- 70.1LEGITIMACY SCORE
- 70.6SAFETY SCORE
- 4+CONTENT RATING
- FreePRICE
Crossword Explorer+ App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
Crossword Explorer+ app received 135 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using Crossword Explorer+? Can you share your negative thoughts about crossword explorer+?
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Crossword Explorer+ for Negative User Reviews
✓ Why black screen. Pls update app. Why am I paying for thisThis was my go to game and now after so many levels it opens to a black screen. Pls pls update it 🙂.Version: 1.14.2
✓ OK but no real challengeThe early levels are way too easy, too many clues repeat too soon (I just did one crossword that had the same answer twice) and, dear developers, there is life beyond the US!!!.Version: 1.0
✓ Too easyThe puzzles never get harder and clues are often repeated. Wouldn’t recommend.Version: 1.20
✓ Delete this!Come on Apple. Is this an example of quality control in your much vaunted Apple Arcade? I can’t find a good word to say for this appalling waste of valuable breathing time. And if I did the creators of this piece of garbage would use it again… And again…And again… And again… AND. AGAIN. Apparently this ‘game’ was created by kids for semi-literate infants. I could almost cry when I think about the number of trees that have been felled in order to fuel the making of this insult to the English language. Could do _ _ _ _ _ _ (6) A person who gambles a lot..Version: 1.0
✓ Great game but had a few issuesFirst off I love the game I am on level 300 I am so addicted I could play for hours. I do though have a few things that I kinda hate about the game. The first thing is a lot of words are misspelled so you cant really guess them correctly. No it wasn’t me I made sure to Google the words and make sure I was right and I was for example on one level errors is spelled errs ?. I don’t know who controls the words but maybe spell check them before posting a round because it seriously takes away from the joy of the game. Second make the rounds harder. I mean I’m at level 300 and have still never hit a hard puzzle that I couldn’t finish in under a minute. It would be nice to have more challenging puzzles as you advance or a way to change the difficult.Version: 1.10
✓ Too U.S. focusedSays you have reached a certain country. Only asks U.S. questions. Fulfills a stereotype..Version: 1.8
✓ Political Bias and RepeatsThis app really wants to push one side of the political aisle. It’s heavily Left-leaning. Obama, Biden, Bill Gates…these are all answers. If you’re going to try to be balanced, where is a crossword hint about Trump? One that’s as favorable as the hint for Obama? And when asked about the “actor” in the movie Inception, the answer is SUPPOSED to be Ellen Page, but no, you must put their “preferred” name (which was only announced a couple years ago)—Elliot. Why even add controversial options such as this? Aside from the extreme biases, the answers are so repetitive. I understand it must be difficult to generate new words, but seriously?.Version: 1.20
✓ BoringI’ve done over 220 levels hoping to get a harder crossword and they’re still ranked easy peasy. This is far too easy. Same answers are used over and over again (sty, Omaha, ant etc) or the same US organisations (aaa, Ada, AMA etc). I was hoping it would get harder but it’s just a waste of time. I wouldn’t bother with it if you actually want a challenge..Version: 1.2
✓ Way too easyWay too easy and no way to get harder puzzles. Did 350 puzzles and still getting puzzles solved by 95% and questions like “Santa’s helper?”.Version: 1.2
✓ Bad QuizzesThe game has had the same basic questions repeating on each crossword for a while now and their idea of updating it is adding questions about instagram influencers and celebrities ….Version: 1.10
✓ Very AmericanIf you’re not a yank, some clues will be impossible.Version: 1.4
✓ Good for beginnersI’ve never really been into crossword puzzles and this got me started. With that said, the puzzles are quite easy and don’t seem to increase in difficulty. Also, there were a few puzzles where the clues were reversed (i.e the clue for 1 Down was actually the clue for 1 Across and vice versa; this did not occur until later in the game).Version: 1.2
✓ Great time filler but …….Love playing this and is great when you have a short period of time to fill. However I would echo other comments that 1) there is a lot of repetition Omaha, Asp, Leo, ETA, Ohio to name a few 2) a lot of the answers are extremely USA centric. And I’ve still never seen the option to sync iPhone and iPad..Version: 1.0
✓ Way too easyThe levels are way too easy. You should be able to choose where you start and what level of difficulty. Basically pointless..Version: 1.2
✓ No landscape modePortrait mode only. Instant uninstall on iPad I’m afraid..Version: 1.20
✓ Far to easyVery basic. Hoping it would get harder, but it never did..Version: 1.20
✓ Please offer iPad landscape optionI would give this game 5 stars if only it would offer and landscape version for iPad users. I always use my iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard, and it’s frustrating that I can’t play this game because of its portrait limitation. So many games offer a landscape option, so why not this crossword game that would specifically benefit from using a keyboard?.Version: 1.8
✓ Too AmericanWay too many American related clues which means nothing to most people living in UK & Europe Many Brits know very little about American TV or sports.Version: 1.10
✓ Too easyToo easy..Version: 1.2
