News & Research
Learn about the latest discoveries around puzzles and get to know the juiciest Sticky Puzzles latest news.
- All
- The business of Puzzles
- Research Paper
- Technology
- Health
- Education
- Lifestyle
- Science
- Media
- Crosswords
- Sudoku
- Accessibility
- People & Personality
- History
- Books
- Puzzle Products
- Social Media & Influencers
- AI
- Travel
- Puzzle Launches
- Copyright & Legal
- Solving Strategies
-
January 2025 | DualShockers - Allysen Glidewell PierceRead article
10 Best Cozy Puzzle Games
In a world full of first-person shooters and intense RPGs, sometimes you want to curl up with a game that tests your critical thinking skills without testing your heart. Cozy puzzle games are the perfect way to engage your mind without stressing you out, and they're usually pretty easy on the budget, too! These relaxing puzzle games have something for every problem-solver out ther -
January 2025 | The TimesRead article
Hip to be square
On the publication of our centenary crossword special, it’s never too late to start boxing clever -
January 2025 | Scientific American - Jack MurtaghRead article
The Math Mystery That Connects Sudoku, Flight Schedules and Protein Folding
Computer science seemingly rides a curve of unstoppable progress. Mere decades took us from vacuum tubes to microchips, dial-up to high-speed Internet and Office Assistant Clippy to ChatGPT. Yet thousands of everyday problems across science and industry remain just as unsolvable for today’s fleet of AI-powered supercomputers as ever. -
January 2025 | New York Post - Brooke SteinburgRead article
The hardest Wordle puzzle that broke 5.6 million streaks in 2024 revealed
It’s all fun and games. Though its iconic crossword puzzle was first unveiled on Feb. 15, 1942, the New York Times Games section has skyrocketed in the past few years — and the data for 2024 proves it. Everdeen Mason, editorial director of Games, revealed to Today.com that 11.1 billion puzzles were solved in 2024, but what was the one the stumped most? -
January 2025 | Alexandra Bruell & Suzanne VranicaRead article
Advertisers Keep Avoiding News Sites, and Publishers Have Had Enough of It
According to recent reports, the Washington Post has faced an issue where their crossword puzzle was considered "too offensive" by advertisers, leading to ad blocking on the crossword page due to its perceived political and sensitive content, with some even claiming that even articles about thunderstorms were flagged as problematic by ad-blocking technology. -
December 2024 | TODAYshowWatch Video
Wordle to Connections: A year in review of New York Times games
From Wordle to Connections, more than 11 billion people played a New York Times game in 2024. Its editorial director of games, Everdeen Mason, joins TODAY to break down this year’s top games. Then NBC’s Peter Alexander and Hallie Jackson play a round of Wordle and Connections. -
December 2024 | Fauquier Times - Ashley Simpson | Image Credit - Doug StroudRead articleCrossword puzzle hobby led John Kugelman to The New York Times
While artificial intelligence can accomplish many tasks these days, constructing crossword puzzles remains a uniquely human art — one that John Kugelman of Gainesville has mastered. He has crafted several 140-word crossword puzzles for The New York Times, one of the most prestigious publications for crosswords, and hopes to become one of the regulars making puzzles for the paper. -
December 2024 | The Times - Mick Hodgkin (Puzzle Editor)Read articleCryptic clues too tricky? Start at the beginning…
Ispent a week in November giving cryptic crossword workshops to passengers travelling from Southampton to New York on board Queen Mary 2 as part of The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival at Sea. Those new to cryptic crosswords wanted to know how to identify which part of the clue is the definition. It is normally at the beginning or end of the clue, -
December 2024 | Technology Review - Clint LohseRead article
More puzzles, less sleep
It’s Sunday, January 14, 2024, more than 50 hours since the annual MIT Mystery Hunt kicked off at noon on Friday, and Setec Astronomy is one of more than 200 teams racing to solve hundreds of puzzles over three days. The 60-some members of Setec, many of whom are joining remotely from as far away as Australia, are making good progress... -
December 2024 | Jordan Friedman - BiographyRead article
With Crossword Puzzles, Arthur Wynne Left a Legacy of Fun
The newspaper editor created the modern-day crossword puzzle 111 years ago for a Christmas edition of the New York World. -
December 2024 | Matt Villano - The Press Democrat | Image Credit - Christopher Chung - The Press DemocratRead article
Healdsburg cruciverbalist competes in national crossword puzzle tournaments
Katja Brinck, a passionate crossword puzzle fanatic from Healdsburg, competes in national competitions and creates crossword puzzles for USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and puzzle apps. -
December 2024 | ABC - Stephen CioffiRead article
From puzzles to paddles: Crossword editor Will Shortz moonlights as ping-pong impresario
