Plenty of research highlights the benefits of crossword puzzles for seniors. Here are some of the key findings from different studies.
- According to a study by the University of Exeter and King’s College London, seniors who often complete crossword and other word-based puzzles have a brain function equivalent to that of a person ten years younger.
- According to the Bronx Aging Study, crossword puzzle use was associated with a 2.5-years delay in dementia onset.
- A study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that seniors who continue to exercise their mental abilities through crosswords and other brain games retain a higher level of recognition and remain independent longer than those who do not.
- Research by the National Library of Medicine concluded that solving crossword puzzles may delay the onset of memory decline in the initial stage of dementia among the elderly.
I have shared printable crossword puzzles in the past, here are the 10 best crossword apps for seniors that you can enjoy on your Android or Apple devices.
1. NYT Games
New York Times Games offer new puzzles daily for every skill level. You can access over 10,000 past puzzles including word and logic puzzles.
One app gives you access to different games and puzzles, including
- The Crossword: Play the same daily puzzle as printed in The New York Times, with an increase in difficulty throughout the week.
- The Mini Crossword: The fun crossword puzzles you can solve in seconds with simpler clues.
- Strands: A word search game with a twist to find hidden words and uncover the day’s theme.
- Wordle: Original Wordle created by Josh Wardle. Guess a 5-letter word in 6 tries or less.
- Spelling Bee: How many words you can make with 7 letters?
- Connections: Group words with a common theme. Do it with four mistakes or fewer.
- Sudoku: A number game minus the math. Fill a 3×3 set of boxes with numbers 1 to 9. Try the easy, medium, and hard mode
- Tiles: Make consecutive matches while matching the elements in the day’s pattern
- Letter Boxed: Create words using letters and squares. Test your word-making skills
For The Crossword, monitor your stats, including average solve times and more. Subscribers have access to over 10,000 past crossword puzzles.
Get NYT Games for Android | iOS
2. Words of Wonders
One of the best crossword apps for seniors with an interest in history. Visit the 7 wonders of the world and solve the mystery they hide.
Find the hidden words and challenge your vocabulary with challenging levels.
Start your journey with the first wonder and climb your way to reach the final. Each level is unique and harder.
Get Words of Wonders for Android | iOS
3. Crossword Jam
Stunning backgrounds and fresh daily crossword challenges make this game one of the best. Solve puzzles to go on an epic world journey that will take you to the most beautiful places around the world.
It’s easy to start with. Swipe and connect the letters to form the words and boost your vocabulary. The puzzles slowly get harder.
Crossword Jam is easy to learn but hard to master.
Get Crossword Jam for Android | iOS
4. Crossword Puzzle Redstone
This app releases crossword puzzles in four difficulty levels that you can solve offline. You will get puzzles published in major newspapers including The New York Times, Washington Post, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, and more.
The puzzles come in three sizes: Minis, Midis, and Regular (15×15), and have four difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Very Hard.
This app provides both themed and themeless crosswords with fresh puzzles every week.
Get Crossword Puzzle Redstone for Android | iOS
5. Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles
Want to learn about new topics and sharpen your trivia skills? Choose from a range of topics, including Movies, History, Technology, Games, Architecture, and more.
You can choose from hundreds of crossword puzzles and receive a new puzzle every day.
You will get hints to pass those obscure words. I love their different and exciting themes for each day of the week.
Get Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles for Android | iOS
6. Crostic Crossword
Unlike old-school crossword games, Crostic Crossword features cute graphics and special effects. One of the best fun brain games to instantly train your brain muscles.
Some of the key features of Crostic Crossword include
- Hidden quotes, historical facts, proverbs to guess
- Different difficulty levels from easy to complex
- 4 New daily goals with new gameplay. Scoring points get you ahead of other players on the leaderboard
Crostic Crossword fuels your brain with power, trains logic, and boosts your dopamine level.
Get Crostic Crossword for Android | iOS
7. Bonza Word Puzzle
Bonza is a new type of crossword that combines word search, jigsaw, and trivia to create something new. It has become an instant classic.
‘Bonza puzzles are instantly addictive!’ – Will Shortz (Crossword Editor, The New York Times)
You will get a new puzzle every day, designed by the Bonza community. You can also create your own puzzles and challenge your friends.
Get Bonza Word Puzzle for Android | iOS
8. Crossword by Puzzling.com
This is the best crossword app for seniors based on the number of puzzles and game modes. You get access to a giant collection of original puzzles and choose from 10 game modes.
- Daily Themes Puzzle: A new crossword every day with clues to a trivia fact about today’s date
- World’s Biggest Crossword: Over 1200 crossword puzzles enjoyed by millions of players worldwide
- World’s Tallest Crossword: Over 400 extra-large puzzles with bigger grids and longer words. How high can you build the tower?
- Daily Diamond Crossword: A snack-sized bonus puzzle every day
- Seven Words Puzzle: Use the scrambled letter blocks and clues to find 7 hidden words
- Codewords Puzzle: Look for patterns and decipher the code to complete the crossword grid
- Word Grid Puzzle: Slide the tiles into the blank squares to spell out the words
- Quote Falls Puzzle: Move the letter tiles from each column to the correct square on the grind to unlock the famous quote.
- Fact of the Day: Daily facts to puzzle your mind
- British Cryptic Crossword: The answer is hidden in the clue using double meanings, anagrams, and other tricks. If you find it hard, swap it for an easier and non-cryptic alternative.
This crossword app has over 4000 puzzles to solve, 45 trophies to collect and 10 achievements to unlock.
Get Crossword by Puzzling.com for Android | iOS
9. Cody Cross
If you are tired of classic crossword puzzles, Cody Cross introduces you to a new and exciting game that combines crossword games with the challenge of improving your spelling skills and vocabulary.
With crossword puzzles available daily, you will not run out of new words and spelling challenges. Start with a themed crossword puzzle board and guess the words that fit in boxes, each with unique clues and hints.
Get Cody Cross for Android | iOS
10. Crossword Explorer
A vast crossword collection featuring a diverse range of themes, sizes, and difficulty level for all skill levels and every mood.
Whether you are looking for a new challenge or a seasoned crossword enthusiast, Crossword Explorer has something special for you.
- Thousands of crossword puzzles that span the spectrum from easy to expert
- Daily challenges with fresh puzzles every day
- Themes and customization to make your experience unique
- Hints and tips so you do not get stuck on a tricky word
Enhance your language skills and vocabulary and boost your knowledge while having unlimited fun
Get Crossword Explorer for Android | iOS
Sohail Ahmed
I love helping seniors with technology. This blog features apps, games, gadgets, technology tips, and tutorials for older adults … Know More