August 31st's puzzle on August 31st, you will get a daily bonus.


General Formula: 


Daily Score = Puzzle Score + Time Bonus + Daily Bonus

   

NOTE: if you wish to review your answers at the end of the game, please, press the HIDE button at the top left corner of the game end pop-up


Let's breakdown the example above and calculate the score step-by-step:


  • Puzzle Score = 10 000. 100% of the puzzle was completed without help: 100 x 100 = 10 000 points.


  • Time Bonus = 0. The puzzle was finished within 9 minutes and 18 seconds. There is no time bonus in this case because 9 minutes and 18 seconds equals 558 seconds, and this number is higher than the 300 seconds limit, which is why the time bonus is not awarded in this case. (Remember, this time bonus will only be awarded if you complete at least 50% of the puzzle without help).


  • Daily Bonus = 50. The puzzle was completed on the daily puzzle date (the 2 October puzzle was completed on the 2 of October), and 50 points Daily Bonus was awarded. 


The Daily score = 10 000 + 0 + 50 = 10 050 pts


Total Score (2 puzzles this month) = the previous day's score (3 050) + today's score (10 050) 


= 13 100 points.


How is the total score calculated?


Your total score is the sum of all of the daily scores you finished within a month.


For example, if it's August now, and you have finished the following puzzles this month:


  • August 4th = 8950 points.


  • August 18th = 9450 points.


  • August 31st = 8200 points.


Your total score after completing that August 31st puzzle would be calculated like this:


8950 points + 9450 points + 8200 points = 26,600 points. 

This result should be saved on the leaderboard.



What happens when a new month starts?


At the start of a new month, your monthly score will reset to zero again. 


In the example above, if the last puzzle you completed in August was on the 31st, on September 1st, you start again from zero.


NOTE: keep in mind, Arkadium players are located across the world, but our leaderboards are set on Eastern Time, which in the winter months (EST) is five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-05:00) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) during the summer months which is four hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-04:00). So, while you may be playing your game on August 31st at 9:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), it's already September 1st at 12:30 AM EST, so the leaderboards may already reset your monthly score


Useful Shortcuts

  • Navigate cell by cell through the crossword by using the Arrows on the keyboard.


  • The Insert (INS button allows you to reveal one letter on the game board. 


  • You can advance to the next word by clicking Tab on your keyboard. If you want to move backward, press Tab + Shift.


  • To erase a letter, press the Backspace or Delete keys.


  • If you want to change the direction from Across to Down or vice versa, use the Spacebar key.




My completion percentage is not 100%, what is the reason?!


At times, the percentage of completion in your puzzle might appear different than expected.

I'll take some time to explain how percentages work in the Crosswords. First, let's look at Calendar Percentages.



The Calendar in the beginning of the game where you pick which Crossword you'd like to play, shows how much of the puzzle was completed. Puzzles that haven't been played have a red dot, and a "0%" percentage marker. Puzzles that have only partially been completed, have a completion circle, that fills up as more cels get filled with correct results, and the appropriate percentage marker. A fully completed puzzle will have a green checkmark, and a "100%" percentage marker.


ATTENTION: Please note that using helpers or having done mistakes will not affect the Calendar percentage, as long as all of the cels end up filled with the correct letters.


Now let's take a look at the final results screen. This will present percentages in a different way.



As you can see, the results screen in the puzzle itself notes "Completed without help or errors". This means that the "Reveal" function has not been used to find the words in this completion percentage, and no errors were made while the "Autocheck" function was on.


While the Calendar percentage counts all correct cels in its completion, the Results screen percentage only counts what was completed without any help or making errors.


Either of these percentages will be affected if you have an error in your Crossword, or miss any cell. Check the below example. One of the letters is the wrong one. Due to this, the percentage will not be counting this particular letter.


In the below example, there is a letter missing. This cell will also be missing from the total percentage.



Always be careful to check if the entire puzzle is completed before submitting it at the end, and verify if your answers are correct, if you want a complete percentage.