Crosswordle Clue Types Explained – Greens, Yellows & Grays
Still getting the hang of playing Crosswordle? Don't worry, one of the best features of daily logic word games like these is that you can take things at your own pace. To help you further your word puzzle-solving skills, here's a quick refresher of what the clue types and colors mean and more.
Hybrid crossword clues: Color feedback system
This color feedback system uses a color-based feedback system similar to other word games and is a core gameplay mechanic for solving the grids that are formed like crossword puzzles. Instead of crossword clues, you get these three primary colors as your main hint/guide system.
Hybrid crossword puzzles
Since Crosswordle isn't something like the New York Times crossword, its puzzle design is reliant on these color clues to function. As a daily puzzle player, knowing these different colors is crucial to improving your skills.
The color feedback system is very simple and easy to pick up. Mastering these built-in hints makes it easier to complete the puzzles with fewer swaps, which then results in higher scores (or maybe even the perfect run!)
Crosswordle clue types/colors
Here's a quick overview of the color-feedback system with helpful information:
| Color | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 🟩 Green Green | Letter is locked in the correct cell. | Leave it; use as an anchor for planning. |
| 🟨 Yellow Yellow | Letter is in the correct row or column, wrong position. | Place it in the right slot within that row/column. |
| ⬛ Gray Gray | Letter is in the wrong row or column. | Move it to the correct row/column until it changes color. |
Common scenarios in Crosswordle word games
Duplicate letters in the same row or column
Copies of the same letter will behave accordingly. For example, a row contains "LRYRA", and the target word is "ARRAY", the first R would be green and the other would be yellow. Another example, you're given a row with "TERTKT" and the target word is "KETTLE", only two of the Ts will turn either green or yellow, while the third one, if not moved to another row or column, will stay gray.
Valid words but the letters aren't turning green
This means that your guess, while a real, valid word, isn't a target word for that specific Crosswordle puzzle.
Not being able to discern the color clues properly
You may have device issues, visual problems or even be color blind. Fortunately, for those who are affected by color blindness, we have a color blind mode specifically made for you. You just need to register for an account first and toggle it in your settings.
Common color clue misreads & fixes
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|
| Treating yellow like Wordle (wrong row/column) | Wastes swaps. | Scan the whole row/column; place yellows precisely. |
| Ignoring gray in corners | Inefficient pathing. | Clear gray corners early to unlock flows. |
| Over-focusing on one line | Unnecessary swap losses. | Finish an easier word first; return with better info. |
How to read Crosswordle clues (in 4 steps)
- Lock any greens as anchors.
- Promote yellows within their row/column.
- Relocate grays to the correct row/column.
- Resolve intersections to turn the whole grid green.
FAQ
Is Crosswordle related to Wordle?
*No. Wordle is a registered trademark of the New York Times, not affiliated with Crosswordle and is only used as a descriptive/comparative basis in this article.
What if every tile is gray?
Impossible. Currently, all our puzzles have built-in green letters in them along with other colors. This is because we prefer to maintain a consistent moderate difficulty for all our Crosswordle puzzles.
Can a letter be both gray and yellow?
No. Each letter can only have one color clue assigned to it.
Can the colors lie or be wrong?
No. Each Crosswordle puzzle is algorithmically formed, with a specific, optimal way of solving it to get a score of six stars, so the color clues can never be wrong.
Play more daily games like Crosswordle today!
We hope that our quick color clue refresher was able to help you understand the main hint mechanic of Crosswordle. If you're looking for more fun daily games like this, check out our website and don't be afraid to join our official Discord server!
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