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Show HN: I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid
A daily word game with a unique mechanic of shared grids and connected themes, built with React, Python, Supabase, Fly.io, and Resend.
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A daily word game with a unique mechanic of shared grids and connected themes, built with React, Python, Supabase, Fly.io, and Resend.
Forkle introduces a novel game mechanic that enhances engagement by layering complexity. The dual crossword concept, combined with thematically linked puzzles, creates a unique intellectual challenge beyond traditional word games. From a market perspective, daily games with innovative mechanics often achieve strong user retention and virality. The use of modern web technologies (React, Python, Supabase, Fly.io) indicates a scalable and robust technical foundation. This project demonstrates how creative application of established game formats, supported by solid engineering, can carve out a niche in the competitive casual gaming market, appealing to users seeking intellectual stimulation.
Forkle (forkle.co.uk) is a daily word game where two thematically linked crosswords occupy the same grid simultaneously. Every tile contains two letters - one belonging to each puzzle - displayed as a diagonal colour split. Where the two puzzles intersect, some tiles share the same letter, giving you a foothold into both crosswords at once.The mechanic has two layers: the shared grid, and the connected themes. Each day's two crosswords are thematically paired around a central idea. For example, a previous puzzle was "Same House, Different Kingdoms" - same home, same humans, entirely different worlds. One crossword is the dog's world, the other is the cat's. The themes are chosen to be related but distinct, which creates an extra layer of satisfaction when the connection clicks.The constraint of forcing two crosswords into one physical space turns out to create genuinely interesting solving decisions - sometimes the two puzzles help each other, sometimes they fight.Built solo over a few months using React, Python, Supabase, Fly.io and Resend. Three months of daily puzzles pre-loaded. Launched two weeks ago.Would love feedback from anyone willing to try it.
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I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid is analyzed by our AI as: A daily word game with a unique mechanic of shared grids and connected themes, built with React, Python, Supabase, Fly.io, and Resend.. It focuses on Forkle introduces a novel game mechanic that enhances engagement by layering complexity. The dual crossword concept, combined with thematically lin...
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The initial public indexing or launch date for I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid within our tracked developer communities was recorded on April 27, 2026.
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I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid has achieved measurable traction, logging over 13 traction score and facilitating 11 recorded discussions or engagements.
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Based on metadata extraction, I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid is categorized under topics such as: React, Python, Supabase, Fly.io.
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The original author or development team describes the product as follows: "Forkle (forkle.co.uk) is a daily word game where two thematically linked crosswords occupy the same grid simultaneously. Every tile contains two letters - one belonging to each puzzle - displayed a..."
Community Voice & Feedback
feedback as a crossword setter: published newspaper crosswords have rules around where you can have unchecked squares (where "checked" means "the same letter appears in two different words"). the most basic rule for new york times style american crosswords is "zero unchecked squares", and for british style blocked crosswords it is "no word should have two consecutive unchecked squares". not following either of those conventions gives the crosswords an amateurish feel, and also contributes to the "feels way too hard" feedback some other people have left.
Really appreciate all the valuable feedback from everyone so far. New puzzles are published every day, so feel free to play more during this week and let me know what you think. Thanks everyone.
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Nice to try something different.My feedback was it seemed like it was interesting to make, but for me at least not really interesting to solve.It felt more like solving two crosswords than a single combined one.Places where lots letters are shared between the two make it interesting, but they're weren't many. Sharing a single vowel 'e' isn't too interesting. Otherwise the just share the length which I already know the length for a crossword clue.It seems like there is a cool idea in there and keep working on it, it just isn't there for me yet.
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Nice!This would be a perfect entry for https://hnarcade.com
I did the " Separated by a Common Flame" puzzle (you're doing something funky with copy/paste so I had to right click to copy the title and all the clues).It's fun, but I have some pointers.1. Try to follow NYT's cluing rules, like plural clues always have plural answers. I was tripped up by "Bark pieces soaked before scattering over coals (8)" having the answer WOODCHIP.2. It's very difficult. I solve NYT pretty handily 7 days a week, and difficult crosswords in Swedish too, but I ended up using 21 hints, and not only because I rushed. The lack of crosses makes it a lot harder to get a lock on the grid.3. There was some questionable cluing in general, like "Shredded cabbage side at every British barbecue (8)" for COLESLAW, which I would not consider a particularly British side, and "Shallow inflatable pool beside the barbecue (8)" for PADDLING. Omitting the noun for that type of compounded adjective-noun word is fine I guess but felt clunky.I like the gimmick itself though!
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