One oddity of cryptic crosswords is that they rely on shorthand that may not be obvious to foreign, or even just modern English, solvers. “Sailor” for instance, can refer to the letters AB, as in ...

Cryptic crosswords may seem baffling at first, but they follow consistent, learnable rules. By recognizing clue structures, applying targeted tactics, and practicing regularly, solvers can boost both ...

The day Josh Wardle sold Wordle to the New York Times, in 2022, for more than a million dollars, should have been a moment of triumph. The game, which gives players six chances to guess a five-letter ...

“In a poll, 64% of Americans felt that the New York Times Crossword is the hardest to complete,” followed by The Washington Post at 19% and USA Today at 13%. Whether you’re taking your first steps ...

Welcome to Fifteen Minutes first-ever (to my knowledge) cryptic crossword. Cryptics are the trickier and weirder British cousin of normal crosswords. Whereas a normal crossword’s clues only have a ...

I met Richard E. Maltby Jr. while working as a Harper’s intern in the spring of 2022. An Englishman in New York, my colleagues were bemused by my lunchtime lucky dip: selecting a cryptic crossword at ...

A new fan-made daily game, PokéCryptic, is blending cryptic crossword mechanics with Pokémon trivia, attracting both puzzle enthusiasts and franchise fans. Inspired by the Minute Cryptic app, it ...

Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor, and holds certifications as a personal trainer and weightlifting coach. She has been writing about health for over 10 years. I find it satisfying ...