✓ Add more puzzlesI really liked this game available through arcade with no annoying ads. I used to be able to start over or go back and replay completed puzzles, but that option is no longer available. So, I finished all the levels a month ago and the app just says adding more soon. Since I can’t replay anything, looking for a new crossword app, which arcade needs to add.Version: 1.8
✓ I can’t believe thisI enjoy the playing the game and i have enjoyed it until level 40 in india. these creators had the audacity to put one of the puzzles words as “iwas.” with the question of “___ was made for loving you” by tori kelly and ed sheeran; two words. as a person who loves music dearly i would have NEVER guessed the song title with this artist choice. i’ve never once heard this song before nor have i ever seen anything in ads or on a radio station!! i know my fellow music lovers can say that the first song that came to mind was “i was made for loving you” by KISS. one of the most popular rock bands of the times. this upsets me dearly and i cannot stand for this..Version: 1.8
✓ Fun at first but…The puzzles are way to easy and you never feel like you progress. You just keep solving, what feels like, the Sam puzzle over and over again. It’s fun at first and the way the game is designed makes it fun to and easy to enter each word. There’s just not enough substance to keep going..Version: 1.2
✓ Too EasyFun at first, nice design, but I expected it to get more challenging as it progressed. It doesn’t..Version: 1.8
✓ Why so many Big Bang Theory clues?!It’s a simple way to pass the time, even if all of the puzzles are too easy, but if I see one more puzzle with multiple clues about the Big Bang Theory, I am deleting it immediately. 🤨.Version: 1.6
✓ Not challenging at all. Not worth your timeNot challenging at all. Not worth your time.Version: 1.6
✓ Full of spelling errorsThe spelling makes some of the clues useless it is as if it was written by someone who doesn’t speak English and entered the answers phonetically instead of the correct spelling.Version: 1.2
✓ Too easy for way too longThe game really needs a skip to hard levels button. Insanely boring for anyone with an IQ over about 7.Version: 1.0
✓ No goodI kept trying thinking the game would get more challenging, but 360 puzzles in and it’s still terrible, clues are still repeating. So many Big Bang theory clues, and clues about actors from that show. Clues about YouTubers no one has ever heard of. Clues that literally don’t add up to the word they’re trying to discuss. A game on arcade should be better than this, especially when the developer isn’t required to reinvent the wheel..Version: 1.6
✓ Way too easyIt’s been said in a lot of other reviews, but these puzzles are way too easy. They seem to be written for elementary school students. When I came here to write this review, I was shocked by the screen shots. They show puzzles that are much more complex than I’ve seen after spending to many hours trying to get to a moderately difficult puzzle. I’ve done over a hundred and the puzzles are words are still all three or four letters. If they want to include so many easy levels there should be an option to skip them. Level grinding through a crossword is no fun..Version: 1.2
✓ Too easyI’d really like a bit of a challenge, and there are too many early easy levels..Version: 1.0
✓ Fun, but far too easy for too long and no way to “test” aheadThis is a fun little app, but it desperately needs levels that you can choose or unlock. Sometimes I just want to distract my brain for a minute and these are perfect, but I quickly get board or frustrated after a couple puzzles due to how easy and repeated they are..Version: 1.8
✓ Repeated words, USA centricI am enjoying my time with this but a lot of the questions are very USA based, with questions of NBA players, baseball, presidents etc. Along with that I’ve seen the word “Arena” about 50 times now so some words are VERY common..Version: 1.0
✓ Easy for way too longI’m literally on level 60 and the crosswords are still “easy peasy”. I’m rubbish at crosswords but even I am flying through these, and it’s now boring. There’s no option to make the crosswords harder either..Version: 1.0
✓ Joke of a puzzle gameI like crossword puzzles but I’ve always been terrible at them and can never finish so I was excited to try this game. Unfortunately, it’s only fun for a couple dozen levels or so. I thought that the difficulty would ramp up over time, but it doesn’t. It’s extremely easy and words repeat surprisingly often. The hint system is also dumb because there is no limit to how many you can use. You can just spam the show word button and “solve” every level that way. Basically no challenge to this game whatsoever. Very disappointed in this one, especially for an Apple Arcade title..Version: 1.0
✓ WAY Too EasyIf you’re looking for a mindless crossword that doesn’t require a lot of thought, then this is a good way to relax. However, I’m on level 100-something and the difficulty hasn’t gone up like I’d expected it would. I wish there was a difficulty setting that users could change at their leisure. I don’t always want to relax when I’m doing crosswords, sometimes I want a challenge. I’ll offload it for now and perhaps try again some other time..Version: 1.0
✓ Too easyLevels are way too easy and repetitive..Version: 1.2
✓ No way to skip to hard levelsEasy levels are trivial and have a lot of clue repetition, I’ve done 60+ levels and they’re still trivially easy, should have a way to go straight to hard levels..Version: 1.0
