I Love Crosswords 2
I Love Crosswords 2 is a mobile puzzle game that incorporates video and picture clues into traditional crossword grids for iOS and Android users.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The game removes the cognitive friction of text-only clues by providing visual context, which allows casual players to engage with word puzzles without requiring deep linguistic expertise.
For Casual puzzle enthusiasts and families looking for word games that incorporate visual and video-based challenges.
What does it look like?
Key features
Crossword puzzles integrated with visual and video media that users can zoom into for detail, increasing session duration and ad-inventory per active user.
Puzzle content available in English, French, German, Russian, Italian, and Spanish, broadening the addressable market across six linguistic regions.
Multiplayer-style interaction allowing users to solve puzzles with family and friends, encouraging organic user acquisition.
How much does it cost?
Ad-supported model with in-app purchases, relying on high-volume engagement to monetize free users.
Velocity
Dormant developmentopaqueShow more...
The development momentum is classified as zombie status due to the lack of activity over the last 17 months. The latest release occurred on December 24, 2025, and there have been no subsequent updates or evidence of ongoing maintenance. The previous release history shows a significant gap between the current version and the prior update in 2022, indicating a lack of consistent development cadence.
Who built it?
Second Gear Games
13+ apps tracked · Games
I Love Crosswords
11 Clues: Word Game
3 Circles
Mom's Crosswords with Pictures
Look for Words
Winter Words
Funny AI Crosswords
Word Cabin
Spooky Words
Words Connected 3: Crosswords
Word Tower Crosswords 2
WordiaryUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads excited. Users appreciate challenging crossword puzzles provide an effective mental workout that keeps players engaged over long periods and the unique crossword concept differentiates the game from traditional puzzle formats and maintains player interest, but report aggressive monetization pressure forces players to purchase coins to progress past specific difficulty spikes.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Challenging crossword puzzles provide an effective mental workout that keeps players engaged over long periods
- The unique crossword concept differentiates the game from traditional puzzle formats and maintains player interest
- Aggressive monetization pressure forces players to purchase coins to progress past specific difficulty spikes
60 of 64 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Excited overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for I Love Crosswords 2
How's the Games market?
I Love Crosswords 2 maintains a niche presence in the puzzle category, recently appearing in the top 200 grossing charts in Switzerland and Italy. The lack of updates since 2025 suggests a defensive posture rather than an active attempt to capture further market share.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By GLBW Consultoria de Engenharia e Inform?tica ltda
This app directly competes for the same crossword-solving audience by offering a standardized, grid-based puzzle experience that mirrors the core utility of I Love Crosswords 2.
- Offers a broader variety of grid layouts compared to our visual and video-centric puzzle focus
- Provides expandable content libraries that allow for a more traditional, long-form crossword solving experience
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for I Love Crosswords 2
Where is it heading?
The puzzle category is consolidating around apps that offer social and cooperative features, leaving I Love Crosswords 2 exposed due to its solo-only, static design. Without a return to active development, the app will likely continue to lose ground to rivals that offer a more dynamic and less restrictive experience.
- The 17-month update drought indicates a maintenance-only posture, which allows competitors with active live-ops to erode the app's visual-puzzle market share.
- Progression-breaking bugs in the current build prevent users from unlocking new content, directly accelerating churn among the most engaged players.
The SWOT
- Video and picture clue integration increases session depth
- Six-language support broadens addressable market reach
- Introduce non-intrusive hint system to reduce difficulty-spike frustration
- Add subscription tier to remove ads and stabilize revenue
Next best moves
Audit level-unlocking logic because progression blockers are a top-reported technical complaint → reduce churn
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's zombie-state development is actually a retention…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Cooperative multiplayer modes (available in Wordgrams but absent here) +1
Since the last report: The app has transitioned into a formal maintenance-only posture, with updated SWOT analysis and market positioning reflecting its vulnerability to live-ops competitors. The core product remains unchanged, but the competitive intelligence now explicitly links the 17-month update drought to specific churn risks and market share erosion.
Bottom line
The unique visual-clue mechanism retains a core audience, but the lack of active development and aggressive monetization at difficulty spikes creates a churn funnel. Addressing progression blockers would stabilize the user journey and protect the remaining install base.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is I Love Crosswords 2 good for casual players?
How does I Love Crosswords 2 compare to Wordgrams?
Does I Love Crosswords 2 have intrusive ads?
What is a free alternative to I Love Crosswords 2?
Sources
- [1] Play Store listing
- [2] App Store rankings
- [3] Competitive Landscape
Report last updated