Minute Cryptic
Minute Cryptic posts one cryptic crossword clue each day. If you get stuck, hints walk you through the trick, and a short video explains it after.
How Minute Cryptic works
Find the definition. Every cryptic clue has a plain definition at the start or the end. The rest is wordplay.
Spot the indicator. Words like mixed, around or hidden tell you what to do with the other letters.
Work the wordplay. Rearrange, hide or join letters as the indicator says, and check the result matches the definition.
Use a hint if needed. There is no way to fail. You only see how many hints you used compared with other players.
How a cryptic clue is built
Minute Cryptic gives you one cryptic crossword clue a day. Every cryptic clue has two parts: a plain definition at the start or the end, and wordplay that builds the same answer another way. Find the split and the clue opens up.
Try this one, written for this page: Pay attention to silent mix-up (6). The definition is Pay attention to. The wordplay is silent, mixed up. The answer is LISTEN.
Common signals in the wordplay
| Words like | Usually mean |
|---|---|
| mixed, broken, wild, strange | An anagram of nearby letters |
| in, some, part of, hides | The answer is hidden inside the clue |
| back, returning, up | Read some letters in reverse |
| first, head, initially | Take first letters |
Anagram signals like broken, mixed or wild are the easiest indicators to learn first.
Hints, the archive and practice
If you are stuck, the step by step hints show a bit more each time, and a short video explains the clue after you solve it. Past clues give you practice, and the courses on letterplay, wordplay and weirdplay teach the signals one at a time. It is one of the best places to start if cryptics have always looked impossible.
Common Minute Cryptic questions
What is a cryptic clue?
A crossword clue with two parts: a normal definition and a piece of wordplay that builds the same answer from letters.
Can you fail Minute Cryptic?
No. You can use as many hints as you need, and the game shows how your hint count compares with other players.
Is Minute Cryptic good for beginners?
Yes. It was made to teach cryptic clues one at a time, with hints and videos for every puzzle.
Where can I get a Minute Cryptic hint today?
Inside the game. Each hint shows a little more of how the clue works, so you can stop as soon as it clicks.
Is there a Minute Cryptic answer today on Megadle?
That would ruin the fun of the explainer video, so no. Find the definition at one end of the clue first.
Minute Cryptic strategy
- Try the first and last word of the clue as the definition. One of them almost always is.
- Words that mean scrambled, broken or wild usually signal an anagram. Count the letters next to it.
- Watch the video even when you solve it. Each one teaches a trick you will see again.
Minute Cryptic in numbers
- Puzzle
- One cryptic crossword clue a day
- Hints
- Step by step, each one shows a bit more
- After you solve
- A short video that explains the clue
- Learn
- Courses on letterplay, wordplay and weirdplay
- Category
- Word games, meaning and clues
Facts checked on 2026-11-03. Minute Cryptic belongs to Minute Cryptic. Megadle is not linked to it.