Crossdown

Create your own crossword puzzles although you won't save much time or get much help with this trial version. Despite its clean interface, Crossdown will likely send you scrambling to the help file to figure out how to construct a puzzle. To do so, choose a size, click a Squares button to design the grid, and select Construct to add the answers onto the puzzle. Once you complete the puzzle, use the Autoclue feature to add clues. We like the ability to solve preloaded puzzles (click the clue and the grid highlights the area you should fill in), complete with time and scoring. While this program offers tools such as a clue bank and dictionaries, these features only are available in the full version, leaving users with little assistance in puzzle construction. With its limitations (including a 25-use trial), puzzle aficionados can find more robust applications elsewhere.