The answer to Greet frozen rain? in Puzzle Page Challenger of July 4, 2025 is HAIL.
The Challenger Crossword is Puzzle Page's answer to solvers who find the standard grid too quick to finish. It's built on a 13x13 grid, noticeably bigger than a regular crossword, which means more clues and more crossing answers. It's the puzzle to open when you actually want to sit down and work through something, rather than fill a spare minute.
Why the Clues Run Longer
Along with the bigger grid, Challenger clues are written to be moderately harder than Standard or Diamond, and the answers themselves tend to run longer too. The controls stay the same as every other Puzzle Page crossword: tap a square to select its clue, type the answer on the keypad and watch correct entries lock into place. If a clue won't budge, coins can buy a hint that reveals the next letter.
Tips for Tackling the Challenger
- Scan the grid first for the longest answers, since they usually cross the most other clues.
- Build from any short, confident answers before attacking the longer entries around them.
- Because the grid is bigger, expect to spend more time than on a Standard or Diamond puzzle.