-
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
BEQ: Themeless Monday #849 by Brendan Emmett Quigley.
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
Boswords Themeless League: ($) Puzzle 5 by Jeremy Venook. Competitors have all week to complete the puzzle. Late registrants welcome.
Brian Gubin: Fights Back by Brian Gubin.
The Chicago Maroon: Daily Minis – 42 (Guest Submission) by Eli Lowe.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: November 4, 2025 by Quiara Vasquez.
Defector: ($) The Crossword, Nov. 3: Bottom Feeders by Hannah Binney. Subscribe at link.
Fill Me In: Six Seven (Meta) by Brian Cimmet.
Hyperallergic: The Hyperallergic Art Crossword: November 2025 by Natan Last.
Jeff’s Puzzles: Stars Crossed by Jeff Linder.
Lil AVCX: ($) Art Works by K.J. Sarr. Subscribe at link.
Luckystreak+: ($) puzzle #244: don’t get worked up (themeless) by Ada Nicolle. Subscribe at link.
LuterCross: Bet on It by Matthew Luter.
Metas On A Tuesday: Weekly Meta
The New Dork Times: New Dork Times Puzzle: Midi 28 by Cole Rush. Subscribe at link.
Puzzmo: Coattails by Ryan Judge. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #390 by Queerty.
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #389 by Queerty.
Quite Vexing: Halloweek #5: Ghoul Friends (Meta) by Quiara Vasquez.
Southern Crosswords: southern crosswords mini #25 by michael.Apple News: ($) Freestyle by Hannah Slovut-Einertson. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Erik Agard. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Amanda Rafkin.
Billboard: by Stella Zawistowski.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) Getting Smarter by Brian Callahan. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: TV Tuesday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Daily Beast: Selfless Actor, Tues. Nov. 4, 2025 by Matt Gaffney.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Robin Stears. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
Fordham Observer: Tuesday, November 4 (Mini) by Jasmine White.
Fordham Observer: Monday, November 3 (Mini) by Carle Bleau.
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online only
Morning Brew: tktktk by Jack Murtagh.
Slate: Slate Midi: Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 by Tim Croce.
Slate: Slate Mini: Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 by Kiran Pandey.
The Tufts Daily: Five by Ezra Holzapfel.
The Tufts Daily Mini: That’s Nuts! by Shayna Levy.
Vox: by Juliana Tringali Golden
Vulture 10×10: The Change Puzzle by Malaika Handa.
WashU Student Life : Trader Jerry’s by Gus Lookingbill.
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Los Angeles Times: by Robert S. Gard. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
New York Sun: ($) Warrior by Karen M. Tracey. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) by Patrick Hayden.
New York Times Mini: by Joel Fagliano.
The New Yorker: The Crossword: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 by Wyna Liu.
Newsday: 11/4/25 Skillet Set by Billie Truitt. Online .pdf
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
SFGATE California Mini Crossword: Mini Crossword by Amanda Rafkin. Online only.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
Universal: ($) Daybreak by John McClung. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: That’s Juicy! by Daniel Grinberg.
The Wall Street Journal: Act Now! by Paul Leistra. Direct link to .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.Cryptic Crossweird: ($) Zoo Critter by Leonard Williams. Patreon Subscription.
Garden Party: ($) Rows Garden #8.44 by Michael Blake. Subscribe at link.
Keynesian Cryptics: Draw Strings by Jack H Keynes.
Outside The Box: ($) court disaster (diagramless) by joon pahk. Subscribe at link.
Outside The Box: ($) Rows Garden #11.10 by joon pahk. Subscribe at link.
Sporcle: Daily Acrostic Online onlyFinancial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,843 by Brummie.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online onlyCheck 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 ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Monday, November 3, 2025
Bewilderingly: Freestyle 21 by Will Nediger.
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
The Chicago Maroon: Mini by Chicago Maroon Crossword Team.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: November 3, 2025 by Kelsey Dixon.
Lil AVCX: ($) Ooh, So Close by Terry Sun. Subscribe at link.
Monday Fills: It’s About Time by Dave Murchie.
Muggle Meta Mondays: Weekly Meta
The Puzzle Pit: Metal Monday #22 – Themeless by Adam Landau. .pdf, .puz only
Puzzmo: Daylight Savings by Madeline Kaplan. Online only
Puzzmo: Holding Company by Madeline Kaplan. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Southern Crosswords: southern crosswords mini #24 by michael.Apple News: ($) Expanded Text by Jesse Guzman. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Ross Trudeau. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Amanda Rafkin.
Billboard: by Adam Aaronson.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) House(pet) Warming by Olivia Mitra Framke. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: Movie Monday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Daily Beast: Off to a Rocky Start, Mon. Nov. 3, 2025 by Matt Gaffney.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Pam Amick Klawitter. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
Duke Chronicle: Mini Crossword 173 (11/3/25) by Emily Lutzker.
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online only
The Michigan Daily: The Sunday by Kiran Parekh. Online only
Slate: Slate Crossword: Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 by Quiara Vasquez.
Slate: Slate Mini: Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 by Nijah Morris.
Vox: by Patrick Blindauer
Vulture 10×10: The Explosive Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski.
WashU Student Life : StarTalk by Rena Cohen.
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago-Style Crossword by Kelsey Dixon.
