To find the number of squares in the given figure, follow these steps:

1. Identify all the smallest unit squares. Count each individual square in the figure.
   • The figure contains a total of \(3 \times 3\) unit squares in each arm of the cross and \(2 \times 2\) in the middle. Thus, each arm contains 3 unit squares along each side.
2. Count the intermediate squares formed by combining smaller squares.
   • In the center, there are 4 squares that are \(2 \times 2\).
   • Each arm of the cross can form additional larger squares beyond the unit squares:
     • Each arm has 1 larger square of size \(2 \times 2\).
     • Each arm does not form any \(3 \times 3\) square as they are isolated across the middle section.
3. Add all the combinations:
   • Total small squares: \(3 \times 3\times 4 = 12\) (from the arms) + 9 (from the center) = 21 small squares.
   • Total \(2 \times 2\) squares: 1 per arm = 4 + 4 from the center = 8.

Summing up all these squares, we get a total number of squares:

• \(21 + 8 = 29\)

Therefore, the total number of squares in the figure is 29.

Hence, the correct answer is \(29\).