You have ten minutes on a train and a friend who also likes word games. Crossword Go! from PlaySimple Games fits that gap: two players take turns filling the same crossword grid and the higher score wins. The game is free on Android, with ads and in-app purchases, and it runs on Android 8.0 or newer.
Two players, one grid, and clues inside the squares
The idea that defines Crossword Go! is the turn-based format. You and an opponent work on one puzzle, draw letters from a deck, and place them to complete words while chasing the higher score. It plays less like a solo newspaper crossword and more like a duel over a shared board.
The grid follows the Scandinavian style, so clues sit directly in the squares instead of in a list beside the board. Some of those clues are pictures, which adds a light twist to the solving.
How a typical session goes
You open a puzzle, draw letters and read the clue cells next to the empty squares. Then you place what you can and pass the turn. There is no time limit, so a move can take as long as you like, and auto-save keeps a half-finished game in place if you leave.
Hints are available when a clue stumps you. The developer describes the game as a way to practice vocabulary, spelling, logic and general knowledge, and it encourages daily play. The current version is 1.84.0, updated on October 30, 2026, and the game first came out on April 15, 2025.
Where it sits among word-game alternatives
The alternatives on the list lean in other directions. Word Search, Word Search Explorer and Sopa de Letras are about finding words in a letter grid, and Zen Word and Words of Wonders build words from a set of letters. Forkyz is also a crossword app, so it is the closest match in genre.
Crossword Go! differs by pairing the crossword form with a turn-based, score-driven contest. Google Play shows over 1 million installs and a 4.9 rating from 77.8 thousand ratings, which indicates a sizable audience for this approach.
Crossword Go! pros and cons
Pros
- Turn-based play lets two people share one crossword and compete on score
- Clues sit inside the grid, with some given as pictures
- No time limit, plus auto-save and hints
- Free to install, rated 4.9 on Google Play from 77.8 thousand ratings
- Everyone content rating and a modest Android 8.0 minimum
Cons
- Contains ads
- In-app purchases are included
- Built around playing against an opponent, which may suit solo solvers less
Is Crossword Go! safe?
Crossword Go! is published by PlaySimple Games and distributed through Google Play, where installs and updates go through the store. Its content rating is Everyone. The game contains ads and in-app purchases, so keep an eye on purchase settings on shared devices.
How to install Crossword Go!
- Press the Google Play button on this page.
- Check the listing in the Play Store and press Install.
- Open Crossword Go! when the install finishes. Updates arrive through Google Play.