Will Shortz is a puzzle master by day & a table-tennis fanatic by night. He has been the New York Times crossword editor and NPR's puzzle master for over three decades. However, his real passion lies not in the squares but the paddles. He has been playing table tennis since he was a child, back then in his parents' basement, and at one point played every day for 4,141 days in a row -
December 2024 | Laancashire Telegraph - PA | Images GCHQ via APRead articleFamilies invited to test puzzle-solving skills with GCHQ Christmas Challenge
Families are being invited to put their puzzle-solving skills to the test after GCHQ launched its annual Christmas Challenge. Seven puzzles are contained in the UK spy agency’s Christmas card, which features a map of the UK and Northern Ireland in a nod to this year’s geography theme. The brainteasers test skills such as codebreaking, maths and analysis, and require different ways -
December 2024 | New York TimesRead article
NYT Games App Wins Cultural Impact Award at Apple’s 2024 App Store Awards
For connecting family and friends across generations with a variety of fun and simple daily games, the NYT Games app has been recognized as a winner in the Cultural Impact category at Apple’s 2024 App Store Awards. This award celebrates apps that deliver powerful stories and inspire users to become their best selves, leaving a lasting impact on global culture. -
December 2024 | Associated Press - Jill Lawless | Image - GCHQ via APRead articleUK spy agency releases annual Christmas card puzzle to uncover future codebreakers
GCHQ, Britain’s electronic and cyber-intelligence agency, on Wednesday published its annual Christmas Challenge – a seasonal greeting card that doubles as a set of fiendishly difficult puzzles designed to excite young minds about solving cyphers and unearthing clues. The challenge is aimed at young people aged 11 to 18, who are encouraged to work in teams and use “lateral thinking, -
December 2024 | Business News This Week - PraveenRead articleDavid Shawn Quick’s Newly Released A Journey through Classic Sudoku Techniques
“A Journey through Classic Sudoku Techniques”: a thoughtfully crafted guide that takes readers on an educational and enjoyable journey through the art of solving Sudoku puzzles. “A Journey through Classic Sudoku Techniques” is the creation of published author, David Shawn. -
November 2024 | The Atlantic - Elaine GodfreyRead article
The Most Controverial Game on the Internet
One morning earlier this month, i slammed my laptop shut. I was four cups of coffeee deep and full og rage. My hands shook, and my vision blurred. It wasnt my politics, my usual subject matter, that had sent me spiraling. It was Wyna Liu. -
November 2024 | Good Housekeeping - Jamie KravitzRead article
10 Clever Gifts Under $30 for Crossword Lovers
The person in your life who religiously completes the morning crossword — whether in a newspaper or in their games' app — is likely content with this daily ritual. So when it comes to the best gifts for crossword lovers, you'll want to think outside the box ... well, boxes. They probably don't need a set of pencils or a Scrabble dictionary. While we do include one popular crossword -
November 2024 | Marist Circle - Owen Whelan | Image Credit - Owen WhelanRead article
Sorry, Wordlers: LinkedIn Games Are Just Better
There are currently four games in LinkedIn’s all-star lineup. Tango and Queens are two Sudoku-like games with an emphasis on making icons fit in rows and columns. Solving Tango is an iterative process that feels more like uncovering a mystery than solving Sudoku, but Queens still gives the philosopher-esque feeling of carefully eliminating cells. -
November 2024 | The Verge - Jay PetersRead article
The New York Times is trying to shut down a popular Connections puzzle creator
The New York Times wants to shut down a copy of its popular Connections word game. The publication sent a cease & desist letter to the owner of a website that lets you make your own Connections games. The site also has a full archive of all of the NYT’s past Connections puzzles, which the NYT keeps behind a paywall. The Connections creator website is built & run by Anthony Salazar -
November 2024 | TelegrafiRead article
Call the police because of the difficult word in the crossword
German police are furious after a woman called 911 to say she was having trouble with a word in a crossword puzzle. The police in the German town of Grevenbroich "went crazy" when local resident Petra Hirsch called the police after she couldn't find the solution to the word "horizontally five" in the crossword puzzle. -
November 2024 | Wisconsin Public Radio - Shannon Henry Kleiber | Image Credit - Kim Love (CC BY_SA 2.0)Read articleWelcome to my crossworld
Anna Shechtman first learned there were real human beings behind crossword puzzles when she was 15. She saw the documentary film “Wordplay,” went home and started plotting crossword puzzles on her graph paper from geometry class. She sent puzzles to famed New York Times crossword maker Will Shortz (featured in Wordplay), who encouraged her, and published her first crossword aged 19 -
November 2024 | The Times - Jack Malvern | Image Credit - The TimesRead article
