LinkedIn Crossclimb is a timed trivia game where you answer clues and arrange the answers into a word ladder, with each word differing from the next by one letter. The top and bottom rungs stay locked until the middle words are in the right order, and solving those last two wins the game.
Crossclimb is part quiz, part word puzzle. You can know every answer and still get stuck, because the order matters as much as the words.
Here's how it works, step by step, from LinkedIn's help page, plus a few habits that speed things up.
How Crossclimb is played
- Open Crossclimb from the Games hub, the My Network page or LinkedIn search.
- Tap Start game. You'll see a blank ladder with the top and bottom rungs locked.
- Tap a middle rung to see its clue.
- Type the matching word into that rung.
- Repeat for every middle rung.
- Drag and drop the middle rungs so each word differs from the next by one letter.
- When they're in the right order, the top and bottom rungs open up.
- Solve those two clues and type the words in. They follow the one-letter rule too.
The one-letter rule
Every word in the ladder has to differ from the word next to it by a single letter. That includes the top and bottom words, which have to fit onto the ends of your finished middle section. So once the middle is in order, the end words are half solved before you even read their clues.
How the trivia side works
Each middle rung has its own clue, and you can open them in any order. There's no penalty in the rules for skipping a clue and coming back, so treat it like a crossword: fill what you know, then use the letters you've got to crack the rest. The ladder pattern gives you an extra clue that a normal quiz doesn't.
Hints and settings
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Hint | Reveals one letter of a word |
| Reveal row | Reveals the whole word |
| Auto-check (Settings) | Checks words as you type and strikes through wrong ones |
| Auto-reorder (Settings) | Arranges the ladder for you once the middle words are correct, which opens the top and bottom rungs |
Auto-reorder takes away the dragging and dropping, which suits anyone who enjoys the trivia more than the ordering. If you like the puzzle side, leave it off.
Habits that save time
- Answer the clues you're sure of first. Each one gives you letters the neighbouring words have to share.
- Once you've got two or three words, look at which letter changes between them. That shows you where the gaps sit.
- If a clue stumps you, guess words that fit the ladder pattern and check them against the clue.
- Use Hint for one letter before Reveal row. A single letter is often enough.
- For the top and bottom rungs, start from the end word of the middle section and change one letter at a time until it fits the clue.
Word ladders are an old puzzle and there's plenty more of this kind of thing in my list of word puzzle games for your brain.
A quick illustration of a ladder
To see how the one-letter rule works, picture a short ladder like CAT, COT, DOT, DOG. Each word changes a single letter from the one before. In the real game the clues are trivia questions, so you might work out COT and DOG from their clues, then realise DOT has to sit between them. That's why answering the easy clues first helps: each word you're sure of narrows down the shape of the words around it.
The same thinking helps with the order. Lay out the words you've got and look for pairs that differ by one letter. Those pairs must sit next to each other, and the chain usually becomes clear after two or three links.
Why the clock matters
LinkedIn describes Crossclimb as a timed game, so your result reflects how quickly you finish. That's why the hint tools are worth using wisely: a quick Hint can be faster than five minutes of staring at a tricky clue.
What the results page shows
When you've finished, you can compare your score with averages for all members, your company, CEOs and others. You'll see your streak and game analytics, can set a reminder for the next puzzle, and, if eligible, check how your company or school ranks. There's also a daily post for everyone who played.
New puzzle times
Crossclimb resets every day at midnight Pacific Time, and the old ladder expires then. You can't go back and play a day you missed, so keep that in mind if you're protecting a streak.
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Finding Crossclimb on desktop and in the app
LinkedIn lists the Games hub, the My Network page, Today's Games under LinkedIn News on desktop, the side panel in the mobile app, LinkedIn search and notifications. Dragging rungs is easiest with a mouse on a bigger screen, but the game works in the app too.
Guest players
You can play without an account, but a guest score only lasts 30 minutes before it's deleted, and guests can't keep a streak or see leaderboards. Sign in before then to keep your time.
My advice
Bank the easy clues first, use the letters they give you to place the rest, and lean on Hint before Reveal row. When the middle clicks into place, solve the top and bottom by changing one letter at a time. And if you're sharing your time, it's a nice excuse to tag a colleague and challenge them.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play LinkedIn Crossclimb?
Answer the trivia clues, then drag the middle words into a ladder where each differs from the next by one letter. The top and bottom rungs then open up.
Why are the top and bottom of Crossclimb locked?
They stay locked until the middle rungs are in the correct order.
What does Reveal row do in Crossclimb?
It reveals the whole word for that rung, while Hint reveals just one letter.
Is Crossclimb timed?
Yes. LinkedIn describes it as a timed trivia game.
What does Auto-reorder do?
It arranges the ladder for you once the middle words are correct.
When does Crossclimb reset?
Every day at midnight Pacific Time, when the previous puzzle expires.