✓ Could be betterThis game is enjoyable but way too easy. Please start making the puzzles harder as the level increases. Some of the answers aren’t quite right either. For example, the Abbreviation for Oregon isn’t OREG. Also, the puzzle phrases are repeated too often. Fix these issues and the game would be 5 stars for sure..Version: 1.10
✓ Game sync and support issuesThe game doesn’t sync between devices. The game does not provide any way to verify if your signed into Game Center at all. Support says that if “Save Progress” is not in the help center menu then you’re signed in. Well, the “Save Progress” isn’t listed on both devices and I’m signed into the same Game Center account on both devices and still the game doesn’t sync. The game never had that option in the help menu either. Support has stopped communicating after pointing that information to them. One of the worst games brought to Apple Arcade..Version: 1.0
✓ Too easyEven as a slow individual I find it way too easy.Version: 1.2
✓ BugsBlack screen and wont open ,i was almost level 1000 … the app was fine before ,its dissapointing.Version: 1.12
✓ Too many Big Bang referencesLots of repeated clues and so many random hints with unnecessary Big Bang Theory references You also can’t choose a difficulty setting so you’re stuck with baby level crosswords, at least for the first 200 :(.Version: 1.8
✓ All AmericanThis app is 100% made for the American market. As a Brit many of the references are completely unintelligible to me as they are based on famous people or products that are literally unknown over here. If you’re not based in America or are not immersed in that culture, don’t bother..Version: 1.0
✓ When do the more challenging puzzles come up? Game is imbalanced.I’m trying to be patient with this game, but I’m at level 188 and not only are the puzzles too easy, they’re getting repetitive. There needs to be a way to either switch difficulties or track the user’s performance and switch based on average solve time. Not sure how much longer I’m going to stay with this. It’s a shame because it’s a nice experience and a good UI..Version: 1.0
✓ Starts well.....gets boring real quick.Has great potential but the answers are repeated many times over after the first 30 levels. Omaha is very popular in this game! 🙈 Shame really that so many words are used over and over again..Version: 1.0
✓ Cmon guys, I’m sure you can do better than Big Bang Theory & Baseball referencesAdd more words if you’re going to make a game with over A THOUSAND levels.Version: 1.8
✓ No landscape mode, bit simple.No landscape mode, makes it hard to enjoy on an ipad. All seems a bit simple. Cannot choose whether to do horizontal or vertical first, feels too restrictive..Version: 1.0
✓ A little too easyI’m about 130 levels into this game, and the puzzles have been very easy so far — generally only 3-4 letters long and quite a bit of repetition. I’m not sure if the game will get more difficult, but I feel by this point the puzzles should be more challenging..Version: 1.10
✓ Relaxing but too easyI am only 30 levels in and I find the game relaxing, but the levels are too easy. I would hope they would get harder but, from previous reviewers I have read, that does not seem to be the case. I like the fact that I do not have to constantly struggle with questions requiring wide-ranging, little-known answers but being able to complete puzzles in less than 1 minute does start to get tiring. I would gladly give a higher rating if there were options to increase the difficulty, or choose what type of puzzles to play (simple like the current puzzles, obscure questions/answers, etc.). Thanks!.Version: 1.14.2
✓ Lazy puzzles, never gets harderIt started out very easy, and after 90 puzzles it still gives insipid 4 and 5 letter only puzzles with clues so poorly conceived that they sound like a contestant on “Password” was given five seconds to come up with each one. I’d suggest having a hard mode that takes you straight to the promised higher level puzzles, but I don’t trust the writing quality at this point. The game programming seems fine, though..Version: 1.12
✓ Frustration levels😩You can’t use your Apple Pencil ✏️I love crossword puzzles and this game can be frustrating, because you can’t use your Apple Pencil to fill in the answers 🤦🏻♀️ Why is there a separate keyboard for the game? Fix this, because I’m sure I’m not the only one who decided to stop playing 😔 Keep it simple. Crossroads puzzles are quick and fun to play. It’s not user friendly..Version: 1.6
✓ DisappointingExpected higher quality from an Apple Arcade game. The levels do not appear to scale, which makes levelling up feel pointless. Repetitive questions. The graphics also leave a lot to be desired. A good game to mindlessly pass the time, but if you’re looking for a crossword game that increases in difficulty and has a wide range of questions this isn’t your game..Version: 1.14.2
✓ Daily NYT solver hereWas excited to finally see a crossword app on Apple Arcade. Unfortunately this is way too easy, with clues like “Dental thread?” (FLOSS) or “Comedian Jay ____ (anagram of LNOE)” (LENO). I’m fine with breezy solves but these are too easy. More importantly there seems to be no difficulty tuning for experienced solvers. After I solved 35 puzzles in about 5 seconds each I thought it might turn up the difficulty but the difficulty appeared to be the same..Version: 1.0
