Over the last few months, I’ve found myself growing fond of cryptic crosswords. Unlike their more straightforward counterparts, these puzzles are built around clues that function like self-contained mini mysteries. They lean heavily on wordplay and thought-provoking mental work, rather than simply handing you a direct definition to decode. The difficulty for me, though, is that I’m not especially good at them. When I try to tackle cryptics, it can feel like I’m learning a foreign language—and until recently, I didn’t really know where to begin. That’s changed now. Each morning, I brew my coffee and open the excellent Minute Cryptic app on my phone while the coffee is still doing its thing. In just a few weeks, I genuinely feel like I’ve moved from complete beginner to someone more comfortable with it.
For anyone aiming to get better at cryptic crosswords, the app is a real advantage. It includes free “courses” designed to help you understand those oddball clues, with lessons split into letterplay and wordplay. When you’re working through a clue, the app can offer support—helping you spot the fodder (the exact letters, words, or phrases within a clue that need to be rearranged, altered, or used to form the answer), the indicators (the terms that point you toward the fodder), and the definition (the wording that signals the meaning of the finished solution).
In theory, it all sounds pretty intimidating—I know—but once you use the courses as a starting point, you can begin to crack clues that previously would have seemed totally nonsensical. Today’s (6th May, 2026) clue is: A cat’s head poked into nest! Ready wings for descent! (8) A month ago, this would’ve made my brain seize up instantly, but today I can work it out. If you reach an answer with just a few hints, depending on how hard the clue is, you can drop below “par” according to Minute Cryptic’s scoring system. It’s a smart way to turn the experience into a game while still keeping track of your progress in solving cryptic crosswords.
I thought that was impressive on its own, but then—thanks to a bit of Instagram’s algorithm wizardry—I came across PokéCryptic. It looks like it was modeled after Minute Cryptic, but it’s devoted entirely to Pokémon. Best of all, it’s free. I mean, seriously—could you have guessed? The catch, as you might expect, is that the clues are built around basically anything and everything Pokémon-related. I’ve only been using it for a few days, yet it already seems like the clues can point to Pokémon species, abilities, moves, or items from the Pokémon world.
Even better, the site keeps all the core features from Minute Cryptic. That means you can request hints about the indicators, the fodder, and the definition whenever you get stuck. Just like the non-Pokémon version, there’s also a par rating. I solved today’s clue using two hints, so I landed right at par. In the past, I’ve occasionally been a touch under par on this challenge, so I’ll admit I’m mildly frustrated. And the best part? Today’s answer is also one of my favorite Pokémon. Go figure!
There’s another bonus, too: every day on PokéCryptic includes a video alongside the clue. It walks you through the reasoning behind how the clue is constructed (including those charming Professor Oak animations). If you watch closely, it can help you reverse-engineer how the puzzles work—and ideally, pick up enough about the underlying mechanics to start solving the clues on your own.
You can jump into the puzzles via the link above, but there are also practical ways to bring cryptic crossword thinking into your day-to-day routine: you can see Oak talk through the clues on Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok. I also want to give a quick shout to another creator I’ve recently been enjoying: TrevorSolves. It was an excellent account that introduced me to PokeCryptic in the first place. He explains his reasoning so you can learn how to approach solving cryptic crossword clues, and he posts daily videos working through both PokéCryptic and Minute Cryptic. Honestly, it’s partly thanks to his informative, easy-to-follow short-form content that I’ve been able to train my brain to decipher these tougher clues.
Give these games a try. Even though the debate goes on about whether crossword lovers really do have tougher, more resilient brains, there’s clear evidence that people who regularly complete crossword puzzles see improvements in “instrumental activities of daily living”; in other words, stronger short-term memory and better overall executive function. As an auDHD person, I’ll gladly take every bit of help I can get.
And the abilities these apps help you build aren’t restricted to answering clues in PokéCryptic and Minute Cryptic. Just yesterday, for the first time, I actually managed to finish The Guardian’s cryptic crossword for April—and believe me when I say it’s a bastard. I wouldn’t have even been willing to attempt it without the practice these apps have given me. Honestly, I feel like I should receive a Gym Badge for my efforts.