Begin your crossword ERA with USA TODAY Play
If your morning starts with a litany of daily puzzles and word games, now is a great time to add USA TODAY Play's games to your roster.
Less stressful than many other crossword puzzles on the market, the USA TODAY daily crossword is a quick, typically less than 10-minute brain break with clues ranging from the traditional fare (Hint: the answer to the cookie clue is nearly always OREO) to pop culture to current events.
P.S. if you're a Taylor Swift fan, there will likely be at least one clue you know nearly every day as our crossword editors seem to be in their ERAS era.
Looking for an even shorter time commitment? Our daily Quick Cross is a four-by-four grid that you should be able to solve in a few minutes. RACE your friends and see who can complete it the fastest!
Every day, crossword editor and columnist Sally Hoelscher – who hails from the crossword-friendly state of IOWA – breaks down the puzzle in her "Off the Grid" column with helpful hints and context for each puzzle.
And if crosswords aren't for you, USA TODAY Play offers a variety of other games including daily Sudoku, our brand-new game 7 Little Words and more.
While everyone has access to a limited number of puzzles each week for free, adding a USA TODAY Play subscription gives you access to:
Your stats and the ability to track your daily streaks
Unlimited puzzles, hints and reveals across Crossword, Quick Cross and Sudoku
Additional games, like the brand new 7 Little Words
The crossword archive, filled with hundreds of past puzzles for your enjoyment
An ad-free gaming experience
Sign up today at puzzles.usatoday.com and start bragging about your high scores to all your friends.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: USA TODAY Play offers challenging but fun crossword puzzles, games
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