Los Angeles Times: by Ajay Bhargava. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
New York Sun: ($) Pictures of Pants by Mark Feldman. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) by Kevin Christian and Andrea Carla Michaels.
New York Times Midi: by Ian Livengood.
New York Times Mini: by Joel Fagliano.
The New Yorker: November 3 by Elizabeth C. Gorski.
Newsday: 11/3/25 at the Gym by Guilherme Gilioli. Online .pdf
People Puzzler: Night Owl and Sometimes Sara (Ew!) by Neville Fogarty.
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
SFGATE California Mini Crossword: Mini Crossword by Kate Hawkins. Online only.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
Universal: ($) Help Is on the Way! by Susan Gelfand. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: Horse Around by Zhouqin Burnikel.
The Wall Street Journal: Drinks All Around! by Caroline Hand. Direct link to .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.1Across: Dictation by Mathrix. .pdf, online.
Beneath The Surface: Beneath The Surface Cryptic #34 (midi) by Kyle Dolan.
BEQ Marching Bands: ($) Marching Bands #11.15 by Brendan Emmett Quigley. Subscribe at link.
Redhead64: PUZZLE #568: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 6 .pdf only
Sporcle: Daily Acrostic Online only
Steve’s Cryptic Crosswords: by Steve Townsend. Online onlyFinancial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,842 by Vulcan.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online onlyCheck out the DCL’s staff recommendations from last week’s puzzles
Other American-style links:
Reviews and Discussion at Diary of a Crossword Fiend | Boatload Puzzles/AARP | “Crosscord” Discord | Crucidrama (en español) | Cruciverbalista (en español) | Easy Crossword (Newsday Archives) | FreeDailyCrosswords | Medium Crossword (Newsday Archives) | Hard Crossword (Newsday Archives) | r/crossword | USA Today Reviews and Discussion at Off the Grid | Squares.io | XWord-Muggles Meta Calendar
Other Cryptic/Variety links:
A Frame Games | cf.kmbweb.de Links Library | CoxRathvon.com | Harper’s ($) | Lovatts | Magpie ($) | Mokelfish Links Library | MyCrossword | NPL | Panda Magazine ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Ariadne’s Crossword Library: November 2025 Monthly Contest: “The Ending Places” by Heather Gearan. .pdf, .puz only
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
The Chicago Maroon: Mini by Chicago Maroon Crossword Team.
Crosswoods: Smeagol and Gollum by Crosswoods.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: November 2, 2025 by Trent H. Evans.
Half-Baked Puzzles: Crossword Cinematic Universe by Will Eisenberg.
The Hub Crossword: ($) Between U and Me by Brendan Emmett Quigley. Patreon subscription.
Jeff’s Puzzles: Themeless 115 by Jeff Linder.
lost for xwords: Crossword #136 – “You Have So Much to Do” (Themeless) by August Miller.
Luckystreak+: ($) puzzle #243.5: it’s kismet, babe (themeless) by Ada Nicolle. Subscribe at link.
M & M Crosswords: Leftover Candy by Martina Waluk.
Pun Of A Kind: Sandwich Shop by Mikey G.
Puzzmo: Inner Critics by erik. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #388 by Queerty.
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #387 by Queerty.
seaon’s puzzles: Get the Girl.
Southern Crosswords: southern crosswords mini #23 by michael.
Smooth Sailing Sunday: Weekly Meta
World of Crosswords: themeless 161 by Marya and Carla.Apple News: ($) Tail End by Matthew Stock. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Taylor Johnson. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic: by Ada Nicolle.
The Columbia Spectator: Daily Mini: 11/02/2025 by Sofia Whang.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) Hidden Cities by Stella Zawistowski. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: Sunday Funday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Daily Beast: The Queen of Halloween, Sun. Nov. 2, 2025 by Matt Gaffney.
Daily POP Crosswords: by Janice Luttrell. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Sunday by Sam Martin. Online only
Premier Crossword: by Frank Longo. .pdf, online only
Slate: Slate Mini: Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 by Kavin Pawittranon.
Sporcle: Swamp Things by DragMoogle. Online only
YourPuzzleSource: Weekly 15×15 by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Los Angeles Times: RETRACE YOUR STEPS by Marc Goldstein. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
Merl Reagle Archives: November 2, 2025 – The Guide Words Game by Merl Reagle.
New York Sun: ($) Apple Core by Alan Arbesfeld. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) Open-Faced by Rafael Musa.
New York Times Mini: by Christina Iverson.
Newsday: 11/2/25 OFF THE GRID: Not Exactly Football by Billie Truitt. Online .pdf
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
TV Crossword: Weekly Puzzle. .pdf, online only
Universal: ($) Themeless Sunday 157 by August Miller. Direct link to .puz.
Universal Sunday: Tree Hugging by Jared Cappel. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: I’ve Been Framed! by Sean Ziebarth.
Washington Post: Inside Out by Evan Birnholz. Direct link to .puz.The Browser: ($) Cryptic by Viresh Ratnakar. Subscribe at link.
koha xw: This puzzle is haunted by koha.
Sporcle: Daily Acrostic Online only
Stay Golden Puzzles: ($) Fresh Cut Rowses #3 (Rows Garden) by Juliana Tringali Golden. Purchase at link.