Forgery helped judge persuade The Times to run sudoku puzzles
Sudoku is a staple of puzzle pages around the world and has attracted devotees from Queen Camilla to David Beckham. On the 20th anniversary of it becoming a global hit, the man who introduced the puzzle to a mass audience has admitted that it might have remained in obscurity were it not for his experience of forgery. -
November 2024 | InPublishing | Image Credit - ReadlyRead article
Skoda partners with Readly
Skoda is partnering with digital newspaper and magazine reading app Readly to offer owners free access to the brand’s library of content. To take advantage of the deal, which gives owners unlimited access to Readly’s library of digital magazines and newspapers, owners need to scan a QR code shown in the Offers menu of their vehicle’s infotainment system. -
November 2024 | Polygon - Nicole CarpenterRead article
Striking New York Times tech workers ask people not to play Wordle or other NYT games
Will you break your Wordle streak? Striking New York Times tech workers are asking players to honor its digital picket line by not playing Wordle, Connections, or its other games. -
November 2024 | MailOnline - William Hunter | Image Credit - Numberphile - YouTubeRead articleThe secret pattern which could help you solve your daily Sudoku faster
Mathematicians have uncovered a powerful pattern known as the 'Phistomefel Ring' - and it's hidden in every Sudoku ever made. Best of all, puzzle experts say the pattern could help you solve the hardest challenges much faster. This pattern means that the 16 squares around the central 3x3 ring will always contain the same digits as the 2x2 squares in the corners. -
November 2024 | Magic Valley - Andrew CutlerRead article
Popular Jumble puzzle returns to Times-News
We’re thrilled today to announce the return of Jumble to the Times-News. You’ll find the scrambled word game, which has been challenging and entertaining generations of players since 1954, in the D section of today’s edition, as well as in our e-edition at magicvalley.com. -
October 2024 | LinkedIn - Tony BrennandRead article
THE RISE OF PUZZLES: How Tech Giants are embracing puzzle games to engage users
Over the past year, Apple, Netflix, and LinkedIn have taken a surprising step into the world of puzzles. This shift signals a new way of engaging users by blending entertainment with intellectual appeal, and the results could have implications far beyond these companies. -
October 2024 | The Verge - Andrew Webster | Image - PuzzmoRead article
A meditative take on sudoku that changes with the weather
The Weather Channel can be a very useful website, but that’s mostly true when the weather is bad. So when the company began collaborating with the Hearst-owned puzzle platform Puzzmo, it had a specific goal: to get people coming to the site even when it’s nice out. “Why would you check the weather on a sunny day?” veteran game designer Zach Gage remembers asking himself. Eventually, -
October 2024 | Fast Ciompany - Harry McCrackenRead article
Why new online puzzles can't clone the brillance of 'Wordle'
Everybody from LinkedIn to Apple News is doing games these days, but it’s tough to re-create the alchemy of the original. -
October 2024 | MSN - David Nield | Image credit: Chris Carley / ThreadsRead article
Forget Apple Intelligence – iOS 18.2 will bring a new Sudoku game to your iPhone
As spotted by vlogger Chris Carley (via 9to5Mac), the new puzzle game adds to the three games that were already available to subscribers to the news app since the launch of iOS 17 last year: Quartiles, Crossword, and Crossword mini. Apple is clearly hoping that puzzle games can help attract more users to Apple News Plus. Costing $12.99 / £12.99 / AU$19.99 -
October 2024 | MSN - Craig Donaldson | NetflixRead article
Netflix is releasing a daily word puzzle game for some reason
TED Tumblewords NETFLIX is Netflix's newest game, created in partnership with TED, the non-profit behind TED Talks. I didn't have Netflix making a daily word puzzle game on my bingo card. I'm already distracted enough by Wordle and Contexto daily, and now this Netflix puzzle game intrigues me, especially since I've spent countless hours watching TED Talks. -
October 2024 | Newsweek - Pandora DewanRead article
Psychologist Reveals 4 Activities She Does To Guard Against Dementia
When it comes to cognitive decline, many of us assume it's a natural process of aging—something we have no control over. And while different forms of dementia may have some genetics component, neuroscientists estimate that 45% of Alzheimer's cases could be delayed or prevented through changes in lifestyle. Newsweek spoke with chartered psychologist Kimberley Wilson to find out more -
October 2024 | 9 TO 5 Mac - Chance MillerRead articleiOS 18.2 beta: New daily sudoku games come to Apple News+
Apple News+ is once again expanding its collection of puzzles. With the release of iOS 18.2 beta 1, Apple News+ now offers daily sudoku puzzles across easy, moderate, and challenging difficulty levels. You can also track your sudoku performance right in the Apple News app. -
October 2024 | MA Chronicle - Sophie MarksRead article
Which New York Times Games Are Worth Your Time?
