Crosswords and Crossword Tools
PUZZLE LINKS: JPZ Download | Online Solver Thanks to our test solvers Meatdaddy and Britta for taking a look at this one! They said what I expected them to say, which is that they enjoyed the puzzle but did not understand how the title related to anything. Our friend Kate stepped in to suggest something…
We posted a spiral puzzle a while back on the blog and today we’d like to introduce a tool to help burgeoning Spiral creators make their own. Check out the Spiral Construction Tool, a guided way to make spiral puzzles of your own. You’ll need to supply the first words, but after that the tool…
PUZZLE LINKS: JPZ Download | Online Solver Yacht Rock puzzle #8! Just a handful more of these to go. Only a few theme entries in this one so we’re going with an unusual grid. Hope you enjoy! A thousand thanks to Kate for the test-solve. Go check out her latest themeless! Enjoy the solve, and…
PUZZLE LINKS: JPZ Download | Online Solver Our first spiral! We’re still trying to figure out what’s the best for these. Do you lean toward more overlap between words, or does that not matter as much? We’ll see how this one is received. Also! Quick note — one of these clues pretty obviously dupes its…
Read More “Puzzle #26: Follow The Yellow Brick Road (Spiral)” »
PUZZLE LINKS: JPZ Download | Online Solver Titling coded crosswords is a challenge. The plan for this one was to hint at some grid entries. We’ll see how it plays. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a coded crossword, here’s the rundown: Each answer in a kaidoku, or coded crossword, is a common, lowercase…
PUZZLE LINKS: JPZ Download | Online Solver Back with a new acrostic! Thanks so much to Ajay and Kate for the test-solves. We think you’ll like this one. I also highly recommend this puzzle’s source material; definitely check it out if you haven’t already. Enjoy the solve, and as always, if you plan to solve…
Are you familiar with Mechapuzzle? If you’re a fan of meta-crosswords, or “contest crosswords” like the kind you might find at the WSJ or MGWCC, then you might find its analysis useful to help you solve the meta-puzzle. Up until recently, though, it only accepted .puz files, which (1) ewwww and (2) they had to…
Most of you know about the Crossword Butler, and the butler is great, but he has only been serving up American-style crosswords. What can you do if you’re hankering for some cryptic-style snacks? Well, good news, because our butler made a friend. Introducing Cryptic Crossword Butler, serving up cryptics both American and British, despite his…
PUZZLE LINKS: iPuz Download | Online Solver Pretty sure I don’t need to introduce my co-author today, but in case you hadn’t heard, Brendan Quigley has been pumping out crosswords for years in all the outlets including over 1400 at his own site. He recently constructed a cryptic crossword as part of the AVCX Kickstarter…
Read More “Puzzle #23: Keep The Fire (with Brendan Emmett Quigley!)” »
It’s been a while since we’ve had any updates about crossword tools here at Crossword Nexus, but that doesn’t mean nothing has been going on. While we don’t have any big announcements quite yet, there have been many improvements to our offerings: The Crossword Nexus Solver now has the “Notepad” available from the “File” dropdown,…