TLMB: Fole by The Void .pdf, online onlyAzed Cryptic: Cryptic
Everyman Cryptic: Cryptic
Financial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Hindu Cryptic: ($) The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online only
New York Times Variety: ($) Acrostic by David Balton and Jane Stewart.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 ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Constructor Spotlight: Doug Peterson
Today we welcome crossword constructor and comic book collector Doug Peterson (he/him). Doug grew up in Montana and now lives in Southern California.
Doug! Thank you so much for letting us feature you in our Constructor Spotlight. Let’s start from the beginning. Please tell us about your crossword origin story!
My first crossword memories are solving puzzles in Dell crossword books with my grandmother. She would have me look up answers in her beat-up Dell crossword dictionary. It looked exactly like this!
I had no idea what a “combining form” was, but I sure found a lot of them in that dictionary. I was in my 20s before I realized that ELIA, frequently clued as [Lamb alias], had nothing to do with sheep.
[Googles ELIA… has aha moment, is much older than “in my 20s”] When did you start constructing puzzles?
I started getting serious back in 2002, and the only resource I could find online was cruciverb.com. I read and tried to absorb all the advice I could find on their website and mailing list. I also bought the Random House Puzzlemaker’s Handbook by Mel Rosen & Stan Kurzban, which was a bit outdated but still helpful. I sent a lot of my early puzzles to the L.A. Times, and then-editor Rich Norris was quite helpful with his feedback.
How do you come up with your constructing ideas?
I wish I had a formula! Coming up with themes has always been difficult for me, but going for a long walk is usually a good way to get the creative juices flowing.
These days, I tend towards easy themed puzzles because I like to share them with people who aren’t necessarily expert solvers. I try not to overload my puzzles with “Doug” things, but you’ll certainly find superhero references in many of them.
I’m a big heavy metal music fan, and listening to something like Iron Maiden or Epica puts me in a good headspace while I’m constructing grids – though not so much when writing clues.
Heavy metal and grid construction – intriguing! I’m imagining the black squares in the grid as part of their own little mosh pit as you’re deciding where to place them… 😂
When the creative juices are flowing, what tells you that something is worth your time? Do you have a spidey sense for when you’ve hit on a good idea?
I do have a spidey sense – I wish I got that tingle more often. It’s a fantastic feeling when you find just the right set of theme entries. I can also get into a nice flow state when making a grid as everything falls into place.
I’m good at deciding when a grid is “done.” I often rip out sections while I’m in the process of building the grid, but once I’m finished, I’m not one to go back and tinker. I know some constructors even go back and play around with grids on puzzles that have been accepted – that’s not for me!
You just had a Sunday in the NYT. Congrats, what a fun one!
Yeah, I made it with Gary Larson, who dreams up loads of fun themes, and I’m fortunate he shares some of them with me. He’s a retired stand-up comic, and it shows.
Where else are you published?
I’ve been published in most of the usual places, but now you can mainly find me in the L.A. Times, Puzzmo, and the Crosswords With Friends app.
Any greatest hits you’d like to share with us?
I struggle to come up with themes, so I tend to remember puzzles where I felt particularly inspired.
One of my favorites that you won’t find online appeared in the Uptown Puzzle Club. It was a 21×21 with the title “Station Identification.” Musical acts were clued in reference to imaginary radio stations. [Band heard on radio station WIND?] was AIR SUPPLY, [Singer heard on radio station KIDS?] was NEIL YOUNG, etc.
Another is my 2012 NY Times puzzle with the revealer I’M OK, YOU’RE OK. The premise, people with the initials O.K. meeting other people with the initials O.K., is a bit absurd, which I love. One of the theme answers was OLGA KURYLENKO, and in the months leading up to the puzzle I tried to put OLGA, clued as Kurylenko, in as many puzzles as I could so her name would be very familiar to solvers.
A recent favorite was one I constructed with Brooke Husic for Puzzmo. The theme entries were LAUGHING BOY (the playing card) and CRYING GIRL (the painting). Both of those entries have meaning for me, and the theme is the epitome of an “apt pair.”
What are your goals when you make a puzzle – what do you try to include and what do you avoid?
My goal is primarily a clean, interesting grid. Gridwork is by far my favorite part of the construction process. I strive to give the solver a smooth trip with a few bonuses along the way. Clues are more of a struggle for me. I’d rather start making a new grid than clue the one I just finished.
Avoid: ETE. Seriously. I’ve never used ETE in a grid. I don’t remember why exactly I decided to put ETE on the banned list, but it’s become one of my hard and fast rules – almost a superstition at this point.
What advice do you have for new constructors?
Solve, solve, solve! There are dozens of quality crosswords out there, and you can learn so much by paying attention to what you like (and don’t like) about them.
Speaking of, do you have any favorite constructors to solve?
There are so many! If I had to pick three, I’d say: Rebecca Goldstein, Erik Agard, and Francis Heaney.
Rebecca comes up with so many “I wish I’d thought of that” themes that I want to plant a bug in her house so I can steal a few. She’s amazing. Erik writes the best clues, bar none. His puzzles are always thoughtful and engaging. And Francis’s puzzles invariably contain some mind-boggling element or mechanism I’ve never seen before.
What are your favorite outlets to solve or work with?
I’m a test solver for Patti Varol at the L.A. Times, and I absolutely love working with her. She was hired as the editor in 2022 and has transformed the puzzle into a daily must-solve. I try to solve all the regular 15×15 puzzles, and the LA Times is often my favorite of the day.
