The objective of the game is to form the highest scoring words from a set of seven letters. In addition to your seven letters you must use at least one letter from the ones already on the board. All letter combinations created must form valid words. To create a word drag the letters from your personal set to the game board. Note that the very first word must be placed on the center square (marked with a star). When you have placed your word, click the Submit button. If you haven't submitted a word within a minute you will pass the round and get all letters you have placed on the board back.

If you are not sure if a word is valid, you may enter it in the test word area and click the Test Word button. You can also change letters if you fail to find a good word to place. To change letters, press the Change Letters button, select the letters you want to change and click the Submit button.

All players place their word at the same time. This means that it is possible that all words do not fit together. If this is the case, the highest scoring word will win, and the other words will be removed from the board. The removed words will only receive half the score.

Every Crosswise game is 10, 20 or 30 rounds (only the private games). The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner. If you are a registered member the highest score you have received will be stored after a game is over (only 10 and 20 round games). Depending on several factors you will also receive (or lose) ranking points after a game. Beware, if you log out of a game already running you will lose the same amount of ranking points as losing the game. However if you enter a game that is nearly finished and don't wish to lose ranking you have a short time to get out of the room without losing ranking.

Scoring

The score you get for a word, is the sum of all the numbers marked on the letters. More uncommon letters generate a higher score. If you place letters upon a green multiplier square the word's score will be multiplied by the amount indicated by the multiplier. A word may be placed over more than one multiplier, thus making a higher scoring word.

Game Settings

There is a tab called settings in the lobby that allows you to turn the in-game music on/off as well as the sound effects.