X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Tired of Wordle? Try Apple Arcade's Latest Word Game

You can play Crossword Jam Plus and many other games for free with an Apple Arcade subscription.

Zachary McAuliffe Staff writer
Zach began writing for CNET in November, 2021 after writing for a broadcast news station in his hometown, Cincinnati, for five years. You can usually find him reading and drinking coffee or watching a TV series with his wife and their dog.
Expertise Web hosting | Operating systems | Applications | Software Credentials
  • Apple software beta tester, "Helps make our computers and phones work!" - Zach's grandparents
Zachary McAuliffe
Crossword Jam Plus title card showing letters on tiles in the sky
Apple

If you're bored with word games like Wordle and want to try a new puzzle game, you should try Apple Arcade's latest title, Crossword Jam Plus. If you subscribe to Apple Arcade ($5, £5 or AU$8 a month), you can play this game at no additional charge, and without ads or in-app purchases (hence this version being called "Crossword Jam Plus" on the App Store).

This title was developed by PlaySimple Games, which developed other word games like Word Search Explorer and Word Bingo.

Crossword Jam Plus is a cross between a word search and a crossword puzzle. The game gives you a handful of letters and a crossword puzzle, and you have to use the letters to fill out the crossword puzzle. The puzzles start off easy with two and three-letter words, but the puzzles get progressively more difficult as you solve more of them.

As you play, the game's background shows nature scenes from around the world intended to provide a calming and relaxing atmosphere. Which is good because if you're like me, sometimes figuring out the final word in a puzzle can be frustrating.

You can access this game, and many others, in Apple Arcade for $5 a month, or $60 annually. You can also try Apple Arcade for free for one month with your first sign-up, or you can get a three-month free trial when you buy a new Apple device. To access Apple Arcade, open the App Store on your iOS device and tap the joystick in the menu bar.

Apple Arcade: 50 of our favorite games so far

See all photos
Watch this: What You'll Find on Apple Arcade