Cross Spin Word Game Review

Jim Gamer
Sep 15, 2025
4 min read

Cross Spin

WBG Score: 7.5/10

Player Count: 2-6

You’ll like this if you like: Word Games under time pressure

This is a free review copy. See our review policy here.

I love word games. And anything with a clever little twist, I am in. Cross Spin is exactly that. It mixes a cross word style layout, with free form puzzle solving. It tests your calmness under pressure, vocabulary, and ability to fit words together. The game also has a daily quiz you can try out here, if you like that sort of thing! Could this be the new Wordle? But is it fun? Lets get it to the table and find out.

How To Set Up Cross Spin

Give each player a booklet and a pen. Give the deck of cards a good shuffle and place it face down on the table along with the sand timer. Next, choose a puzzle to start with; puzzle one seems a good place to start! Get each player to turn to that page in their booklet. Ensure everyone is on the same page. Now, flip over a card face up for each space for a word on the puzzle. You are now ready to play!

How To Play Cross Spin

Each player takes the puzzle booklet and flips over a set of word cards. Your job is to find a word that matches each card and fit it into the crossword-style grid on the page in front of you. Each puzzle card represents one word. You can only use each card once, and you must fit all of your chosen words into the puzzle.

This means your words will need to overlap and share letters, just like in a crossword. For example, you may need to combine answers for cards such as “something in the ocean,” “something starting with E,” “a word with two vowels,” and “something a dog does.” The challenge is to make them all connect neatly in different ways across the grid.

Speed matters. As soon as you think you have completed your puzzle, flip over the sand timer. Every other player now has the remaining 20 odd seconds to finish their own grid. When the timer runs out, the round ends.

Players then reveal their puzzle solutions to the group. If your answers all work, you score one point per correct word, plus two bonus points for finishing first. However, if the group agrees that any of your answers doesn’t fit, you lose a point instead. Everyone else simply scores one point per correct word.

You can rotate your puzzle booklet 90, 180, or 270 degrees if it helps you fit the words, that’s the “Spin” element of the game. When scoring is complete, wipe your board clean, discard the used cards, move to the next page in the booklet, and draw a new set of cards.

Play continues until someone reaches 25 points, or simply for as many rounds as you like.

If everyone is stuck, the group can agree to draw one extra card. You’ll then have more cards than needed, which allows you to discard whichever one proves the hardest to fit.

Is It Fun? Cross Spin Word Game Review

Cross Spin is a surprisingly enjoyable mix of wordplay and light puzzle solving. If you like games such as Scrabble, Boggle, or simply doing crosswords, this will feel right at home. It works brilliantly solo if you want something calm and 'puzzly', but also shines in pairs or teams. This makes it easy to balance across different ages or vocabulary levels, kids, parents, and grandparents can all join in together.

The creativity is where this game comes alive. Often you’ll slot in an obvious first word, only to realise later you need to change it to make the rest of the grid fit. That process of adapting, tweaking, and eventually finding the perfect fit is deeply satisfying. Linking a chain of words together so that everything locks in, all under time pressure, creates wonderful tension.

Speaking of time, the sand timer runs for around 24 seconds (I even noticed one side is slightly faster than the other!). It’s barely enough to finish if you’re behind, but that’s the point. It forces you to grab a few extra words and squeeze in some last-minute points. For younger players or those who prefer a slower pace, you could flip the timer twice, or ignore it altogether and just play at leisure.

As a relaxing, word-based filler, this is one I can see hitting the table a lot. It’s the kind of game you can enjoy with family on a Sunday afternoon, or play solo for a quick challenge. Personally, I think my mum will love it, though I doubt I’ll ever beat her at word games!

Pros:

Easy to teach and quick to set up
Works solo, in pairs, or in larger teams
Satisfying puzzle-solving with lots of creativity
Timer adds fun tension but can be adjusted or ignored
Replayable thanks to a large set of cards and varied grids

Cons:

Timer can feel too short for some players
Group validation of words may cause minor disagreements
Not suited to players who dislike word games

Final Thoughts - Cross Spin Word Game Review

Cross Spin offers a flexible word puzzle experience that’s as fun solo as it is in groups. It’s quick to teach, easy to play, and can scale in difficulty depending on how you use the timer. The rotating boards add a neat spatial twist, and the clue cards keep the puzzles fresh.

This isn’t a game for everyone, if you don’t enjoy word puzzles, it won’t convert you. But for word lovers, or families who enjoy games like Boggle, Scrabble, or crosswords, Cross Spin is a creative, replayable option.