The New York Times has steadily built an impressive collection of games on its platform, now offering nine unique puzzles for players to enjoy. These games vary in difficulty, style, and skills required, providing something for everyone from word-based challenges to visual and luck-based puzzles. I spent time with each of these games to help students decide which ones to use their p -
October 2024 | The Times - Mick Hodgkin | Image Credit - Stewart WilliamsRead article
Ex-champ regains Times crossword crown (but can you crack clues?)
The champion is back but the young pretenders are after his crown. Mark Goodliffe, the most successful solver in the 54-year history of The Times Crossword Championship, regained the trophy on Saturday after finishing the final cryptic puzzle in under 5 minutes — just ahead of Chloe Hutton, 27, a first-time competitor and one of several younger solvers who came to the fore this year -
October 2024 | Hungarian Conservative - Ádám Bráder | Image - ROE FacebookRead articleHungary to Host 2025 World Sudoku and Puzzle Championships
The World Puzzle Federation held this year’s Sudoku and Logic Puzzle World Championships in Beijing, China, where the competition was once again dominated by Asian and American teams. However, among the European teams, the Hungarian national team ranked among the best, István György, the captain of the Hungarian team, announced on Saturday. He added that next year, Hungary will host -
October 2024 | CNN - Meg TirrellRead article
Puzzle master Will Shortz pieces together his recovery from a stroke
One Sunday night in February, Will Shortz was at his desk at home in Pleasantville, New York, when he leaned to his left and realized he couldn’t sit back up straight. “I knew immediately I had had a stroke,” he told CNN. The stroke was on the right side of his brain, leaving the left side of his body “completely incapacitated” and causing his speech to be slurred, said Shortz, -
October 2024 | Radio Times - David Craig | Image - BBC/Red PlaNETRead articleDeath in Paradise fans' perfect Christmas gift has arrived: an official puzzle book
Death in Paradise fans have plenty to look forward to this winter, with a brand new puzzle book landing in stores that casts you as the detective in a perplexing mystery. The project was announced on the show's official social media channels earlier this week to an excited response, -
October 2024 | InPublishing | Image Credit - Christin JumeRead article
NYT introduces Connections archive
New York Times Games has introduced the official Connections Archive, an exciting new benefit exclusively for its Games and All Access subscribers. The publisher says the archive allows solvers to revisit and play over 450 original puzzles, resume unfinished games and track their play history for a comprehensive experience. -
October 2024 | InPublishingRead article
The FT launches new game
The Financial Times has announced the launch of its Chancellor Game: an interactive experience that challenges players to step into the shoes of the UK’s chief financial minister and devise a plan for the Budget. The publisher says the game is available to both subscribers and non-subscribers. -
October 2024 | CBS ChicagoWatch Video
New York Times adding full archive of “Connections” puzzles for subscribers
CBS New Team discuss the new archive -
October 2024 | InPublishing | Image Credit - DC ThomsonRead article
DC Thomson launches Puzzler app
DC Thomson has announced the launch of a new Puzzler app, available now across both iOS and Android devices worldwide. The publisher says the Puzzler app showcases the best of Puzzler Media’s 50+ years of puzzle expertise in an intuitive and thoughtfully designed app, created to offer both casual and dedicated puzzle fans an invigorating puzzling experience. -
October 2024 | InPublishingRead article
NYT announces new Times App
The New York Times (NYT) marked a new era for its app earlier this month. The publisher says it has released its most consequential redesign yet – one that cements the app as the home for its journalism and the front door to the full New York Times product portfolio. -
October 2024 | Radio Times - Shem Law | Image BBCRead articleThis week's Radio Times is a puzzles special – with fiendish brainteasers from Ludwig's puzzle master
This week's Radio Times is a puzzles special – with fiendish brainteasers from Ludwig's puzzle master. Test yourself with 16 pages of puzzles, brainteasers and trivia set by Ludwig puzzle master Alan Connor, Popmaster's late co-creator Phil Swern and more. -