✓ Simple and RepetetiveI have enjoyed my time with this game. I have played to about level 250 though and every puzzle is still rated as “easy” and the lowest completion percentage is 84%. The high completion percentage is easy to understand though because the clues are VERY repetitive. Often there will be identical clues in back-to-back puzzles. I have lost count of the number of times the answer was OREO, OPRAH, or ARENA. Also, I think the creators are obsessed with The Big Bang Theory, there are a huge number of clues associated with it. In short I wish there were a larger variety of clues and that the difficulty ramped up faster..Version: 1.14.2
✓ Stopped workingIt has stopped working on my iPad. Tried so many ways to solve the problem but all I have is a dark blank page. Any suggestions?.Version: 1.8
✓ Tedious, US centric and NOT crosswordsVery boring as levels are trivially easy. Not what one would normally call a crossword. More like a series of trivia questions that overlap. It’s also heavily biased towards USA answers (don’t think it’s internationalised). Answers appear frequently. Not really worthy of a place in Apple Arcade..Version: 1.6
✓ Gets boring but tried sticking with itI am on level 144…still get Easy Peasy and Kinda Easy puzzles…today’s daily puzzle was one I completed like 50 levels ago. Maybe they thought we’d forget…I see pics on the app page showing bigger crossword puzzles but when do they come?? Uninstalling and will find a regular crossword app, even with ads they probably advance in difficulty…as one other reviewer stated “this is disappointing for a paid subscription app”.Version: 1.2
✓ American crosswordI wanted something really easy to start with, to learn how to do crosswords, because I’ve always been lousy at them. It’s good that way, but there are so many clues based on US states, cities, celebrities, companies, products, sports stars, channels, etc it gets a bit old… would be more suited for someone living in the US or interested in American trivia. Also, with each level, you unlock these landscape images from around the world, which would be nice to look at, but they flash up so quickly that you hardly have time to see what they are..Version: 1.20
✓ Too USA focussedToo many clues are American people, shows or terms that are only used in the USA. Could also do with being able to skip the super-easy ones to get through to the more challenging ones.Version: 1.2
✓ Ok but sooo American .Please change the orientation to include landscape. good but so American ..Version: 1.2
✓ Not workingGame was great…..all of a sudden it doesn’t work anymore, what’s going on apple??.Version: 1.16
✓ Too easyI solved every puzzle in the game and none of them were even remotely challenging, not even at the end. The UX is nice, but the puzzles are a snore. Please pay some professional creators to make puzzles for this..Version: 1.2
✓ It’s ok at firstAt first, the idea of bite-sized crosswords seemed fun, and it was actually pretty nice to knock out a few puzzles when I needed to kill some time. However, many words are repeated. And, as I went on, I noticed more and more spelling errors. Not to mention the "traveling to different countries" theme seems incredibly tacked-on, and you can't fast forward or skip the congratulations/ new score screen after EVERY puzzle. This does not seem a premium game fit for a subscription service, especially compared to the many quality titles available on Apple Arcade. It's a shame, too. I was looking forward to a decent crossword puzzle game..Version: 1.2
✓ It never progressesIt sprays the same difficulty. Never progresses past easy 89% solved this. The 11% should not have sharp objects..Version: 1.10
✓ The English language has 3 wordsRidiculous repetition of already used words. Low end crosswords..Version: 1.10
✓ Basic. Questions and answers repeated.. a LOTI've spelled the SAME answers to the SAME clues OVER & OVER. How many times do I have to answer the clue 'Trim the lawn'?? Like 75% of the questions are repeated each puzzle. Thus I know all the answers and it's absolutely NO CHALLENGE! Duh!! Hit and huge miss on this. Clearly not designed well & done in a rush. Cutting corners by using a few bits of free trivia from the internet (obvious because of the blatant errors in the answers🤦🏻♀️ FACT CHECK MUCH?). SOOO glad I didn't pay for it!!!.Version: 1.0
✓ IdealFor someone from the United States who lives in 2010. For anyone who doesn’t fit that category you are going to find this either tedious or unplayable..Version: 1.14.2
✓ Very Slow startingI’m at puzzle 216 and they’re still marked as easy or very easy. There’s no way to make it more difficult that I can see and it’s now just getting boring. Clues are also very US centric too. It was free with Apple Arcade, but I’d be upset if I’d paid for it..Version: 1.6
✓ Too many small frustrationsThis game was addictive and entertaining at first, but there are so many small problems that it quickly becomes a source of irritation. First, the game overall is extremely easy—this isn’t a problem itself…until you realize you’re past level 120 and it’s not getting any more challenging. In fact, the only difficulty is either from tricky spellings (no, the abbr. of the state between Washington and California is not “OREG”) or words not widely used anymore (the 46 instances of “SOT”, meaning a drunk person). It feels cheap. And yet, a lot of the words are not ones that kids are going to know or are useful for them to learn (see: words for “drunk”, titles for pop songs, widely-known trivia, etc), so this likely wouldn’t be fun or even educational. And yes, many clues are used repeatedly—I had a string of 3 puzzles in a row that used the same clue. It gets really stale in a game where most puzzles are small 5x5ish ones. The final straw for me was the unskippable animation parade between each level. Another reviewer said that they’re longer than the actual puzzle. That is NOT an exaggeration. What’s worse is that the animations are multi-part and you have to tap the screen to move from one animation to the next until you get to the next puzzle—it just makes it seem like it’s unresponsive to screen input. Look, it’s just not a good game. Take a pass on this one..Version: 1.8
