USA TODAY Crossword 4+

Would like to see a function to filter on archived puzzles that haven’t been started. Semi annoying scrolling down past puzzles you have already done (at least for me, once I finish a puzzle, I never look at it again).

Otherwise easy to use and like all the features. The only thing stopping me from finishing faster are my fat fingers 😛

The most recent update removes the previous and next arrows to jump between clues. This makes navigating the puzzle very frustrating, especially when there doesn’t seem to be any logic behind what clue you end up on after completing one. Loading the puzzle archive takes forever, and it defaults to showing all puzzles instead of unplayed ones, so you have to select the option for only unplayed puzzles and then wait forever a second time. After I’ve completed a puzzle, if a start a second, more often than not I can’t type in the boxes. The keyboard acts like it’s working but no letters appear. I have to force close the app and restart it, then go though the slow multi-step process to get to a puzzle from the archive again. The puzzles themselves are pretty good but there can be a lot of word repetition from day to day. In difficulty, they’re roughly equal to a bit easier than an NYT Monday puzzle. It’s about right for me now, being a crossword newbie, but I feel like I might outgrow them in less than the timeframe of the one year subscription I purchased.

There was a time when this app was free for all to use instead of linking to the same puzzle on the web. Granted, this puzzle is always mediocre, whether in print or electronic format. Nothing v
close to great puzzles like the NYTimes. Still, it was enjoyable to use and tracked your scores, encouraging you to play. One could play any game within the current month and more. The interface was friendly and easy to use.

Sadly, the next generation reduced the number of games available to the current day, plus access to two previous days if those puzzles had been started. Moreover, the app added long, annoying advertising videos before the game each day… some far too long. Still free but very limited and less friendly. Puzzles remained mediocre.

The most recent revision restricts users to 3 free crosswords per week, still with annoying ads. There is nothing about these puzzles worth paying a subscription!! The editors seem to be working under the illusion that they have an outstanding product to sell, which is nonsense. These puzzles are just quick to complete without requiring any deep thinking. I certainly won’t be subscribing and hope no one else does either. The manager in charge should be relieved of his puzzle duties.

In summary… Don’t pay for a puzzle that is unchallenging and mediocre at best. If you are willing to pay for a puzzle, pay for a better one.