CrossCells similar games & best alternatives

CrossCells - Trailer
CrossCells - crosscells_1.avif
CrossCells - crosscells_2.avif
CrossCells - crosscells_3.avif
CrossCells - crosscells_4.avif
CrossCells - crosscells_5.avif
CrossCells - crosscells_6.avif

CrossCells

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2017

Should you play it?

CrossCells is an ambient logic puzzle game.

What works

  • Challenging and well-designed puzzles
  • Calming and minimalistic presentation
  • Logical deduction without guessing required
  • Good value for price
  • Quality audio feedback and music

Things to keep in mind

  • Short total playtime
  • Lack of undo or reset buttons
  • No dark mode by default
  • Some puzzles require mental juggling of many numbers
  • No multiplayer or community features

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Up Left Out

  • Linked

  • TransPlan

  • Wayout

  • Sudoku Jigsaw / 拼图数独

  • SquareCells

More status-driven

Games that feels like CrossCells but with more focus on status and recognition

  • Lines X

  • Zup! 8

  • qop 3

  • qop

  • Oik 3

  • Oik

More expressive

Games that feels like CrossCells but with more self-expression and customization

  • Pictopix

  • Picross Touch

  • Unium

  • LineWay

  • Sudoku Universe / 数独宇宙

  • Classic Sudoku

Choose your own criteria ->

From the same developer

From the same developer, ranked by motivational fit.

  • SquareCells

  • Hexcells

  • Hexcells Plus

  • Hexcells Infinite

  • Epigraph

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with CrossCells. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with CrossCells. These titles are not in What to play next.

CrossCells: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Fantasy, Thrill, Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Fantasy, Exploration.

Last update: 21/08/2026