How to play PokèVerba: the complete guide

If this is your first time here, welcome! PokèVerba is a crossword that changes every day and has just one rule: every answer is the name of a Pokémon. In this guide you’ll find how it works, what happens when you complete it and a few tips to get off on the right foot.

The grid

Each edition holds a handful of Pokémon fitted together, across and down. Numbered squares mark the start of a word. Next to the grid there are two lists of clues: Across and Down.

The clues describe the Pokémon by its identifying data: its type, the region where it first appeared (Kanto, Johto…), what it evolves from and into, how tall and how heavy it is, its colour, where it lives. They never give its name: putting the pieces together is up to you.

How to type

Tap a square: the word it belongs to lights up and its clue is highlighted.
Type the letters. The cursor moves on by itself and, at the end of a word, jumps to the next one.
Where two words cross, tap the square again to change direction.
On a computer you can use the arrow keys to move and Backspace to go back.

Checking and catching

When you think you’ve got it, press Check. Whole words that are right flash yellow, wrong ones turn red (without telling you which letter is off): you can fix them and try again. You get 5 checks per crossword: once they’re used up, a full grid still gets a final check, which closes the crossword if everything is right.

Every word that is completely right, when you press Check, catches its Pokémon, which goes into your personal collection: you don’t need to finish the grid. The ones you already had stay there: no duplicates. Completing the whole crossword catches the last ones and extends your streak.

If you really can’t get out of it, you can buy a hint with tokens (see below) or, for 40 tokens, press Show solution. You’ll see every answer: the Pokémon you already caught stay, the ones from the missing words don’t, and your streak doesn’t grow.

The streak

Every day in a row that you complete the crossword extends your streak, the number you see at the top next to the caught counter. Skip a single day and it starts again from one: the perfect reason to come back every morning.

Tokens

Playing earns you tokens. Every day there are three quests: complete a crossword (+10), complete one without hints (+10) and catch a new Pokémon (+5). There are also achievements, unlocked once: your first crossword, 3, 7 and 30-day streaks, Pokémon in your collection and more. You’ll find them all, each with its reward, in the Achievements tab.

You spend tokens on hints: Reveal letter (5) writes the right letter in the selected square, Reveal word (15) writes the whole selected word and Show solution (40) reveals the full grid. Checking stays free.

Tokens have no monetary value: they can’t be bought, sold or traded. Your balance is saved only in this browser: clearing the site data deletes it.

Where does my data go?

Nowhere but your browser. PokèVerba saves progress, streak and collection locally on your device: no account, no sign-up. The other side of the coin is that if you switch browser or clear the site’s data, your collection starts again from zero.

Three tips to get started

Start with the short words. A four- or five-letter name gives you precious letters for the crossings.
Read the clue twice. There is often a detail (a colour, a habitat, an evolution) that narrows the field down to a single type.
Don’t be afraid of getting it wrong. Checking costs no tokens: you get 5 checks, use them as allies.

Ready? Today’s crossword is waiting for you on the home page.