Getting started
60 great topics to generate a puzzle about
A blank topic box is its own kind of writer's block. Here's what actually produces a good puzzle, and sixty starting points.
5 min read
The most common mistake is going too broad. "History" produces a vague, scattered puzzle because the vocabulary has nowhere to concentrate. "The Roman Republic" produces a sharp one. Specificity is almost the whole game.
What makes a topic work
- Specific beats broad — "Norse mythology" over "mythology".
- Concrete beats abstract — nouns give a puzzle something to hold onto.
- Rich vocabulary helps — subjects with their own terminology are ideal.
- Your own interests are best, because you'll actually notice when a clue is clever.
Television & film
Breaking Bad · The Office · Stranger Things · Studio Ghibli · James Bond films · The Sopranos · Pixar · Nolan films · Sitcom catchphrases · Horror classics
Science & nature
The periodic table · Deep sea creatures · Human anatomy · Volcanoes · Photosynthesis · Dinosaurs · The solar system · Weather systems · Genetics · Antarctic wildlife
History & culture
Ancient Egypt · The Silk Road · The Renaissance · Norse mythology · The Industrial Revolution · Samurai Japan · The Space Race · Ancient Greece · The Ottoman Empire · Civil rights movements
Food & drink
Italian pasta shapes · Coffee brewing · Spices · Bread baking · Sushi · Cheese · Cocktails · Street food of Asia · Chocolate · Fermentation
Sport & hobbies
Formula 1 · Football World Cups · Chess · Rock climbing · Cycling · Tennis Grand Slams · Board games · Photography · Gardening · Cricket
Work & study
Nursing terminology · Contract law basics · Accounting terms · Web development · Culinary techniques · Aviation · Real estate · Marketing · Electrical wiring · Pharmacology
A trick worth knowing
The same topic behaves very differently across modes. Try one subject as a crossword, then as a quiz, then as a word search. The crossword tests recall of terms, the quiz tests understanding, and the word search is pure recognition. Running all three is a surprisingly complete way to learn a subject.
Common questions
- What makes a good puzzle topic?
- Specific, concrete subjects with their own vocabulary. "Norse mythology" produces a much sharper puzzle than "mythology", because the vocabulary has somewhere to concentrate.
- Can I make a crossword about anything?
- Effectively yes — you type any topic and the AI writes the clues and answers for it. Very narrow or very obscure subjects may produce shorter puzzles simply because there's less vocabulary to draw on.
Keep reading
Getting started
Getting started with Lexora: your first puzzle in 60 seconds
Install, type a topic, play. A walkthrough of your first Lexora puzzle, plus what to know about guest play, offline mode and streaks.
5 min read
Game modes
All 8 Lexora game modes, explained
Crossword, Word Connect, Word Search, Quiz, Codeword, Rebus, Language Match and Jumble — what each mode is, who it suits, and which to try first.
8 min read