✓ Too easyWhen do they get challenging? I’m nearly 200 puzzles in and they still give me “easy breezy” ones..Version: 1.2
✓ For Americans onlyAssumes you are familiar with US culture and sport etc. As a Canadian I got stuck far too many times e.g. not knowing garbage bins have “USE ME” written on them..Version: 1.0
✓ MehNeeds more variety in clues and answers. 118 levels in and already I'm bored of typing Reese, Arena, Lye, Ewe....Version: 1.10
✓ WAY too easyIt’s decently made but offers next to zero challenge..Version: 1.6
✓ Easy and repetitivePretty rubbish really. Kept hoping it would get more challenging. I think it’s time to delete it..Version: 1.10
✓ LOVE the game but one small problem…Daily challenges, I get done with them within like, 30 seconds. I want more levels to play, because you guys have been telling me that more levels are coming ever since I finished the game around January. I asked you guys a few months ago to please make more, but nothing happened and now it’s June. I’m a very patient person, so it’s fine if you guys really are trying to make for levels, but if you’re not, please try to make more. Thank you so much for listening and hopefully meeting my wants and needs for this game. I hope it goes well to make more levels, and again, if you guys really are trying, I will be patient. This game is so much fun and I speed through the game, unfortunately for me… If you guys make more levels, I will definitely give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.Version: 1.10
✓ RepeatsI have made it 80 puzzles in but have found too many clues and answers to be repeating. The puzzles must be randomly generated as I’ve even had the same answer in two puzzles in a row, pretty wild when you only need 5 words to complete most puzzles. As others have stated it’s been pretty easy too, with no ramp up in difficulty yet. Would like to see some more options for difficulty and far less repeats..Version: 1.0
✓ Wrong wordFirst crossword I played one of the hints was ‘another term for “therefore”. The answer they had was ‘ORGO’…Don’t you mean ERGO? Not a great sign for the quality of the rest of this game..Version: 1.8
✓ No way to change difficultyIt’s a great game and the puzzles start out fun but it never really progresses or gets much more difficult. I can see they were trying to reach as many people as possible but if they had a way to turn up the difficulty it would make it better..Version: 1.0
✓ Very AmericanIf your from the UK I’d avoid - too many US references and not particularly challenging. If you’re into your crosswords this will disappoint..Version: 1.0
✓ LameNo challenge whatsoever..Version: 1.16
✓ A little too tinyThis game is a bit of a disappointment. Generally it functions well. But I see many repeated words and clues, and you have to plow through a HUGE number of mini puzzles before you get to anything larger, but then again I’m 100 puzzles in and it’s still all minis all the time. I’d like to graduate to juicer puzzles sooner, or be able to choose my type. I’d like fewer repeats. There are some other rough edges too, like no in-game definition of boosters, whether there’s a limit to booster use, or whether using boosters costs you points. Altogether fun but a bit of a slog through repetitive, extremely easy puzzles..Version: 1.0
✓ Needs filtersThe game seems stable enough & does contain crossword puzzles, of a sort. On the other hand, while 2/3 of the sample game boards shown in the App Store are at least medium-sized puzzles, out of the first 140+ puzzles I’ve played so far only 4 or 5 have been larger or more complex than the “tiny” (usually 5x5 or 5x6 on the outside) size I assumed at first was a tutorial and later learned with horror was the entire game. The game appears to contain at least a few larger and/or more challenging puzzles, and each puzzle has an explicit difficulty rating (almost universally “easy peasy”), so adding a setting or feature to allow players to filter by size and/or difficulty would at least allow each player to access what they wanted without forcing their way through the parts they don’t. As far as I can tell, there’s no way to skip a puzzle in the current version; it’s all, in order, or quit..Version: 1.10
✓ Way too easyI’ve played 90 levels waiting to see something a bit harder than “easy-breezy” or “laid back”. I expected a ramp up in difficulty the further you get. I’m just bored now and going to delete it. This should not be an Apple Arcade game. The whole design of the app seems subpar. Word do repeat way too often. And the level system with the countries just looks tacky. Looks like it was thrown together overnight..Version: 1.2
✓ BugsI love the game, but after downloading it yesterday it worked for one day and now when I try to launch the app it starts and then on the home screen goes completely black, I closed and reopened it a bunch of times, restarted my iPad, and its up to date on software, I can’t fine other people having this issue and I was just really wanting it fixed if anyone knows how.Version: 1.10
✓ CrashesDoesn’t launch beyond start up screen sine an upgrade. Annoying!.Version: 1.10
