Word Puzzles

The best web sites for acrostics, cryptograms, riddles, word searches and other word puzzles.

Cryptographs: A Cryptograph combines a cryptogram and a portrait. Test your cryptographic skills with these daily puzzles.
Hoadworks Puzzles: HoadWorks publishes original and challenging word games and Wordly-Wise, a free word-game-a-day service via email. Online weekly contests include Uncommon, Trigram Twist and Synogolf. Over five years' of archives and two automated games servers on-site.
Merriam Webster Word Game of the Day: Play a new puzzle every day, or visit the puzzle archive to play games you missed during the past month. The word puzzles come in five formats: Definition Demolition, Flip Flop, Transform Brainstorm, Slang Slinger, Match Maker. Requires Java-enabled browser.
Metacrostics: Diabolical acrostic puzzles for your abusement and annoyment, by Arthur Bloch.
National Puzzlers League: The world's oldest puzzlers' organization.
Puzzability: Word puzzles (mainly) and visual puzzles from the Puzzability team of Mike Shenk, Amy Goldstein and Robert Leighton - all former Games magazine associates.
Rainbow Charity Puzzles: A UK postal quiz consisting of entertaining set of 100 clues with a devious mix of cryptic and general knowledge. Entry is only £1, (but you can give more if you want to!) and there is a prize of £50 for the winner. All profits are donated to charity.
Today's Cryptogram and Contest: Free daily cryptograms, like the Crypto-Quote in newspapers. Measure your skills against other players on the net.
Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle: Each week Will Shortz, the New York Times Crossword Puzzle editor, presents a word puzzle challenge for National Public Radio listeners. You will find the current puzzle here, as well as an archive of past puzzles and answers.
Wordball: WordBall is a daily word game comprised of 5 separate word challenges. You can play WordBall recreationally (occasionally, just for fun) or competetively (play daily and compete against other players).
The Word Playground: The Word Playground is home to a diverse collection of online word games that you can play for free. These games are 100% original.