I also really enjoy solving and constructing for Puzzmo. If you’re not solving their crosswords, you should be – consistently clever midis, edited and overseen by Brooke Husic. Shoutout to Alex Eaton-Salners for his numerous Puzzmo crosswords with amazing grid art. That’s one of my resolutions for 2026: construct a “grid art” midi for Puzzmo.
I am so here for a Doug grid-art Puzzmo puzzle! Can you share more about your experience being a test solver?
I used to test Patti Varol’s Crosswords Club puzzles, so it was a logical transition to start testing for the L.A. Times when she took over as editor. I test solve every puzzle, and my focus is fact checking.
We have a small team of excellent testers, and we tackle the puzzles a week at a time. Most of my job is Googling stuff, including – and maybe especially – facts I’m sure I already know. The dives into dusty corners of the internet can get very deep. It’s sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating.
Can you touch on how crosswords have impacted your life?
I’m not a particularly social or outgoing person, and being a part of the crossword community has brought so many smart, kind, and wonderful people into my life. I’ve been involved in crosswords for over 20 years now, and I can’t imagine a life without my extended crossword family.
Do you go to tournaments to connect with the community? Or are there other ways that you stay connected?
I don’t read the blogs as much as I used to, but I keep in touch with crossword buddies by text and DM. I still haven’t quite figured out Discord, but I lurk there from time to time.
I’ve been to the ACPT every year since 2008. I love the smaller tournaments too – Lollapuzzoola, Indie 500, and Westwords, to name a few. I’ve never had a bad time at a tournament. Crossword people are the best people to hang with.
You also attend Comic-Con. Tell us more about that.
This was my third year attending the New York Comic-Con. A couple of friends and I have made it a new annual tradition. My favorite part is visiting all the artists in Artist Alley. I could wander for hours checking out all the artwork, and most of the artists will draw commissions for you, so I usually buy four or five drawings.
I like putting money directly into artists’ pockets (many are paid about as well as crossword constructors), and of course I love all the original art I get to bring home. I’m in complete awe of their talent.
Is it the art that draws you to comic books, or something else?
I’ve always been a collector. As a kid, I collected stamps, coins, pins, bottle caps – almost anything I could amass and organize. Comics were a natural fit because I was fascinated with Batman and his world, and the comics themselves were so darn organizable. I’d sort them by title and number and keep lists in a spiral notebook. This was decades before spreadsheets. Keeping track of them was almost as much fun as reading them.
My collection dates back to when I was a fifth grader. (Thanks, Mom, for not throwing them away!) I was drawn to the larger-than-life stories and characters. I fell in love with Batman by watching reruns of the Adam West series. I’ve been a little obsessed ever since.
Speaking of, I made a superhero themed Bonus puzzle for the NY Times!
Most people associate comic books with superheroes. And yes, I often ask myself “What Would Batman Do?” But superheroes haven’t always been popular. Horror, western, war, and romance comic books dominated the newsstands in 1940s and 50s. I’ve been doing a deep dive into romance comics recently, and they’re so interesting.
What are your takeaways from the romance comics? Any cultural insights you’re eager to share?
What initially drew me to them was the artwork, which is often amazing. But the vast majority of these comics were written and drawn by middle-aged men. Men who were out of touch with the actual experiences and interests of their target audience: girls and young women. If you’ve been around crosswords for the past twenty years or so, you can see some parallels.
The stories are usually simplistic and innocent, featuring traditional patriarchal gender roles. For example, there was a series called “Career Girl Romances,” and the women’s “careers” were invariably secondary to their finding and keeping a man, usually the boss. The 1970s featured storylines that were a bit more progressive, but by then the genre had all but dried up. I find them to be a fascinating window into the culture of the time.
I’m happy to say that women are much more involved in comic creation now, and the comics are 1000% better (another parallel with the world of crosswords). But as with crosswords, we’ve still got a long way to go. I attended a Marvel Comics panel at New York Comic-Con earlier this month, and yes, all the panelists were dudes.
If I can recommend a current title you should be reading, it’s “Absolute Wonder Woman,” written by the award-winning Kelly Thompson. I didn’t think Wonder Woman could get much cooler, but wow.
Thank you for drawing those parallels between comics and crosswords. What a good note to (almost) end on. Just one more thing…
Rapid-Fire Round!
Batman or Robin (or one of the villains)?
Poison Ivy
Solving or constructing?
Tough one. Probably constructing.
Something readers would be surprised to learn about you?
I met Evel Knievel twice when I was a kid – once at his house. He was the biggest jerk ever! Keep EVEL out of your grids, friends.
Go-to emoji?
😂
Famous person you’d most like to meet (maybe to make up for the Evel Knievel letdown!)?
James Gunn, so I can give him some ideas for future DC Comics movies.
Comic-Con: cosplay or casual attire?
Casual. It’s hard enough to navigate the crowds without wearing extra accessories or carrying a big sword.
Three words your closest friend(s) would use to describe you?
Funny, thorough, kind
😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
This interview has been edited and condensed from a series of written survey answers and follow-up questions.
Jess Rucks is a crossword constructor and play therapist. She is happy to combine her love of learning about others with her love of crosswords for DCL’s Constructor Spotlight.
-
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Ariadne’s Crossword Library: The Ending Places by Heather Gearan. .pdf, .puz only
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
The Chicago Maroon: Mini by Chicago Maroon Crossword Team.
