Crosswordle 7×7 vs 9×9: What’s New in the Bigger Puzzle Mode
The long-awaited mode of one of your favorite daily word games is here! Crosswordle now has a 9x9 mode—with longer words, more intersections and better challenges! This is the perfect level up for those who want to play Crosswordle and are looking for a longer and mind-churning game experience.
Continue reading to learn what new features are included in this new game mode and what to expect from them.
Why have a 9x9 mode?
Crosswordle's original daily game mode has a smaller grid size, which is 7x7. This grid size was perfect for a more balanced and adequately long word game experience—not too long, not too short, can get very challenging at times and provided enough engagement to last a quick break.
However, the Crosswordle community, especially the long-time members, is now looking for more to play in the game. That's why, with the 9x9 mode, you get the following features:
- Larger grid - the larger grid significantly increases the tile size of the puzzle, from 7x7's 49 tiles to 9x9's 81.
- More of everything - more tiles means that there can be more letters to put into the puzzle, and more letters means more words to solve.
- Longer words - since rows and columns can now reach up to nine letters, it means longer words to solve.
- More intersections - a bigger grid means more possible intersections, not to mention the longer words provide more anchor letters where intersections can pop up.
- Better challenge - usually, just making something bigger doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be harder, but with Crosswordle's swapping mechanics, it significantly increases the challenge of completing the puzzle.
- More swaps - of course, with the jump in grid size comes a leap in the number of swap stock available to players as well.
7x7 vs 9x9 quick comparison
To make it easier for you to compare the original and new modes, here's a brief table that details everything you need to know:
| Game Element | Crosswordle 7×7 | Crosswordle 9×9 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Word Length | 7 letters | 9 letters |
| Swap Stock | 15+ | 20+ |
| Average Solve Time | 3–6 minutes | 5–10 minutes |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate–Hard |
9x9 mode reminders
The new Crosswordle mode offers a new breadth of word game fun, especially for long-time fans. Keep the following things in mind to get the best scores and word game experience:
- The perfect score is still the same: have six swaps left, you get six stars. The swap stock may have increased, but all 9x9 puzzles are still systematically made to have the perfect score of six stars.
- The same general tactics still work, but you'll have to adjust some strategies to work with the larger grid.
- New and longer words require better focus and logical thinking; efficiency remains a key element in the game.
- More intersections mean more challenges, especially since there are more words interlocked with one another.
Basic strategies to remember
While the bigger grid may look daunting, especially to newer players, keep in mind that Crosswordle, at the end of the day, is a purely logical game. No matter how big it gets, it is completely solvable using basic logic and solving fundamentals will always be effective and reliable.
Here are some tips to keep in mind!
- Hit the shorter words first.
- If you can't hit the shorter words first, work with the ones with the most number of green letters in them.
- Solve the corners as best as you can, as they are usually the start or end letters of words. Knowing these letters can help you identify words faster.
- Don't get tunnel vision on one row or column.
If you need more guidance, here are other links that may help you improve your Crosswordle skills:
FAQ
Is 9×9 replacing 7×7?
No—both modes stay available and are independent from one another.
Do I need an account?
No. You don't need an account to play the Daily and Unlimited Mode of the 9x9 grid. However, accounts add streaks/stats and provide a color-blind mode to those who need it.
Is 9×9 harder?
Yes. The bigger grid means more words to solve, more intersections and ultimately, requires (at minimum) slightly better logical planning.
Average solve time?
Ranges between 5-10 minutes, longer if the 9x9 grid is a first-time player's mode of choice. Experienced solvers can go for <5 mins.
Can I practice without risking my Daily?
Yes. Unlimited Mode is the mode made for leisurely playing that won't affect your Daily scores/streak.
Are there hidden words in the 9x9 grid?
No. There are no tricks or hidden mechanics in Crosswordle. It is as upfrontly challenging as it presents itself to be.
What if I guessed correctly, but the word isn't turning green?
The word may be valid, but it means it isn't the target word for that puzzle in particular. You must swap around some more and make them all green.
Want to play more word games? Here's the correct place!
We hope that our brief article detailed everything you needed to know about Crosswordle's new mode. If you have any feedback about this new game mode, please don't hesitate to tell us via our feedback forms or join the Discord server and inform us directly!
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Play Crosswordle 7x7 (Classic version) →
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