A Warmer Welcome: Introducing the Smart Starter for New Solvers
Stepping into an 8×8 grid of interconnected eight-letter words for the first time is exciting, but staring at an empty board can leave you wondering: Where do I even begin?
Today, we’re introducing the Smart Starter—a gentle, one-tap onboarding boost designed to help every new player find their footing right away.
Hints are part of the game
In many word games, using a hint feels like admitting defeat. In CrossEights, using hints is a core strategic tool. Revealing key letters across the entire grid unlocks patterns, sparks deductions, and sets you up for rapid-fire solves.
When brand-new players open their very first puzzle, they'll now be greeted by a clean starter banner above the board with a tailored recommendation:
- Instant Foothold: The game analyzes the grid and suggests four high-impact letters (two vowels, two consonants) that immediately fill in most of a crossing word.
- One-Tap Action: Tap “Use Hint 1” to reveal those letters grid-wide, dropping the cursor right where you only need one or two letters to finish your first word.
- Your Game, Your Way: Prefer your own combination? Tap “Pick my own letters” to choose freely, or dismiss the prompt whenever you're ready. It tucks neatly into a pill chip if you ever want it back.
- Distraction-Free Focus: We’ve cleared away secondary widgets and extra cards so the first puzzle is 100% about the joy of the solve.
Great for sharing with friends
If you’ve been wanting to challenge a friend or share today’s Daily, this makes it easier than ever for them to jump in without getting stuck on move one. The Smart Starter is live across CrossEights, CrossEights Daily, challenge links, and our partner editions.
Next time you send a rival link to a friend, they’ll have the foothold they need to put up a score worth chasing!