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I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid

I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid

by daveoshawrus·Apr 27, 2026·20 points·16 comments

AI Analysis

●●SolidZero to OneCozy

Two crosswords in one grid with diagonal-split tiles creates genuinely novel solving decisions.

Strengths
  • Genuinely novel mechanic - haven't seen two crosswords sharing physical grid space before
  • Thematic pairing layer adds satisfaction when connections between puzzles click
  • Daily format with clean UI makes it accessible like Wordle but deeper
Weaknesses
  • Limited audience - word puzzle fans only, no broader technical implications
  • Still fundamentally a daily puzzle game without lasting technical innovation
Category
Target Audience

Word puzzle fans, crossword enthusiasts

Similar To

Wordle · The New York Times Crossword · Boggle

Post Description

Forkle (forkle.co.uk) is a daily word game where two thematically linked crosswords occupy the same grid simultaneously. Every tile contains two letters - one belonging to each puzzle - displayed as a diagonal colour split. Where the two puzzles intersect, some tiles share the same letter, giving you a foothold into both crosswords at once. The mechanic has two layers: the shared grid, and the connected themes. Each day's two crosswords are thematically paired around a central idea. Today's puzzle is "Same House, Different Kingdoms" - same home, same humans, entirely different worlds. One crossword is the dog's world, the other is the cat's. The themes are chosen to be related but distinct, which creates an extra layer of satisfaction when the connection clicks. The constraint of forcing two crosswords into one physical space turns out to create genuinely interesting solving decisions - sometimes the two puzzles help each other, sometimes they fight. Built solo over a few months using React, Python, Supabase, Fly.io and Resend. Three months of daily puzzles pre-loaded. Launched two weeks ago. Would love feedback from anyone willing to try it.

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