The Chicago Maroon: Halloween Mini by Piyush Garodia and Carter Otis.
Club 72: Freestyle 1059: “”I’ve seen it all before.” by Tim Croce. .pdf, .puz only
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword by Ada Nicolle.
Crossword Nexus Blog: Puzzle #142: Gift of Gab by Alex Boisvert
David Alfred Bywaters: Progressive Ism by David Alfred Bywaters.
Fireball Newsflash: ($) Fireball Newsflash Crosswords #17 by Peter Gordon. Subscribe at link.
Matt Gaffney’s Weekly Crossword Contest: ($) “Scary Movie” (Meta) by Matt Gaffney. Subscribe at Patreon.
Memorial Hall Library: Food for Thought by Dean.
The New Dork Times: Halloween Mini by Cole Rush. Subscribe at link.
Playbill Puzzles: Puzzle #11: My Favorite Show (Meta) by Danny K Bernstein.
Princeton Alumni Weekly: Tigers on the Court by Stella Zawistowski.
Puzzmo: Pile-Up Poker by Matthew Stock & brooke. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #386 by Queerty.
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #385 by Queerty.
Reason: Candid Candy by Stella Zawistowski.
Southern Crosswords: southern crosswords mini #22 by michael.
Spyscape: The Spyglass Adventure by Bryant White.Apple News: ($) Freestyle by Kenneth Cortes and Adrian Johnson. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by David Steinberg. News+ Subscription Required
The Columbia Spectator: Daily Mini by Michael Lenox.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) When It Sizzles by Kelly Richardson. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: Smartypants Saturday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Alan Olschwang. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Themeless by Sam Martin. Online only
Morning Brew: Turnaround Time by Jack Murtagh.
Vox: Downturns by Will Nediger.
The Walrus: Pulling Some Strings by David Karp.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Los Angeles Times: by Ryan Patrick Smith. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
New York Magazine: Ad-Libbing by Matt Gaffney.
New York Times: ($) by Michael Lieberman.
New York Times Monthly Bonus: You Say You Want a Revolution by Christina Iverson and Ken Burns.
New York Times Mini: by Sam Ezersky.
Newsday: Saturday Stumper by Lester Ruff. Online .pdf
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
Texas Monthly: State of Confusion by Brandon Koppy.
Universal: ($) Universal Freestyle 196 by Hunter Murphy. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: But First, Coffee by Stella Zawistowski.
The Wall Street Journal: Make It a Double by Randolph Ross.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.Darren’s Puzzles: Halloween Hunt 2025 by Darren Miller.
Playbill Puzzles: Puzzle #11: My Favorite Show (Meta) by Danny K Bernstein.
Puzzle Tome: Debut (Cryptic) .pdf, online.
Sporcle: Daily Acrostic Online only
Square Chase: ($) Fall Cleaning (Variety Cryptic) by Steve Mossberg. Patreon subscription.
Tortoiseshell Studio: ($) Bonus Hex Words by Nathan Curtis. Patreon subscription.Financial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
Financial Times: FT Crossword: Polymath .pdf only
Financial Times: FT Weekend Magazine Crossword .pdf only
Gemelo Cryptic: Cryptic
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online only
WSJ Variety: Acrostic by Mike Shenk. Direct link to .pdf.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 ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Friday, October 31, 2025
AVCX+: ($) October 31, 2025 – “Pet Project” (themeless) by Kareem Ayas. Subscribe at link.
BEQ: Spirited by Brendan Emmett Quigley.
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: October 31, 2025 by Kelsey Dixon.
Puzzmo: Boo! by Alex Eaton-Salners. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Quite Vexing: Puzzle: “Spiral into Madness” (Halloweek #4) by Quiara Vasquez.
Southern Crosswords: southern crosswords mini #21 by michael.Apple News: ($) Cursing Silently by Guilherme Gilloli. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Erik Agard. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Paolo Pasco.
Billboard: by Stella Zawistowski.
The Columbia Spectator: Daily Mini: 10/31/2025 by Sofia Whang.
The Columbia Spectator: Daily Mini: 10/30/2025 by Michael Lenox.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) by Igor Ryzhkov. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: Sports Fan Friday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Mark McClain. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
Duke Chronicle: Mini Crossword 172 (10/31/25) by Jeffrey Broms.
Fordham Observer: Friday, October 31 (Mini) by Damian Grove.
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online only
Slate: Slate Midi: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 by Nancy Serrano-Wu.
Slate: Slate Mini: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 by Kiran Pandey.
Vox: by Andrew J. Ries.
Vulture 10×10: The Conspiracy Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski.
WashU Student Life : Not So Grave by Vinisha Tripathi.
The Week: In Her Prime by Matt Gaffney. .pdf only
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Los Angeles Times: by Wendy L. Brandes. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
New York Sun: ($) Themeless by Frank Longo. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) by Juliana Tringali Golden.
New York Times Mini: by Sam Ezersky.
The New Yorker Mini: Friday, October 31 by Kate Chin Park.
Newsday: 10/31/25 Park Rangers by Kevin Christian. Online .pdf
People Puzzler: Chair-Spinning Father of Four by Patrick Merrell.
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
SFGATE California Mini Crossword: Mini Crossword by Amanda Rafkin. Online only.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
The Times Ponder: ($) Weekly Puzzle. .pdf, online only
Universal: ($) Plus or Minus by Paul Coulter. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: Terrors of the Deep by K.J. Sarr & Olivia Mitra Framke.
