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.
Matt’s been on vacation this week, so I picked up a few guest recommendations. Did we miss your favorites? Add them in the comments!
USA Today: Bi Couples (6/1) by Olivia Mitra Framke. Lovely way to kick off Pride Month. —Rich
Los Angeles Times: (6/1) by Lance Enfinger and Bob Weisz. The kind of themeless puzzle that’s so packed with clever misdirection it has you second-guessing even the most straightforward of clues. —Will E.
New York Times: Rainbow Connection (6/1) by Portia Lundie. Not only is this month’s bonus puzzle from the Times perfectly on topic, it shines on its own as a fun themeless-like solve. —Norah
Los Angeles Times: Is There An Echo In Here? (6/2) by Sid Sivakumar. The kind of Sunday theme in which each iteration of the concept is fun to figure out on its own, and true to Sid’s style, smooth and friendly. —Norah
Washington Post: Let Me Give You a Hand (6/2) by Evan Birnholz. Creative interpretation on a theme loaded with possibilities and a fun pay off. —Norah
Universal: Themeless Sunday 88 (6/2) by Adrian Johnson and Rafael Musa. What an impressive themeless grid. —Rich
Slate: (6/3) by Sid Sivakumar. An unusual puzzle with a surprise ending. —Norah
Puzzmo: And now for the mane event… (6/3) by Lisa Hanawalt & brooke. Unreal theme density; it’s a joy to see so much of what someone loves in one puzzle. —Rich
Los Angeles Times: (6/4) by Taylor Johnson. A lot of theme content, and one particularly great themer, but the real kicker is the revealer that ties together multiple parts of each theme entry. That’s no easy feat, and the aha moment here was super satisfying. —Will E.
Wall Street Journal: Backfield (6/4) by Josh Goodman. A grid that delighted throughout and a fun and easy theme. —Norah
xwords by a ladee: “i spoke 2 soon” (6/5) by brooke husic. #5 in Brooke’s very fun project to make a new midi every day in June. If you haven’t been solving them, I definitely recommend the whole series. —Rich
Zinnabun: 🐻❄️ (6/6) by Zinna. From the constructor of the most beautiful puzzle of all time comes a somehow even more beautiful puzzle. — Will N. and Norah