This Puzzle Format Flies Under the Radar — But It Outsells Word Searches

Word searches are fine. They’re easy to make. Familiar. Low friction.

But if you’re creating puzzle content to sell — whether that’s printables, books, or PLR bundles — sticking to word searches means you’re competing with thousands of other creators using the same format.

So what do you do when you want something different? Something that:

Stands out in listings
Offers real value to buyers
And gives you room to scale?

You try the puzzle format no one’s talking about.

Meet Criss Cross Math

It’s like a crossword puzzle. But instead of words, each clue is a math equation.

Each number, operator, and result fits into a shared grid. Solving one part helps you solve the rest. It’s logic-based. Visually structured. And secretly educational.

Buyers love them because:

They’re different
They’re replayable
They work across ages and ability levels

Creators love them because:

They’re scalable
They batch easily
They can be branded, themed, and exported in minutes

Why They Outsell Word Searches (in the Right Niches)

Criss cross math puzzles are ideal for:

Teachers: Engage students without traditional worksheets
Homeschoolers: Offer review and fluency practice that doesn’t feel like drills
Parents: Provide screen-free educational fun
Printable Sellers: Create bundles by season, skill, or level
PLR Creators: Generate massive value packs with minimal formatting

They can be sold as:

Individual puzzle packs
Seasonal math bundles
Warm-up activities
“No-prep” classroom resources
Bonus content in larger kits

And unlike word searches, these don’t feel like filler. They feel like progress.

What Buyers Say They Want

From real-world customer reviews across Etsy, TpT, and Amazon:

“No-prep activities that actually help with fluency.”
“Printable games that don’t need instructions.”
“Something for fast finishers or early morning bell work.”

Criss cross math puzzles hit all three.

Format Flexibility = Product Power

You can customize:

Equation count (3 to 30+)
Number range (1–20, or 1–1000+)
Operators (addition, subtraction, more coming)
Grid size (fixed or dynamic)
Fonts, colors, layout styling
Branding: logo, title, watermark
Export to PDF, JPG, SVG, PPT

And with the right tools, you can generate thousands of puzzles per batch.

How to Start Using Criss Cross Math

Here’s where you can learn more:
👉 Criss Cross Math Overview

Want to try it with zero commitment?
👉 Puzzle Maker Pro Demo Version

There’s nothing wrong with word searches.

But if you want to stand out — and grow your revenue — try building puzzle products that do more than fill space.

Criss cross math puzzles teach, challenge, and convert.

And best of all? Almost no one is using them. Yet.