The Wall Street Journal: Lab Notes by Mike Shenk. Direct link to .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.AVCX Cryptic: ($) AVCX Cryptic 10/30/25 by Bob Weisz. Subscribe at link.
The Crossword Centre: November 2025 Nonsense by Craft by Derek Harrison .pdf only
Garden Variety Puzzles: Rows Garden #6 by Peter Baronowski. .pdf, .rgz only
Out Of Left Field: ($) #292 by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto. Patreon subscription.
Sporcle: Daily Acrostic Online onlyFinancial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,840 by Paul.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online onlyCheck out the DCL’s staff recommendations from last week’s puzzles
Other American-style links:
Reviews and Discussion at Diary of a Crossword Fiend | Boatload Puzzles/AARP | “Crosscord” Discord | Crucidrama (en español) | Cruciverbalista (en español) | Easy Crossword (Newsday Archives) | FreeDailyCrosswords | Medium Crossword (Newsday Archives) | Hard Crossword (Newsday Archives) | r/crossword | USA Today Reviews and Discussion at Off the Grid | Squares.io | XWord-Muggles Meta Calendar
Other Cryptic/Variety links:
A Frame Games | cf.kmbweb.de Links Library | CoxRathvon.com | Harper’s ($) | Lovatts | Magpie ($) | Mokelfish Links Library | MyCrossword | NPL | Panda Magazine ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
The Chicago Maroon: Mini by Chicago Maroon Crossword Team.
ClassiCanadian Crosswords: ($) The Theory of Relatives by Barb Olson. Subscribe at link.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: October 30, 2025 by Quiara Vasquez.
Fireball: ($) Themeless 183 by Peter Gordon. Subscribe at link.
Jonesin’: My Wish List by Matt Jones. Direct .puz link
M & M Crosswords: Hardcore Fans by Martina Waluk.
The New Dork Times: New Dork Times Puzzle: Mini 156 by Cole Rush. Subscribe at link.
Puzzmo: How about a numbers game? by alex & brooke. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #384 by Queerty.
Quid Pro: The GenXword Mini 10/30/25 #tbt by Andrew Anker. Online at Crosswordr.
Quite Vexing: Halloweek #2: Death from Above by Quiara Vasquez.
Quite Vexing: Halloweek #3: Midnight Snack by Quiara Vasquez.Apple News: ($) Freestyle by Alice Liang. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Taylor Johnson. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Paolo Pasco.
Billboard: by Stella Zawistowski.
The Columbia Spectator: Daily Mini: 10/29/2025 by Sofia Whang.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) by Aidan Deshong. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: Top 40 Thursday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Daily Beast: Island Time, Thurs. Oct. 30, 2025 by Matt Gaffney.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Pam Amick Klawitter. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
Fordham Observer: Thursday, October 30 (Mini) by Jasmine White.
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online only
Morning Brew: Brew Mini: Final cut by Jack Murtagh.
Slate: Slate Midi: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 by Quiara Vasquez.
Slate: Slate Mini: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 by Kavin Pawittranon.
Vox: by Will Nediger.
Vulture 10×10: The Clown Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski.
WashU Student Life : You’re a Wizard! by Sarah Tong.
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Los Angeles Times: by Betsy Ochester & Andrew Gutelle. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
New York Sun: ($) Fish List by Jeffrey Harris. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) by Howard Neuthaler.
New York Times Mini: by Joel Fagliano.
The New Yorker Mini: The Mini Crossword: Thursday, October 30, 2025 by Andy Kravis.
Newsday: 10/30/25 Last Chance by Mark McClain. Online .pdf
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
SFGATE California Mini Crossword: Mini Crossword by Kate Hawkins. Online only.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
Universal: ($) Getting Full by Joseph Avdek. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: Paranormal Sightings by Adam Simpson.
The Wall Street Journal: Spirited Away by Mike Shenk. Direct link to .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.Aries Puzzles: Section Eight #4 by Andrew J. Ries.
Financial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,839 by Brendan.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online only
New Scientist: ($) Biweekly Cryptic Subscribe at link.
The Spectator: ($) Weekly Cryptic Subscribe at link.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 ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
AVCX+: ($) October 29, 2025: Home Visits by Lillian Leibovich and Rich Proulx. Subscribe at link.
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
The Chicago Maroon: Mini by Chicago Maroon Crossword Team.
Club 72: Freestyle 1058: “Don’t take this at face value.” by Tim Croce.pdf, .puz only
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: October 29, 2025 by Kate Chin Park.
Crossword Club: Floor Plans by Trent H. Evans.
Inteltainment: Themeless #151 by Stella Zawistowski.
Jeff’s Puzzles: Apparently So by Jeff Linder.
Luckystreak+: ($) puzzle #243: perpetually yours (themeless) by Ada Nicolle. Subscribe at link.
MEOW: Weekly Meta
Puzzmo: Sugarcoated by Adam Aaronson & Alina Abidi. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #383 by Queerty.Apple News: ($) Musical Duets by Ada Nicolle. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Taylor Johnson. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Paolo Pasco.
