Letter Boxed vs Crosswordle: Vocabulary or Logic?
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Games are becoming more and more accessible as time goes by, with daily logic word games being one of the go-to game genres of casual players.
If you're unfamiliar with this casual game genre, think of Wordle®* and the New York Times games (NYT), as this is a game field that is currently synonymous with them.
Letter Boxed is one of the many playable NYT titles, but is one of the more obscure games compared to the rest of its family. Why is it less popular? Is it harder than the others? And how does it stack up to another rising favorite, Crosswordle? Read on to find out!
Why compare against New York Times games?
With so many available casual games and Wordle clones on the internet, a newcomer to the genre can get overwhelmed pretty quickly. While most of these games (word puzzles and the like) are easy to pick up and understand, the sheer number of games that are similar to one another can make things confusing, and there's also the risk of playing the same daily puzzle with just a different coat of paint.
To help you and many prospective gamers, it's easier to categorize these games into subgenres.
New York Times company's Letter Boxed and Crosswordle
Letter Boxed and Crosswordle aren't exactly the same, but they do fall into the same genre, even if their gameplay mechanics differ. Here are some of the similarities they have that make them worth comparing to each other:
| Criteria | Letter Boxed | Crosswordle |
|---|---|---|
| Daily reset | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Letter-based gameplay | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Browser & mobile friendly | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Part of a game catalogue | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Marketed as a casual game | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
What is Letter Boxed?
A title in the NYT game catalog. In Letter Boxed, create words by stringing letters together. You're given several "lives" or chances, and a four-sided box with three letters on each side, totaling 12 letters overall, where you have to form words using each one.
The goal of the game is to use up all the letters in forming the words. You lose if you use up all of your chances without using all of the letters in the attempt, and you win if you manage to use all of the letters in words.
The catch is that each letter is for one-time use only, and you can't use letters on the same side of the box, as you have to zigzag or bounce around to another letter on a different side of the box. The letter doesn't have to be on the opposite side of the box; you just can't use letters on the same side.
It is currently one of the less popular games in the New York Times games app and website, despite being one of the older titles in the catalog.
What is Crosswordle?
Crosswordle is a hybrid of crossword puzzles and Wordle, belonging to Hey, Good Game. It combines the best elements of both beloved games, making it familiar and engaging for seasoned word gamers and newcomers alike.
Each puzzle gives you a 7x7 grid filled with rows and columns of words and letters, with a familiar color-feedback system that you've probably seen in other popular games. The color indicators are:
- 🟩 Green letters are in the correct position and cannot be moved.
- 🟨 Yellow letters are in the correct row or column but need to be moved.
- ⬛ Grey letters are incorrect and must be swapped around to change color.
To win the game, players must swap letters across rows or columns to form the correct words. Every puzzle has a limited swap stock, adding just the right amount of challenge.
Each Crosswordle also has the perfect score of six stars for the perfectionists and experts. The game ends when you either form all the target words or exhaust your swap stock.
Letter Boxed vs. Crosswordle
To start our comparison, here's a quick overview of the things you need to know about both games:
| Feature | Letter Boxed | Crosswordle |
|---|---|---|
| Free daily puzzle | ⚠️ Yes, but limited to one play without NYT subscription. | ✅Yes |
| Unlimited mode | ⚠️ Requires New York Times Games subscription. | ✅Yes |
| Puzzle variety | ❌No | ✅Yes |
| Puzzle goal | Use all 12 letters once in 2–4 words | Turn entire grid green in ≤ 19 swaps |
| Core skill | Vocabulary + planning | Logic sequencing + vocab |
| Average play-time | 5–15 min | 3–6 min |
| Difficulty | Medium–high | Moderate |
| Shareable results | Emoji path | Emoji grid |
Which one is harder?
Based on the information above, Letter Boxed is harder, but only marginally so, for the following reasons:
- Requires a certain level of vocabulary skills. This is probably the most prominent feature and glaring disadvantage of Letter Boxed, making it more of a game for the more experienced word game players.
To find hidden words in a limited letter selection is easy, but forming words using the letters only once, with only twelve to choose from, not to mention you have to chain it all with the last letter of the word you entered, is difficult.
- Lack of an intuitive hint system. This is also, in our opinion, another big disadvantage for Letter Boxed casuals but a plus for veterans. While too much handholding is to be frowned upon in games, not having options to make the game both enjoyable and challenging is worse, especially in a game marketed towards a more casual playerbase.
This also might be the reason why games like Wordle, Mini Crossword, Spelling Bee and others are more popular, as you're basically going in blind with nothing but your wits and a target in hand.
- Extensive vocabulary is a must. While other titles in the NYT games catalog don't necessarily require a good vocabulary, Letter Boxed needs it. While it can be argued that most of the words used are common, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of common words that can be formed with the 12-letter set.
What's more, English isn't the first language of some players, and even native English speakers can struggle with apparently common words, as there are no built-in hint options available.
Which one is easier?
Based on the information above, Crosswordle is easier for the following reasons:
- Easy to pick up. Designed with casual players in mind, Crosswordle is approachable for nearly anyone. You can jump in, learn the rules quickly and start solving puzzles within minutes.
- Straightforward goal and gameplay. Just swap the letters into the right spots until all the words turn green. That’s it—no need to know obscure vocabulary or dig through a dictionary.
- Pure logic, zero guesswork. Each puzzle is fully solvable with the clues provided. Everything you need is right in front of you—no randomness, no surprises, just brain-powered problem-solving with a direction.
Which game to choose when?
Both games provide all the fun a word gamer looks for. After all, how many puzzles look and play like these two? But like with most things, some are just better in certain ways than others. Here's what we feel like you should play depending on what:
| Scenario | Pick Letter Boxed | Pick Crosswordle |
|---|---|---|
| Expanding vocabulary | ✅Yes | ✅No |
| Simple logic puzzles | —No | ✅Yes |
| Colour-blind mode available | —No | ✅Yes |
| Offline, print-friendly play | ✅Yes — screenshot & pen | —No |
| Shorter average solve time | —No | ✅Yes |
FAQ
Is Letter Boxed free?
Yes, you have one (1) free daily solve of Letter Boxed, but to play more, you have to have to be among the NYT puzzle archive subscribers, which currently costs around, at the time of writing, 6$/month or 40$/year.
Does Crosswordle help with playing Letter Boxed?
Definitely! While they are two different puzzle types altogether, they both still deal with words and letters, and the words you solve for in Crosswordle have a high chance of appearing in Letter Boxed.
Which one can I play endlessly for free?
Crosswordle provides all of its content completely for free.
Play Crosswordle Unlimited Mode →
Can I play both on mobile?
Yes. Crosswordle and Letter Boxed works on most mobile web browsers, and Letter Boxed in particular can be played via the NYT Games app.
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We hope that our comparison was able to help you find the ideal daily word game to play. If you're looking to play sudoku or other mentally stimulating games, come visit our website and join our Discord today!