October 2024 | The Times - Ben DowellRead articleFrom Ludwig to Murdle: how puzzles became hot property
Brainteasers have inspired a bestselling series of books and now a BBC hit. Ben Dowell talks to the setters behind them about why we’re addicted to solving -
October 2024 | WSJ - Maggie DownsRead article
Like Escape Rooms? These Vacation Getaways Have Plenty of Puzzles to Crack
Hotels and guesthouses filled with elaborate escape-room-style puzzles to solve are attracting travelers looking for more experiential accommodation options -
October 2024 | Semafor - Marta Biino & Max TaniRead article
The New York Times is testing a new puzzle called Zorse
The New York Times is making a bigger play into online gaming. On Tuesday, the paper will begin beta testing a new puzzle called Zorse, Semafor has learned. It will be a “phrase guessing game where every puzzle is a mash-up of two phrases,” the company confirmed in a statement. -
September 2024 | The Gamer - Jason Bissainthe-TobinRead article
8 Best Crossword Games for Mobile
As much as we all love modern video games for their complexity, sometimes even the most hardcore gamers need to relax with something a little more simple. Word games, particularly crossword puzzle games, have always been relevant to both the most dedicated and the most casual game fans out there. -
September 2024 | TelegraphRead article
FAQs on the Puzzles in the app changes
All of our puzzles are now in the one place, in the new Puzzles section. -
September 2024 | Polygon - Ana Diaz | Image Credit - New York TimesRead articleConnections’ new feature means you can one-up your friends even harder
The New York Times has just made it a bit easier for players to flex their word game skills. Connections, the popular word association game from The New York Times, is getting a new feature that allows players to share their in-game stats with friends. Starting Tuesday, players can look up their information and share data with friends like the number of puzzles a person has complet -
September 2024 | Daily Record - Alan JohnsonRead articleAdults stumped by children's puzzle and some say it's impossible to solve
cores of adults have been left stumped by a children's brainteaser that seems easy at first glance, but in reality is a real head-scratcher. The challenge to match two identical handbags was discovered on the page of a fun puzzle book and has surprisingly flummoxed numerous parents. One baffled Brit took to Reddit with a picture of the teaser, exclaiming: "I'm losing my mind" -
September 2024 | Medical Express - Ann Kellett | Image Credit - Pixabay/CCO Public DomainRead articleGames, puzzles and reading can slow cognitive decline in the elderly—even in those with mild cognitive impairment
Now, findings from a new study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health suggest that older people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in high levels of activities such as word games and hobbies have better memory, working memory, attention and processing speed than those who do not. -
September 2024 | The Brookings Register - Carl KlineRead articlePuzzles a great way to pass time
We took the pandemic seriously in our household. We believed Doctor Fauci. We wore our masks when we were out and about. We chose to be absent from social events we might otherwise have attended. We spent more time at home. We started doing puzzles. We’re still doing them. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, I estimate we have completed 264 puzzles (except for several not -
September 2024 | CG Wall - Bhupendra KumarRead article
Nyt Crossword Clues : Unlocking Tim D’Alfonso NYT Crossword A Lesson in Throwing Shade and More
-
September 2024 | Wizarding WorldRead article
The Sorting Hat's song crossword
The Sorting Hat comes up with a new song every year, to welcome students back to Hogwarts. But how many of the Hat's rhymes can you recall? Test your knowledge and solve the clues. -
September 2024 | CNET - Gael CooperRead article
Use These Hints to Win at NYT Strands, a Must-Play Game With a Twist
If you've ever enjoyed an old-fashioned word-find game, you'll love Strands, one of The New York Times' online games. It's a fun daily brain-buster where you have to find words in a letter grid -- but you don't have a list, you just have to find the words all on your own. And if you need tips and answers for Strands, Connections and Wordle, check CNET's home page daily. -