Billboard: by Adam Aaronson.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) Related by Sally Hoelscher. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: Wayback Wednesday by Donna S. Levin. App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle by Caitlin Reid. App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle by Jeff Chen. App Store | Google Play
Daily Beast: Baby Love, Weds. Oct. 29, 2025 by Matt Gaffney.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Mark McClain. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
Duke Chronicle: Mini Crossword 171 (10/29/25) by Jeffrey Broms.
Fordham Observer: Wednesday, October 29 (Mini) by Jasmine White.
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online only
The Rice Thresher: Happy Halloween! by Ava McClung.
Slate: Slate Midi: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 by Hemant Mehta.
Slate: Slate Mini: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 by Quiara Vasquez.
Vox: by Adesina O. Koiki.
Vulture 10×10: The Angel Puzzle by Malaika Handa.
WashU Student Life : Election Season by Naomika Raveendran.
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Los Angeles Times: by Sheri Steinmetz & Katie Hale. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
McKinsey: Peace Plan by Peter Gordon.
New York Sun: ($) Movies Free of Charge by Lee Glickstein. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) by John Donegan.
New York Times Mini: by Christina Iverson.
The New Yorker: Daily Puzzle by Caitlin Reid.
Newsday: 10/29/25 Hand-to-Hand Combat by Jay Silverman. Online .pdf
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
SFGATE California Mini Crossword: Mini Crossword by Nate Cardin. Online only.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
Universal: ($) Sounds Like a Know-It-All by Robert S. Gard. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: Light It Up by Chandi Deitmer.
The Wall Street Journal: Creature Feature by AJ Phillips. Direct link to .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.Ben’s Cryptic Crosswords: Method Actors by Ben Robinson Online only
Outside The Fox: ($) Touchwords by Grant Fikes. Subscribe at link.
The Rackenfracker: Eights and Nines by The Rackenfracker. Available format varies by puzzleFinancial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,838 by Anto.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online onlyCheck 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 ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
BEQ: Themeless Monday #848 by Brendan Emmett Quigley.
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
Boswords Themeless League: ($) Puzzle #4 by Barbara Lin. Competitors have all week to complete the puzzle. Late registrants welcome.
The Chicago Maroon: Daily Minis – 35 by Piyush Garodia and Carter Otis.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: October 28, 2025 by Erica Hsiung Wojcik.
Crossworms: croctober 2025: week four puzzles by Franci Dimitrovska
Crossworms: croctober 2025 – week three puzzles by Franci Dimitrovska
Defector: ($) The Crossword, Oct. 27: I’ve Seen This One (Themeless) by Will Eisenberg and Brian Callahan. Subscribe at link.
Lil AVCX: ($) What’ll It Be? by Katie Hoody. Subscribe at link.
LuterCross: You’re Looking At It by Matthew Luter.
Metas On A Tuesday: Weekly Meta
The New Dork Times: New Dork Times Puzzle: Mini 155 by Cole Rush. Subscribe at link.
Parker Higgins: Rain sounds by Parker Higgins.
Puzzmo: Figures of Speech by Ori Brian. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online only
Queerty: Queerty Crossword #382 by Queerty.
Quite Vexing: Halloweek #1: Something Humerus by Quiara Vasquez.Apple News: ($) Freestyle by Erik Agard. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Taylor Johnson. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Paolo Pasco.
Billboard: by Stella Zawistowski.
The Columbia Spectator: Daily Mini: 10/28/2025 by Anna Steel.
The Columbia Spectator: Tricky treats by Anna Steel.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) by Taylor Harris. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: TV Tuesday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Daily Beast: A Boom in Ticket Sales, Tues. Oct. 28, 2025 by Matt Gaffney.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Patti Varol. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
Fordham Observer: Tuesday, October 28 (Mini) by Jasmine White.
Fordham Observer: Monday, October 27 (Mini) by Emaan Ehtasham.
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online only
Morning Brew: Brew Mini: Witch by Jack Murtagh.
Slate: Slate Midi: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 by Quiara Vasquez.
Slate: Slate Mini: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 by K. Austin Collins.
Vox: by Juliana Tringali Golden
Vulture 10×10: The Love Square Puzzle by Malaika Handa.
WashU Student Life : Coffee Orders by R. Dehao Tieh.
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Los Angeles Times: by Samuel A. Donaldson. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
New York Sun: ($) iPod Shuffle by David Sullivan. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) by Adrianne Baik.
New York Times Mini: by Joel Fagliano.
The New Yorker: The Crossword: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 by Aimee Lucido.
Newsday: 10/28/25 Brown Beginnings by Billie Truitt. Online .pdf
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
SFGATE California Mini Crossword: Mini Crossword by Amanda Rafkin. Online only.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
Universal: ($) Style Tips by Noelle Griskey. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: Your Mileage May Vary by CJ Tan.
The Wall Street Journal: Fancy Pants by Joe Marquez. Direct link to .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.Garden Party: ($) Rows Garden #8.43 by Michael Blake. Subscribe at link.
Keynesian Cryptics: #307: Gyre and Gimble by Jack H Keynes.
Outside The Box: ($) Rows Garden #11.9 by joon pahk. Subscribe at link.
TLMB: Settling in to Mastodon/the Fediverse by The Void .pdf, online onlyFinancial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,837 by Alia.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online onlyCheck 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 ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
-
Monday, October 27, 2025
Black Crossword: Mini by Juliana Pache.
The Chicago Maroon: Mini by Chicago Maroon Crossword Team.
