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Free Codeword
Puzzles Online
Every number stands for a letter. Two letters are revealed at the start. Use logic to crack the cipher and fill the grid -- a satisfying puzzle that rewards patience.
About this free daily codeword
HD Press publishes a free codeword puzzle online every day -- the grid resets at midnight GMT so there is always a fresh puzzle waiting. You can play today's daily codeword in your browser without any account or download. If you want to revisit an older day, the codeword archive lists every published date; older entries open answer pages, while full replay sits inside the members-only archive.
Codewords sit somewhere between a crossword and a cipher puzzle: the grid structure is crossword-shaped, but instead of clues you work from letter frequencies and crossing patterns. That makes a daily codeword online a genuinely different challenge from a Wordle or a sudoku -- and a better workout for solvers who want something more analytical.
How codeword works
Like a crossword with a cipher twist
Each number = a letter
Every cell holds a number 1-26. Your job is to figure out which letter each number represents.
Two letters given
Each puzzle starts with two letters revealed. Use those as anchors to work outward.
Fill the grid
Every number of that value across the whole grid updates at once. Solve it letter by letter.
FAQ
Common questions
What is a codeword puzzle?
A codeword is a crossword where every letter has been replaced by a number (1–26). Your job is to crack the cipher to work out which number stands for which letter, and fill the grid with real words.
How do I start solving?
Each puzzle starts with a few letters already revealed as hints. Tap a numbered cell, then pick a letter. Every cell with that same number updates at once across the whole grid.
Is codeword the same as a cryptic crossword?
No. Codeword has no clues. It's a pure cipher puzzle. The challenge is deducing letters from where words cross in the grid, not from wordplay clues.
How long does a daily codeword take?
Most solvers finish in 10–30 minutes, though that varies with experience. There's no time limit. Take as long as you like and come back to it later.
Are codeword puzzles good for your brain?
Yes. Codeword puzzles exercise several cognitive skills at once. Cracking the cipher requires pattern recognition and logical deduction; filling the grid draws on vocabulary and word recall. Regular puzzle-solving is widely associated with keeping the mind sharp, particularly as we age.
What is a good strategy for solving a codeword?
Start with short words. Two-letter words can only be a handful of combinations (IN, IT, IS, AT, AN), so they quickly lock down common letters. Look for numbers that appear very frequently across the grid: those are likely vowels (E, A, O). Once you have two or three confirmed letters, longer words start to fall into place.
Today's codeword is ready
Fresh codeword drops at midnight GMT. Free, browser-based, no sign-up. Browse the codeword archive for the public date index, or sign in if you want full replays.
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