We’re back with some recommendations from the past couple months.
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!
Los Angeles Times: (7/11) by Wayne Bergman. -Matt
Los Angeles Times: (7/19) by Chandi Deitmer & Erik Agard. -Rich.
Crosstina Aquafina: themeless no. 36 (7/25) by Kelsey Dixon & Erik Agard. A masterpiece. -Norah, Rich, and Matt
Puzzmo: ($) Extra Toppings (7/31) by Bob Weisz. -Rich
Lollapuzzoola: ($) Wild Discoveries (8/9) by Kareem Ayas. It’s got everything you could want in a Lollapuzzoola puzzle: a mechanic that makes you approach solving in a new way while coping with the pressures of a tournament, a ridiculous amount of theme density peppered with diverse mechanics, and an incredibly satisfying payoff in its revealer. Do this one paper–no exceptions. It’s worth a trip to your local library, if that’s what it takes. -Will E
The New Yorker: The Crossword (8/18) by Erik Agard. We’ve seen this striking grid shape from Erik a few times in TNY now, and each time the fill is incredible but this one especially blew me away. -Norah and Rich
USA Today: Another Trip Around the Sun (8/20) by Sally Hoelscher. This was a great puzzle with enough heart that I smiled the whole time I solved it. Super cool that Sally made it & that Amanda ran it on Sally’s birthday. -Jess
Sunday puzzles at The Atlantic and weekly puzzles at The Walrus. Given the long wait since our last of these posts, I’m skipping more individual puzzles to lift up these two weekly options that have been consistently solid this year. Really enjoyable additions to my solving roster, which is a little more limited than it used to be. – Matt