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!
Defector: ($) Out of Office (12/30) by Evan Mulvihill. It’s a themeless. It’s a good one. Evan is one of my favorite new constructors in the last year or so. – Matt
New York Times: Extremely Online in 2024 (1/1) by Paolo Pasco. Blue clues? In the Gray Lady? Inconceivable. -Norah
Science News: Twisting Words (1/2) by Shannon Rapp. There’s a straightforward way and an extra-level way to do this theme, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the latter when I reached the second themer. But the real star of this puzzle is the vibrant cluing angles for so much of the fill. -Matt
Half-Baked Puzzles: Color Theory (1/1) by Will Eisenberg. Another one where the theme could have stopped and been a fine puzzle, but went to another level. -Matt
Fireball: ($) Turn It Down! (1/1) by Gus Bloxham. Two years in a row where the first Fireball puzzle is a banger. Maybe you’ve heard this before, but I like it when a theme gets taken to the next level. – Matt
Newsday: Box Lunch (1/3) by Stanley Newman. Full of satisfying breakthroughs in both the fill and the theme. – Matt
Los Angeles Times: (1/4) by Rafael Musa. Full of spicy, in-the-language fill and engaging clues. A great place to spend your weekend. – Matt