Play the Crossclimb Game Free Online
A daily trivia word-ladder puzzle, plus unlimited puzzles, a numbered library, and a full archive. No login, no app — just climb.
Today's Crossclimb #1
Daily puzzle for 2026-07-09 (UTC). Answer the clues, order the rungs, and crack the combined clue.
Want more? Play unlimited puzzles, browse the puzzle library, or revisit the archive.
Never run out of puzzles
Beyond the daily puzzle there are 67 numbered puzzles to play on demand, plus an unlimited mode that serves a fresh ladder whenever you want one.
What is the Crossclimb game?
Crossclimb is a trivia word-ladder puzzle. A ladder has seven rungs, all holding words of the same length — four or five letters. The top and bottom rungs start locked; the five rungs in between each carry a trivia clue. You answer the clues, then rearrange the rungs so that every neighboring pair of words differs by exactly one letter in one position, like turning CARD into CORD into CORE. Get the ladder right and the ends unlock with a single combined clue for both.
The original Crossclimb is a daily puzzle published by LinkedIn inside its games lineup. It is a great one-a-day ritual — but when you finish and want another, there is nowhere official to go. The Crossclimb Game is an independent, free tribute for exactly those players: the same climb-the-ladder gameplay, available whenever you want it.
How our version is different
We built this site to remove every barrier between you and the next puzzle. There is no sign-in required, no paywall, and nothing to download. Here is what you get:
- A daily puzzle. A fresh trivia word-ladder every day, the same for everyone.
- Unlimited mode. Generate a new ladder on demand and play as many as you like. Every board has a seed you can share so a friend gets the exact same puzzle.
- A numbered library. 67 fixed puzzles you can play in any order — puzzle #7 is always the same puzzle.
- A growing archive. Missed a day? Replay any previous date's puzzle.
- Progress that stays put. Your solves, streak, and best times are saved right in your browser.
How to play in four steps
- Answer the clues. Tap a rung and type your answer. Every answer is the same length, and you can solve them in any order.
- Order the rungs. Drag the rungs — or use the up and down buttons — so each neighboring pair of words differs by one letter.
- Unlock the ends. When the middle ladder is correct, the top and bottom rungs open with one combined clue for both hidden words.
- Finish the climb. Fill in the top and bottom words, each one letter from its neighbor, to complete the ladder. Stuck? A hint reveals one letter.
That's the whole game: quick to learn, satisfying to finish. For a deeper dive and solving strategy, read the how to play guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Crossclimb game?
Crossclimb is a trivia word-ladder puzzle. Five middle rungs each have a trivia clue; you answer them, then drag the rungs into an order where every neighboring pair of words differs by exactly one letter. Solve the ladder and the locked top and bottom rungs unlock with one combined clue for both.
How do you play Crossclimb?
Tap a rung to focus it and type your answer to its clue. Each answer is the same length, either four or five letters. Once your five middle answers are in, drag the rungs (or use the up and down buttons) so each adjacent pair changes by a single letter. When the ladder is right, a final combined clue reveals the top and bottom words.
Is The Crossclimb Game free to play?
Yes. Every puzzle here is completely free, with no app to install and no account required. Play the daily puzzle, jump into unlimited random puzzles, or work through the numbered library in your browser on phone, tablet, or desktop — and if you want to appear on the daily leaderboard, you can optionally sign in.
How is this different from LinkedIn's Crossclimb?
LinkedIn publishes one Crossclimb puzzle each day inside its games experience. This is an independent fan site that adds an unlimited mode with a fresh puzzle on demand, a numbered puzzle library, and a full archive of past days — all without a login. We are not affiliated with LinkedIn or Microsoft.
What is the combined clue at the end?
After you solve and order the five middle rungs, the top and bottom rungs unlock together with a single clue that describes both words as a pair — often a compound word or a strongly linked pair, like HOME and SICK for the feeling of missing home. The top word is one letter from the first middle rung and the bottom word is one letter from the last.
Does my progress save?
Yes. Your progress on the daily puzzle, your solving streak, and your best times are saved locally in your browser, so clearing your browser data will reset them. If you sign in, your streak and stats also sync to your account so they follow you across devices.
Are the words hard or obscure?
No. Every answer is a common four- or five-letter word, and the clues are written to be fair for a general audience. The challenge is in the trivia and in finding the one ordering where each step changes a single letter — not in knowing rare vocabulary.