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I've been into crosswords for a while now, and the thing is that a lot of apps have "cryptic" or "themed" sections where the clues are way more convoluted and play with double meanings, anagrams, and stuff like that. What few people notice is that British newspapers like The Guardian have a difficulty level way higher than generic apps, but there are also independent apps like Crosswordle (where you give the answer and find the clue) or even NYT's Spelling Bee that keep that kind of game where you have to think beyond the obvious 🧩
Most people use Wordle or variants like Quordle, though some go for specialized apps like Spelling Bee or crossword apps from newspapers like The Guardian, which have pretty twisted clues.
The New York Times has a whole section of crosswords with varying difficulty, including "acrostics" which are quite a bit more complex with clues that make you think differently. If you specifically like weird clues, it's worth checking out their app directly because the weekend puzzles are pretty tricky.
I think there's a bit of confusion in the premise because Wordle and Spelling Bee aren't really crosswords with weird clues 🤔 they're word games but different ones. What you're probably looking for are those apps that have cryptic crosswords or "themed" ones where the clues play with double meanings, anagrams and stuff that makes you think differently.
If you want that specifically, the best options are apps dedicated to crosswords like Crossword Labs or just go straight to newspaper websites. The New York Times has a whole section with different difficulty levels, and if you really like twisted clues, the acrostics that were mentioned are pretty intense. There's also The Guardian which updates constantly and has "cryptic" crosswords that are basically riddles dressed up as clues lol 😅
Another option is to look for independent apps that specialize in these kinds of themed crosswords or tricky clues. Sometimes free games have limitations but for someone just starting out it's fine. The main thing is finding something where the clues aren't straightforward so you have to think about multiple meanings of words.
Are you looking specifically for ones with double-meaning clues, or just any app where challenging crosswords show up? What nobody mentioned is that a lot of people end up on **Across Lite**, which is basically the gold standard for serious crossword enthusiasts - it's free, has a massive archive of historical and new puzzles, and the interface is minimal but addictive. If you want something more modern with better design, **Wordscapes** has crosswords but they're lighter, but if what you're after are genuinely twisted clues, you're better off going straight to newspaper apps like people mentioned, or **Cryptic** which is specifically for that type of British crossword where the clues are literally riddles.
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