Scroll on for our recommendations from the last week of puzzles!
Remember that this is not 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: (4/27) by Evans Clinchy. Deft mix of tricky clues with big payoffs and accessible entries to help move through the grid. – Matt
Slate: Slate Crossword (4/28) by Chandi Deitmer. Delightful grid and a truly standout 42-Across clue. Slate’s crossword has quickly become a must-solve. —Rich, Norah, and Parker
Nautilus Puzzles: Inkblot’s Inferno (4/29) by Ben Tolkin. A fun challenge all around, but I’m picking this because of the clue for 56-Across. —Rich
New York Times: ($) (4/29) by Tom Locke. A damn good theme given room to breathe. One of the better early-week NYT themes in recent memory IMO. – Matt
Lil AVC X ($): Knights of the Wrong Table (4/29) by Lydia Roth and Christina Bodensiek. A set of very funny theme entries anchor a puzzle that carries the right balance of personality and cleverness. -Norah
AVCX: ($) Urban Sprawl (5/1) by Shannon Rapp & Will Eisenberg. It’s good, it’s kinda hard, and (as spoiler free as possible) I like revealers like this. – Matt
Puzzmo: Infinity and Beyond (5/1) by Jo and Winguistics (5/3) by Corvimae. These two puzzles are the first from Puzzmo’s first submission period open exclusively to those who had never published a crossword. Both earn their place on this list this week for their creative and perfectly executed themes. Hope to see more from both of them. -Norah
Los Angeles Times: (5/3) by Jay Silverman. Theme is solid, but the themers themselves are particularly high value for my entertainment and make it memorable. – Matt
AVCX+: ($) Have Fun! (5/3) by Will Nediger. Clever themeless that more than lives up to the imperative in its title. —Rich & Matt
Vox: (5/3) by Andrew J. Ries. Been waiting for someone to make this exact puzzle! -Norah