✓ Awful ‘game’Genuinely confused as to why this is on Apple Arcade? It has no real level basis and multiple words are reused throughout. I just don’t understand why this is on here? Deleting now and not wasting anymore time on it, unless it’s updated and changed to be like an actual game rather than a formula for one that you ‘play’ through..Version: 1.0
✓ Think it’s aimed for US teensVery American-centric game with answers, spelling and clues. Game is okay, can kill an hour or so, but it could also be a lot better experience..Version: 1.10
✓ Doesn’t run on new iPad AirDownloaded this yesterday on my current model iPad Air and it’s just a black screen..Version: 1.14.2
✓ 2 stars, because I’m feeling generous.I like a decent crossword puzzle: not overly cryptic, but one that taxes the brain a little. Sadly, this app falls somewhat short. It’s definitely skewed towards the American market, with many clues about recent US sitcoms & US sport. This game is available as part of an international subscription service. Is it too much to ask for it to be tailored to suit the different regions where it’s made available? I’ve played between twenty or thirty rounds today & note that the rounds are grouped under the names of various countries, however, this has had no impact on the clues or answers - either tonally or culturally. What is the point of this? I have recently been notified by Apple that the monthly Apple Arcade subscription is to increase by more than 40%, at least for those of us who pay in GBP. I trust this means that the quality of games like this will increase accordingly? At the moment, this game has set itself a low bar. I’ve been staggered at how poorly-worded some of the clues are & I’m struggling to understand what demographic the developers are aiming this game at. I believe the American term I’m looking for is “janky”. This has the potential to be a great crossword app..Version: 1.20
✓ Broken app???Love this game, but as of today I cant play. When I open it, I get to the title screen and then a black one which doesn't change. What can I do?.Version: 1.12
✓ Played about 300 levelsAnd I was hoping at some point they would get bigger and bigger, to become full sized crossword puzzles… but nope. Most of them are small little puzzles and a lot of them have repeat words / clues so they’re dumb easy. Gets boring quick. Was fun until that realization set in. Thank god I didn’t have to unlock an ad free version for real money only to find that out..Version: 1.20
✓ Too basicI’m guessing this is made by an Adele fan in Omaha who’s recently married at the altar? Those three words come up over and over, along with many others. I’m over 100 games in an still repeating the same words with their same hand-holding easy clues. I was really expecting something more challenging and sophisticated from an Apple Arcade puzzle game..Version: 1.0
✓ The Majority of The World’s Population Do Not Live in AmericaThis seems to have utterly escaped the developers’ notice, but the majority of the world’s population do not reside within the USA. Why then does almost every puzzle revolve around: US agencies; US sports; US medicine; US politics; US absolutely everything? Not only this, but the answers are onerously repetitive. Not at all what one would expect from a crossword marketed within Europe..Version: 1.2
✓ The "extras" take too longIf the skill level of the game was better than average I would be ok with the animations between levels being as long as they are. Unfortunately the animations take longer than some of the puzzles do. In addition, I don't give two hoots about my "wisdom level" and it going up does nothing for me. My progression through the game would be enough (if the game was better). Between the ease of the puzzles and the multitude of clicks and time to get from level to level I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. This game wastes your time waiting on things that don't matter and that is just poor game design. The NYT crossword is worth every penny..Version: 1.2
✓ Good Concept Poor ChallengeI like the basic concept of the gameplay. Mini-crosswords that don't require NYT level commitment, but I expected them to get increasingly challenging. Instead, after 150 puzzles that I've burned through, I'm ready to give up. Some clues basically hand you the answer, such as when the main statement is supplemented with a "rhymes with." I'd be much more satisfied if either the difficulty ramped up, or I could select a difficulty level. Instead, I'm left feeling disappointed with a game that has such clear potential to become a classic..Version: 1.6
✓ Passes timeIt’s alright but if I’m being honest it’s a tad bit boring..Version: 1.10
✓ Black screenKeep getting a black screen after the loading screen. Unusable!!!.Version: 1.6
✓ Reptative and dullPushed through over 125 levels in an afternoon. There’s no complexity to the variation of puzzles. I wasn’t looking for a standard 100 word puzzle, but was hoping for something with a little diversity. With the entire dictionary at your disposal, it should be easier to have a vocabulary of more than 200 words. The animations are slow and board navigation clunky at best. The “progression” seems like an afterthought and has no baring on anything at all. I feel gipt even though I didn’t actually pay for anything. This seems like a desperate attempt by Apple to boost the arcade library without getting anything..Version: 1.2
✓ Not really useful on iPad pro..Should probably not be listed in Apple Arcade on iPad Pro.. App is locked to portrait view, so unusable on an iPad Pro. This is becoming a more and more common issue in recent times. Game developers not thinking about the devices their game is going to be played on..Version: 1.0