Crossword Club: Daily Crossword: October 27, 2025 by Kelsey Dixon.
Lil AVCX: ($) maybe this one should have stayed in the drafts by Amie Walker. Subscribe at link.
lost for xwords: Crossword #135 – “Excusez-Mwah!” (Themeless) by August Miller.
Luckystreak+: ($) puzzle# 242.5: no idea why by Ada Nicolle. Subscribe at link.
Monday Fills: Themeless 144 by Dave Murchie.
Muggle Meta Mondays: Weekly Meta
The Puzzle Pit: Metal Monday #21 – “Won’t you come and save me” by Adam Landau. .pdf, .puz only
Puzzmo: All This and Heaven Too by Patrick Berry. Online only
Puzzmo: Mini Crossword by Brooke Husic. Online onlyApple News: ($) Ad Copy by Zhouqin Burnikel. News+ Subscription Required
Apple News Mini: ($) Daily Mini by Taylor Johnson. News+ Subscription Required
The Atlantic Mini: by Paolo Pasco.
Billboard: by Stella Zawistowski.
The Columbia Spectator: Daily Mini: 10/27/2025 by Sofia Whang.
Crosshare Community: Daily Mini and Featured Puzzles.
Crossherd: Daily Mini. Online only
Crossword Flow: ($) Music to My Gears by Carina da Rosa. iPad-exclusive app.
Crosswordr Community: Community Puzzle Platform.
Crosswords with Friends: Movie Monday App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Midi Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Crosswords with Friends: Mini Puzzle App Store | Google Play
Daily Beast: Festival Buzz, Sun. Oct. 26, 2025 by Matt Gaffney.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: Daily Puzzle
Daily POP Crosswords: by Janice Luttrell. App Store | Google Play, Online, phone app only
Duke Chronicle: Mini Crossword 170 (10/27/25) by Emily Lutzker.
India Mini Crossword: Daily Mini
Mangesh Ghogre’s Indian Mini Crosswords: Daily Mini by Mangesh Ghogre.
Merriam Webster: The Missing Letter by Matt Gaffney
The Michigan Daily: The Mini. Online only
The Michigan Daily: The Sunday by Meryn Dziemian. Online only
Slate: Slate Crossword: Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 by Chandi Deitmer.
Slate: Slate Mini: Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 by Quiara Vasquez.
Vox: by Patrick Blindauer
Vulture 10×10: The Voodoo Puzzle by Malaika Handa.
WashU Student Life : Good Game by Clara Beth Lee and Vinisha Tripathi.
YourPuzzleSource: Daily Puzzle (Midi) by Phil Fraas.The Boston Globe: Mini Crossword by Sowmya Ramkumar.
Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago-Style Crossword by Kelsey Dixon.
Los Angeles Times: by Guilherme Gilioli. Create free Cruciverb account for .puz.
Los Angeles Times Mini: by Elizabeth Gorski.
New York Sun: ($) Gateway by Russell G. Brown. Reissues from 2007.
New York Times: ($) by Tarun Krishnamurthy.
New York Times Midi: by Ian Livengood.
New York Times Mini: by Sam Ezersky.
The New Yorker: October 27 by Natan Last.
Newsday: 10/27/25 Moving Day by Doug Peterson. Online .pdf
People Puzzler: Like a Skyscraper by John Greenman.
PlayFour: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
SFGATE California Mini Crossword: Mini Crossword by Kate Hawkins. Online only.
Squared Away: ($) Daily Puzzle. Online only
The Telegraph: Cross Atlantic Online only
Universal: ($) Outside Help by Ryan Judge. Direct link to .puz.
USA Today: Algo Esta Pasando by Nguhi Ross & Kelsey Dixon & Erik Agard.
The Wall Street Journal: Quick Start by Zhouqin Burnikel. Direct link to .puz.
Washington Post Daily Mini Meta: by Frank Longo.Monday Fills Acrostics: Acrostic 262 by Dave Murchie.
Redhead64: PUZZLE #567: Wordy Web 7 .pdf only
Steve’s Cryptic Crosswords: by Steve Townsend. Online onlyFinancial Times: FT Crossword .pdf only
The Guardian: Cryptic crossword No 29,836 by Philistine.
The Hindu Cryptic: Daily Cryptic .pdf, online.
The Independent: Cryptic Crossword .pdf, online onlyCheck out the DCL’s staff recommendations from last week’s puzzles
Other American-style links:
Reviews and Discussion at Diary of a Crossword Fiend | Boatload Puzzles/AARP | “Crosscord” Discord | Crucidrama (en español) | Cruciverbalista (en español) | Easy Crossword (Newsday Archives) | FreeDailyCrosswords | Medium Crossword (Newsday Archives) | Hard Crossword (Newsday Archives) | r/crossword | USA Today Reviews and Discussion at Off the Grid | Squares.io | XWord-Muggles Meta Calendar
Other Cryptic/Variety links:
A Frame Games | cf.kmbweb.de Links Library | CoxRathvon.com | Harper’s ($) | Lovatts | Magpie ($) | Mokelfish Links Library | MyCrossword | NPL | Panda Magazine ($) | Private Eye | PuzzleCrypt archives | Puzzling StackExchange | r/crosswords | Sydney Morning Herald ($) | The Telegraph | The Times (UK) ($), includes The Listener
You must be logged in to post a comment.