CrossEights

CrossEights stacks eight eight-letter words in the same shape: four read downward, four across, and each placed letter therefore counts twice. The day's grid arrives with its announced difficulty class, its number, and a score that is built letter by letter instead of a simple pass/fail.

1. Fill the shape with eight-letter words: four that read down, four across.
2. Draw from the five numbered hints (HINTS 1 to 5) when a word won't come, knowing that a revealed letter scores only one point instead of five.
3. Keep an eye on the bonus shown next to the timer: the scoring rewards quick finishes, and each unused hint is worth ten more points.
4. Close the day with the button "I'm done, I'll try again tomorrow", or return to the calendar of past grids.

Eight eight-letter words are quickly read and slowly filled: the fixed length means each cell belongs to two words at once. The numeric score, with its costly hints and speed bonus, turns a completed grid into a performance to improve, and the difficulty that rises from Sunday to Saturday gives a reason to come back during the week.

The score recalculates during the game, with the breakdown of the scoring (five points per letter found, one point per revealed letter, ten points per hint not used, bonuses for words completed with few letters visible) and a speed bonus shown during play. The page also announces a score to beat, signed by the player's handle who posted it, which gives a numeric target rather than a simple finish line.

Daily Grid

A dated, numbered daily grid, with its difficulty class displayed beside the number.

Past Puzzles

A monthly calendar where every past day retains its play button; the daily grid remains highlighted.

• Hints are a budget, not a safety net: five at most, ten points for each one you don't use, and only one point for the letter they reveal.
• Because the four vertical words cross the four horizontals, a confirmed hunch unlocks half the shape: attack the word for which you already have two or three crossing letters.
• The scoring rewards words finished when few letters were visible: guessing a whole word is better than nibbling it away letter by letter.