Today we released Links, an audio crossword game, for iOS.

We’re living in a golden age of puzzles. Like many of you, we at Spooler love to start our day with some mental calisthenics provided by the growing range of online games.

But as a company focused on the frontiers of audio, we’ve also noticed very few puzzles designed to be played with the voice and ears, rather than the fingers and eyes. Eliminating the screen means you can play Links while doing other things, like making breakfast, getting dressed, or traveling to work.

In the five or so minutes it takes to play Links each day, you’ll guess four answers based on crossword-style clues, and then figure out the link between those four answers. The game hears your responses and, using an interactive AI engine we created, evaluates your guesses. And, unlike audio games you may have tried on smart speakers, there’s no time limit to make your guess. You can take all the time you need and even think out loud before saying the magic words “My answer is….”, which tells Links you’re ready to guess.

You can also easily play with others. Many of our beta testers discovered they enjoyed teaming up with family members, so they could strategize their answers together.

Because I can’t see the puzzle squares, I figure out the Links clues in my head and that makes me exercise another part of my brain.
     — Wendy, Links player

New Links puzzles are available every day so you can make it part of your routine. Not only is it fun, but it helps keep your mind nimble.

As the great New York Times and NPR puzzle master Will Shortz once said, “Puzzles teach you how to solve problems in a structured way, which helps with reasoning and thinking outside the box. These skills translate to many areas of life.”

We hope you get as hooked on Links as our Spooler team has. Give us feedback at [email protected]. And if you have an idea for a voice interactive game you’d like to develop, we’d love to hear from you.