✓ ReviewThis game starts good but the more you get into the game it repeats a LOT of the questions, making the game pretty boring and annoying fast.Version: 1.0
✓ Too easyAs many other reviewers have stated, this game is way too easy. I’ve played 45 puzzles hoping to get to something more challenging, but each one still is rated “easy” and takes no more than 15-30 seconds to complete. The trek from country to country isn’t compelling enough to keep going with the hope that the puzzles will become even slightly puzzling. I’ll check back in a few months to see if it’s been updated to add higher difficulty levels, but I’ll be uninstalling for now..Version: 1.0
✓ Will it ever get hard?Level 116 and still trivially easy. I assumed a ramp up but at this pace I’ll be blind from old age before a challenging and non repetitive puzzle comes up..Version: 1.2
✓ No challenge, repetitive.This game was written in a lab, while listening to lil’ Nas and playing endless James bind films in the background while sifting through a thesaurus for words that the low iq programmers thought would be challenging but turned out to be quite basic. Repeats too many words and never gets more challenging than level 1. What’s a 6 letter word meaning to dispose of? “Delete”..Version: 1.16
✓ So. Repetitive.Same words over and over and over and over. Got to level 216 hoping things would get harder or different but no. Yeti, asp, Ellen and a lot of boat words are used so often. It feels like you’re doing the same ones over and over again. I wish you could choose the difficulty and have more variety..Version: 1.10
✓ Disappointing!The sheer number of puzzles is impressive, but the first 250 or so are so easy as to be barely engaging. What is utterly galling, though, is that the makers assume all players to be American. The ol' Red White and Blue waves over nearly every puzzle with state capitals, supreme court (of the US sort) or “a boy's organization” to mean the BSA being common questions that rely on being American. A slap in the face to those of us who spell colour with a “u”. Not worth your time!.Version: 1.12
✓ Looks good, but mind-numbingly easyDespite all the reviews suggestion that it is too easy and if higher levels are available to let people jump to them, the app remains… far, far too easy to be fun for someone looking for an even minor challenge. Would really love something good on Apple Arcade. This is better than getting stuck with a New York Times subscription that you can’t cancel online… but only just..Version: 1.6
✓ These puzzles are much too easyI’ve been using this crossword app for a few months now, and I’m not sure why I keep playing. There have maybe been one or two of the hundreds of puzzles I played where I needed a clue for a word. Yes, the games are quick, but they are not challenging. I would love to have the ability to set a level rather than have daily (easy peasy) or “kinda easy” puzzles where almost 90% of people are able to solve them..Version: 1.14.2
✓ Insultingly easyI gave up after 40 levels and didn't get to see a proper crossword in any of that time. All the puzzles are far too easy, and I genuinely thought it was aimed at <10 year old. To add to the slow grind, the UI animations telling you you solved the puzzle are very slow and can't be skipped, artificially making the puzzles longer. I think just 60% of my time in the earlier puzzles was doing the puzzle. Everything else was just me waiting until I was allowed to do the next one..Version: 1.2
✓ Not greatFar too easy, constantly repeats the same words and clues, fiddly word inputting and incredibly US centric clues..Version: 1.0
✓ 😞I'm done with this now, its got to the point where is just TOO American.. And unplayable, my app store is UK.... 🤔.Version: 1.8
✓ Could do better . . .. . . said every one of my school reports, but seriously, this could have so much more. Once you figure out the key words they use frequently - it takes the challenge out of the puzzles. I’d love to see difficulty levels you can choose from, and not so much repetition of words from one puzzle to the next. Otherwise it has promise, I can’t lie - I play it most every day..Version: 1.8
✓ Started FunYeah starts fun then gets wack and repetitive pretty fast as many say. Some of the clues they give make no sense or indication what so ever. For example a 4 letter word for, “wears crown” my answer um King? Nope incorrect. Hmm prince is 5 letter, queen is 5 letters, princess way to many, maybe Prom nope. I’d keep it going but answer was RULE. Really Rule, not RULER. It’s many more like this as well. Maybe it’s me but I didn’t like. Made it to level 100 with many repeating words as well, olsen, Asp, Ariel being ones that stick out most at the moment. Got these worse well over 5 plus times. Not my game here..Version: 1.0
✓ Too easyThe app is fine, but the puzzles are too easy and need to get more challenging..Version: 1.10
✓ Too easyThere is no difficulty rating and the longest word so far has been 5 letters. I would rather just play a regular crossword. I don’t know how many hundreds of rounds it takes to get to puzzles that look like the advertising photos but I may not stick it out long enough to find out. Please let people select a difficulty rating and skip the seemingly infinite “easy peasy 98% of people completed this” puzzles..Version: 1.10
✓ Color Amana OmahaFantastic if you’re American!.Version: 1.0
✓ Too simpleI’m on level 174, and the crosswords are not getting harder, very simple crosswords, and the clues are often poorly worded. Ned’s an option to increase the difficulty.Version: 1.20
