Clever should
still feel fair.
A good puzzle surprises you before the answer, then makes sense immediately afterward. This is the standard we aim for.
Three explicit connections
Each round has one authored answer, three clues, three completed connections, and two timed hints. Each clue combines with the answer to make a familiar compound or phrase. We do not use a semantic similarity model to judge whether a guess is “close enough.”
The answer can come before or after any clue, with no mandatory mix of directions. Connections appear after a correct answer, so you can see exactly why it works.
Classic and Easy
Classic uses multiple meanings, mixed word positions, and less obvious combinations of familiar language. Easy prioritizes common, concrete combinations. These are difficulty choices, not age ratings or educational assessments.
Daily selection and clue order are deterministic: the same date and mode produce the same challenge for every player. Six different answers appear in each set. The initial library is finite, so rounds can recur on later days.
Hints without a shortcut
Hints are written with each puzzle and unlock at 120 and 180 seconds of active play on a round. Players choose whether to reveal each hint, and only revealed hints count toward their results. They suggest a different reading or a broad context without spelling out the answer, giving letters, or displaying completed connections.
Automated checks validate the data structure, hint count, unique daily answers, and that every supplied explanation contains both the clue and answer. Human judgment is still needed for familiarity, ambiguity, and how revealing a hint feels.
Alternative answers and corrections
The current game checks against the authored answer. Language is flexible, and that means a valid alternative can be missed. If another word makes three established connections, please report it with the edition, mode, and round. We can review the round rather than treating the authored answer as the only possible interpretation.
We aim to avoid changing a live edition during a day. Corrections should normally be made for future sets, especially where a change could disrupt a saved run. Send a puzzle report →