Codeword is a crossword with a twist: there are no clues. Instead, every white square in the grid holds a number, and each number stands for a single letter of the alphabet. Crack the hidden number-to-letter code and every across and down entry falls into place as a real word. It is part crossword, part substitution cipher, and entirely addictive.
The Objective
Discover which letter each number represents so that every horizontal and vertical run of squares spells a valid word. When all numbers are correctly decoded, the puzzle is solved.
The Tools You Have
A few starter letters are already filled in to give you a foothold — Easy puzzles reveal more, Expert puzzles reveal just one. A letter key table beneath the board lists every number and the letter you have assigned to it, crossing each number off as you go. The alphabet keypad lets you tap a letter into the selected number, and the Eraser clears it. The Hint button reveals one correct number, the Check button flags wrong or conflicting entries, and New Game deals a fresh puzzle.
The Rules to Follow
- One number, one letter: every square showing the same number is the same letter, everywhere in the grid.
- One letter, one number: each letter of the alphabet maps to exactly one number — you can never use the same letter for two different numbers.
- Every entry is a word: each unbroken run of squares (across or down) must form a valid word.
- Starter letters are locked: the given letters are correct and cannot be changed.
- The puzzle is solved when every number has its correct letter and the whole grid reads as words.
Simple Strategy
Begin with the starter letters and look for short words and common patterns — _ _ E, _ I N G, T H _. Use letter frequency: the numbers that appear most often are usually common letters like E, T, A, O, I, N. Every letter you place ripples across the grid through shared numbers, so a single good deduction can unlock several words at once.
Example of Play
Suppose a three-letter run shows 7 15 4, and you already know 7 = T and 4 = E. That gives you T _ E, which could be THE, TOE, or TIE. A crossing word that shares the middle square tells you which letter number 15 must be — and once you know it, every other square numbered 15 is filled in automatically.
Tips for Beginners
- Type a letter once: assigning a letter to a number fills every matching square at the same time.
- Watch the key table: it is your running record of the cipher — scan it for letters you have not used yet.
- Use crossings to confirm: when an across and a down word share a square, the shared letter must satisfy both — a powerful way to verify a guess.
- Lean on frequency: high-count numbers are almost always common letters; rare numbers are often J, Q, X, or Z.
- Stuck? Take a Hint: revealing one number often cascades into several new words.