Day: September 20, 2024

DCL Highlights, 9/14-9/20

We’ve got a few from last week in addition to faves from this one; happy solving!

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 solved that we don’t think you should miss.” Kind of like staff recommendations at a local bookstore.

Did we miss your favorites? Add them in the comments!

Outside The Box: ($) going too far (9/9) by joon pahk. A week late, but I’m always excited to see one of my favorite variety puzzle types. Highly recommend subscribing to Outside the Box (which just started its new year) if you’re interested in puzzles that make you think in new and different ways. —Rich 

xwords by a ladee: i will wait for the next time (9/16) by Brooke Husic. Tough but beautiful, with one of the most stunning grid designs I’ve ever seen. —Rich 

Universal: My Two Cents (9/19) by Amie Walker & Geoffrey Schorkopf. Make a reference to my neck of the woods or to my favorite animal, and you’ll win me over. Despite my bias, Amie and Geoffrey have constructed a fun theme making for an easy and enjoyable solve. – Jac

Los Angeles Times: (9/20) by Will Pfadenhauer. Even with solving the theme revealer, it still took me a couple of extra minutes to catch onto the wordplay at work. Once it clicked in my head, I was thoroughly impressed. – Jac

Los Angeles Times: (9/19) by Nancy Stark & Will Nediger. Some may say that many crosswords are cut from the same cloth, but the tapestry of this puzzle and its short story are quite the delight. – Jac

Universal: Unexpected Arrivals (9/16) by Amanda Winters. As a fellow crossword constructor, I’m rather jealous at how Amanda found these theme entries. I would love to see a sequel puzzle that continues to use this theme as just one crossword isn’t enough. – Jac

Universal: East and West (9/9) by CJ Tan. A fun and cute theme that’s so subtle that I almost missed it until the revealer. – Jac

New York Times: (9/20) by Jackson Matz. Good long stuff, appealing grid shape. I liked it. – Matt

Friday, September 20, 2024

BEQ: Crossword #1715: CNN by Brendan Emmett Quigley. .puz, .pdf, online.
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache. .pdf, online.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Haymarket’s Squares: Haymarket Mini #74 by ariel haymarket. .puz, .pdf, online.
M & M Crosswords: Better by Martina Waluk. .pdf, online.
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre. .pdf, online.
Mark’s Word Puzzles: Sept. 20, 2024 by Mark Morin .pdf, .puz, online.
Pocket Squares: Water, water everywhere by Jasper Davidoff. .pdf, online.
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas. .pdf, online.

The Columbia Spectator: Niche Theme Friday: Let’s a go! by Molly Durawa. .puz, .pdf, online.
Duke Chronicle: Mini Crossword 78 (9/20/24) by Jackson Matz. .puz, .pdf, online.
Fordham Observer: Friday, September 20 (Mini) by Abby Grunzinger. .pdf, online.
Harvard Independent: Changing Leaves – Falling Apart Issue 09.19.24 by Harvard Independent. .pdf, online.
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online.

A-to-Z Crosswords: ($) Puzzle #89 by Peter Gordon & Frank Longo. Subscribe at link.
Autostraddle: AF+ Mini Crossword Is Just Here For the Friendship Bracelets by Emet Ozar. .pdf, online.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: September 20, 2024 by Kelsey Dixon. .pdf, online.
Crossword Flow: ($) by Katja Brinck. iPad-exclusive app.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney .pdf, online.
Puzzmo: Sketch Pad by Alex Eaton-Salners. Online.

Apple News: ($) by Rafael Musa. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Erik Agard. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Paolo Pasco. .pdf, online.
The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar. .pdf, online.
Crosswords with Friends: Sports Fan Friday by Zhouqin Burnikel. App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel. App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel. App Store | Google Play
Daily POP Crosswords: by Janice Luttrell. App Store | Google Play, online.
Los Angeles Times: by Will Pfadenhauer. Online, pdf. Free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski. Online.
The Modern Crossword: ($) by Erik Agard. Online, .pdf.
New York Sun: ($) 9/20/24 Place in the Sun God by Timothy Powell. Reissues from 2006.
New York Times: ($) by Jackson Matz. Online, .pdf, app.
New York Times Mini: by Joel Fagliano. Online, app.
The New Yorker Mini: The Mini Crossword: Friday, September 20, 2024 by Mollie Cowger. .pdf, online.
Newsday: 9/20/24 Sweet 16 by Steve Faiella. Online .pdf
People Puzzler: The Union Star by Robyn Weintraub. .pdf, online.
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online
Slate: Slate Midi: Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 by Quiara Vasquez. Online, .pdf.
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic by Colin Thomas. Online.
Universal: ($) Inauspicious Starts by Drew Schmenner. Online, pdf. .puz.
USA Today: Letterboxd Films by Kiran Pandey. Online, .pdf, app.
Vox: by Andrew J. Ries. .pdf, online.
Vulture 10×10: The Future Self Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski. .pdf, online.
The Wall Street Journal: Team-Building Exercise by Matt Gaffney. Online, .pdf. .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo. Online, .pdf.
The Week: Hooray for… by Matt Gaffney. .pdf.

Darren’s Puzzles: Cryptic 2024-09 by Darren Miller. Online, .pdf.
Out Of Left Field: ($) Cryptic #234 by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto. Patreon subscription.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online.

Financial Times: FT Crossword .pdf.
The Globe and Mail: The Daily Cryptic Crossword. .pdf, online.
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,493 by Pangakupu. .pdf, online.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online.

Support Daily Crossword Links

Check out the DCL’s staff recommendations from last week’s puzzles

Other American-style links:

Reviews and Discussion at Diary of a Crossword Fiend | Boatload Puzzles/AARP | “Crosscord” Discord | Crucidrama (en español) | Cruciverbalista (en español) | Easy Crossword (Newsday Archives) | FreeDailyCrosswords | Medium Crossword (Newsday Archives) | Hard Crossword (Newsday Archives) | r/crossword | USA Today Reviews and Discussion at Off the Grid | Squares.io | XWord-Muggles Meta Calendar

Other Cryptic/Variety links:

A Frame Games | cf.kmbweb.de Links Library | CoxRathvon.com | Harper’s ($) | Lovatts | Magpie ($) | Mokelfish Links Library | MyCrossword | NPL | Panda Magazine ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Split Decisions | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener