Puzzle Hints publishes gentle nudges, step-by-step walkthroughs, and full answer explanations for crosswords, sudoku, word search, jigsaw puzzles, and brain teasers — so you can enjoy solving without ever feeling stuck.
Today’s featured grid
Five across, four down. We walk you through every clue without spoiling the solve.
Puzzle Hints was built for everyday solvers and lifelong learners who love the journey of a puzzle as much as the answer. Our editorial team and reader community curate clear, layered hints that respect the joy of solving — you decide how much help you want and stop reading at any layer.
Every article follows the same three-layer format: a gentle nudge that points you in the right direction, a step-by-step hint that explains the technique without giving away the answer, and finally the full solution behind a clearly marked reveal. That way, you keep your a-ha moment intact.
Whatever you are solving this morning, we probably have a walkthrough for it. Tap a category to see the latest hints and strategy guides.
Quick, mini, themed, and cryptic crosswords explained with annotation, wordplay breakdowns, and the exact technique each clue type uses — from anagram flags to hidden-word indicators.
Explore crossword hints →
From naked pairs to X-Wing, swordfish, and coloring techniques — we break down the logic behind hard sudoku grids step by step so you can solve any difficulty without guessing.
Explore sudoku hints →
Hidden diagonals, reverse words, themed puzzle packs, and tips for scanning large grids faster. Plus pattern-matching strategies for tough themed word searches that hide their words diagonally.
Explore word search hints →
Edge sorting, color grouping, sky-and-grass technique, and how to tackle 1000-piece and 2000-piece puzzles without losing your mind or your corners. Real workflow walkthroughs.
Explore jigsaw hints →
Classic river-crossing riddles, two-door logic puzzles, Einstein riddles, and lateral thinking challenges — explained with the underlying reasoning pattern so the next one gets easier.
Explore brain teasers →
Top scoring words for difficult racks, two-letter-word cheat sheets, anagram solvers explained by hand, and strategy for Words With Friends, Scrabble, and Boggle-style word games.
Explore word game hints →A short sample of the hints our editors and solver community published in the last seven days. Each one is structured as nudge, technique, and full answer behind a reveal.
Today’s five by five had two trick clues and one mini-theme. We walk through each across and down answer with the reasoning, and explain the small a-ha that unlocks the bottom row.
Read the full hint →
X-Wing is one of the most powerful patterns in hard sudoku. We break down how to spot it, why it eliminates candidates, and how it cracked a tough newspaper grid this week.
Read the full hint →
A classic cryptic construction. We walk through the reversal indicator, the river synonym, the bird synonym, and how to assemble the answer in five letters without ever giving it away until the reveal.
Read the full hint →
A real workflow you can copy: edge isolation, color grouping, sky and grass piles, and the “one row at a time” trick that keeps your table usable for the whole solve.
Read the full hint →
One guard lies, one tells the truth, and you can ask only one question. We explain the exact question to ask, why it works, and how the same reasoning pattern solves three other classic riddles.
Read the full hint →
A difficult vowel-heavy rack. We list the top scoring plays, the two-letter hooks you should know, and the right swap strategy when the bag is still deep. Bonus: the seven-letter anagram.
Read the full hint →Our hint articles are designed to be read in any order, but most solvers work through them like this.
Open the puzzle you are solving — today’s crossword, this week’s hard sudoku, a themed word search, or a new jigsaw set. Browse our categories to find the matching guide.
Start with the nudge, move to the step-by-step technique, and only open the full answer reveal if you truly need it. You stay in control of how much help you get.
Apply the technique yourself, finish the puzzle, and remember the pattern. The next time you see a similar clue, you will recognize it and solve it on your own.
Join 18,000 solvers who start the day with a single curated hint, a featured strategy guide, and a handpicked brain teaser to crack over coffee. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Free forever · One email per morning · No third-party sharing
Short answers to the questions readers ask us most. If your question is not here, our contact form is at the bottom of the page.
Yes. Every hint, walkthrough, and explanation published on Puzzle Hints is completely free. You can read as many articles as you like without signing up or paying, and we never put daily puzzle answers behind a paywall. The site is supported by unobtrusive sponsorships that never appear inside an active solve.
No. Every article is structured in three layers: a gentle nudge that points you in the right direction, a step-by-step hint that explains the technique without giving away the answer, and finally the full answer hidden behind a clearly marked reveal. You decide how much help you want and stop reading at any layer.
We cover the most popular daily publications including the New York Times Mini and full Crossword, LA Times Crossword, USA Today, Washington Post, Newsday, universal sudoku grids from easy through expert, jigsaw puzzle strategy for 500 to 2000 piece sets, and classic brain teasers. We also add new sources whenever readers request them.
We publish at least one fresh hint every morning and add multiple strategy guides each week. Our editorial calendar is aligned with the major daily puzzle releases so the hint you need is online before you finish your coffee. Newsletter subscribers get a heads-up on the next day’s featured hint the evening before.
Yes. Use our contact form to send the clue, the puzzle source, and the number of letters in the answer. Our community and editors prioritize the most requested clues and publish a dedicated walkthrough within 48 hours whenever possible. We also flag recurring clue types so the technique gets a permanent strategy guide.
Yes. Subscribers receive one short email each morning with that day’s top hint, a featured strategy guide, and a handpicked brain teaser to solve over breakfast. You can unsubscribe at any time and we never share your address with third parties. The newsletter is free, and archives are public on the site after 30 days.