Reminder: This weekly post is not at all an attempt to pick the “best” puzzles, and we won’t be commenting as critics. Our approach is best described as “puzzles we don’t think you should miss.” Kind of like staff recommendations at a local bookstore.
Los Angeles Times: (3/2) by Stella Zawistowski. Multiple approaches to inject difficult on display in the same puzzle.
New York Times: (3/4) by Samantha Podos Nowak. A gentle puzzle done well.
Universal: Themeless Sunday 75 (3/3) ($) by Rafael Musa. You’ll see why.
Lutercross: Why So Negative? (3/4) by Matthew Luter. Themeless with some fun clues. – Matt
New York Times: (3/6) by Brad Wiegmann. A creative mechanism that had me looking forward to each themer. – Matt
The New Yorker: The Crossword (3/6) by Patrick Berry. A two-pair of grid-spanners in this medium-difficulty themeless. – Matt
Fireball: Compound Interest (3/7) by Dylan Schiff. A theme worthy of the outlet, especially once it clicks. – Matt
Luckystreak+: not that deep (3/5) ($) by Ada Nicolle. A smooth and fun themeless full of delightful content with an especially sparkly bottom stack. -Norah
Cruciverbology: You’re Projecting: (3/4) by Elise Corbin. Mind- (and grid-) bending, boundary-pushing, and satisfyingly difficult. This one rightfully got a lot of praise this week! – Norah and Rich
The Atlantic Mini: (3/8) by Paolo Pasco. Midi that makes great use of the space with a ton of fun trickiness. – Norah
Los Angeles Times: (3/8) by Joe DiPietro. I had no idea what was going on for about 75% of this puzzle till it was perfectly tied together at the end. – Rich
Universal: Wrong Turns (3/8)($) by Jeffrey K. Martinovic. About as hard a theme as you’ll see in Universal. – Rich