✓ Gets boring after three minutesFar too easy. Very US centric. No additional features..Version: 1.0
✓ Relaxing but repetitiveI play this before bed usually because I find crossword puzzles super relaxing. It’s easy to play and doesn’t require too much thinking which I like, but like others have stated certain words appear in almost every puzzle and it’s a little bit annoying to have the same words over and over again..Version: 1.0
✓ So Easy You Don’t Even Need a HintIf you won’t increase difficulty as you go on, at least add difficulty levels. The game is fine and fun, even addicting. But not really challenging. I had hoped it would increase but there is no way to make changes. I’m just coasting through racking up points with no ability to make changes even to difficulty settings or themes..Version: 1.20
✓ Blank screenUsed to enjoy playing this game but no longer works. The last few days this just shows a blank screen when opened..Version: 1.8
✓ No landscapeThe game should have a disclaimer - ages 5 and lower. And seriously, what kind of app can’t do landscape mode on an iPad Pro? Do these people know how iPad Pros are used? Delete..Version: 1.4
✓ Black screenPlayed the first few (very easy levels) yesterday but today the game doesn’t load. I just get a black screen after an initial splash screen..Version: 1.8
✓ Slow starter, not iPad optimisedTook over 200 boringly easy and repetitive levels to get to what I would call a proper crossword, and was greeted with a poorly set screen area. Part of the clues column is outside the screen area creating an unnecessary challenge to read most of them. A shame, because this could have been fun, even with the very USA-centric clues. Do not recommend. Played on iPad Air 4th gen..Version: 1.0
✓ Apple we need better crossword in arcade. Or at least independent from facebook.Too ridiculously easy….but hey Easy enough for kids ….so great right? But wait….unless you want to start over from square zero- because it will not let you jump around … Facebook? I don’t do Facebook. No one does Facebook anymore. And my teens and younger kids absolutely don’t do Facebook. It’s a Facebook facilitated app? I thought Apple Arcade was independent. Being logged into Facebook to sync data means my data is being tracked. Don’t quibble over who’s tracking it. Please. And then making it SO easy that of course it’s for kids. It’s like grape flavored vapes. Who exactly is this for? Because i don’t want my child playing an app that requires Facebook login to sync. They should be free to chose their participation in social media, separately from playing games. Why is nothing just exactly what it is anymore? Why is it always that we are being sold to another company. Yuck. We are trying to get them away from gossip disguised as news and conspiracy theories and engage their brains. Teeing them up for Facebook to gather data? No thank you. Very disappointed..Version: 1.0
✓ Far Too SimpleSame repetitive puzzles over and over. No change in difficulty after completing 80 puzzles. Why not provide an option for the user to play more challenging puzzles if they would like to? The game is presented in a way that seems as though the puzzles should be getting more challenging as you progress but I have only once seen a puzzle with a completion rate of less that 90%..Version: 1.0
✓ Not greatReally basic, boring puzzles. Super repetitive. And they do things where a solution is two words. It’s just… not clever and and a more traditional crossword would be less unpleasant..Version: 1.10
✓ Way too easyNeeds to either process to harder puzzles faster or, allow users to choose easy or hard paths.Version: 1.6
✓ IN THE MIDDLEAs my title says. I’m sitting in the middle with this game. I love crosswords but the clues are not the sort of clues you’d expect. There’s a huge amount of clues that are American specific. So that can be frustrating for us Brits. You have to progress a long way by playing too many puzzles before you get something to think about. I’ll play it a bit longer until I get bored. Surprisingly additive though!.Version: 1.12
✓ Too easy, no landscape supportPlayed 50 puzzles and was bored out of my mind. Came to check the store listing to see if there was any hope of it becoming remotely challenging anytime soon but every other review is complaining about the same thing! This game needs to be about 100 times harder..Version: 1.2
✓ Localisation?Lots of Americanisms including abbreviations which aren’t in common use for British English users..Version: 1.0
✓ US-Are you kidding me?Far too many US specific clues. Too easy, no variable difficulty. Repetitive..Version: 1.10
✓ Too easyToo easy and gets boring quick, as you progress you move through different countries but what country you are in doesn’t seem to have any impact. Can’t seem to change the difficulty either..Version: 1.0
✓ Often doesn’t loadThis app often doesn’t load when I open it; it loads the Home Screen, but a black screen comes up instead of the puzzle..Version: 1.12
✓ Good to wake up toI really like this game, but the daily puzzle hasn’t worked since 2022 began. Can we get this working again? Older Review I have enjoyed this app for a while. I was a little concerned about how easy it was at first, but was pleasantly surprised when it started to become more challenging. I find it makes for a good distraction when needed..Version: 1.6
✓ KeyboardLet us use the iOS keyboard. The one in this game is garbage and makes it impossible to type anything..Version: 1.2
🙂 Crossword Explorer+ Positive Reviews
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