September 2024 | CG Wall - PrakashRead article
Master Toda NYT Mini Crossword Your Quick Guide to Solving and Staying Sharp
Nyt Crossword Clues : Are you a fan of crossword puzzles and love a quick challenge? The New York Times Mini Crossword is a daily delight that’s perfect for a brief brain workout. It’s compact, entertaining, and usually solvable in under a minute—unless you hit a tricky clue. If you’ve found yourself stumped by today’s NYT Mini Crossword, we’ve got you covered with some insights and -
September 2024 | The Globe & MailRead article
Online Puzzles Celebrate Recent African American History Findings
A new selection of free, online crosswords and other word games has just been released from Sepia Features, the publisher of African American Crossword Puzzles and Other Word Games + Sudoku. Thenew puzzles are available on AfricanAmericanPuzzles.com. -
September 2024 | TelegraphRead articleTest your trivia skills with our new puzzle, Sorted
Do you know your longest serving prime ministers? How about the UK’s highest-grossing films? As a valued reader, we’re inviting you to play our new trivia puzzle, Sorted, before anyone else. Start playing now. The premise is simple. Over three rounds, you’ll be asked to put the five answers supplied in the correct order. -
September 2024 | Sakshi Sah - Hindustan TimesRead article
Brain teaser: Unleash your inner Sherlock to crack the coin puzzle and find the answer
Brain teasers are puzzles specifically designed to challenge your thinking and problem-solving skills. These puzzles often require logical and creative approaches to finding the solution. This particular coin puzzle challenges people to find out the number of coins present in the bag. Do you think you can solve this coin puzzle? -
August 2024 | National Security AgencyRead article
No Such Puzzle: Bite-sized Sudoku
In honor of International Sudoku Day on September 9, for each #NoSuchPuzzle this month, we give you a bite-sized Sudoku. Find the numbers along the two main diagonals from upper left to lower right followed by lower left to upper right. -
August 2024 | The Byte - Frank LandymoreRead article
Scientists Build Computer From DNA That Can Solve Chess Problems
It's no secret that computers can smoke humans at chess. And now, as if to further mock our mere organic forms, scientists say they've created a computer made out of DNA that can play the board game — along with sudoku puzzles, for good measure. The device can only solve chess and sudoku problems at a basic level, but these capabilities, detailed in a study published in the journal -
August 2024 | Quanta Magazine - Erica Klarreich | Image by Marta Iwanek for Quanta MagazineRead articlePerplexing the Web, One Probability Puzzle at a Time
The mathematician Daniel Litt has driven social media users to distraction with a series of simple-seeming but counterintuitive probability puzzles. n late January, Daniel Litt (opens a new tab) posed an innocent probability puzzle (opens a new tab) on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) — and set a corner of the Twitterverse on fire. -
August 2024 | IJNet - Romain ChauvetRead article
How media can use online games to increase subscribers and revenue
In a challenging media ecosystem in which newsrooms struggle to stay afloat, many are turning to games to attract readers – and convert them into paying subscribers. Major titles like The New York Times, Times of London, Telegraph, & many others are placing puzzles at the heart of their subscriber stratagies. -
August 2024 | Axios - Kerry Flynn | Illustration - Gabriella TurrisRead articlePublishers promote play
Publishers are playing games with their strategy. Why it matters: The media industry's push to create more puzzles and other games comes as companies seek to boost engagement when attention and ad dollars are fleeting. Driving the news: Last week, three media outlets released games-related announcements. -
August 2024 | Digiday - Alexander Lee | Image by Ivy LiuRead articleWhy puzzle fans lined up around the block for New York Times Games’ first live event
New York Times Games held its first live event on Wednesday, August 21, inviting fans and word game experts to a gathering at Manhattan’s Rocco’s Sports & Recreation for a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the NYT’s Mini Crossword game, as well as a live Mini Crossword competition hosted by “Saturday Night Live” cast member Ego Nwodim. -
August 2024 | New Scientist - Alex Wilkins | Image Kevin LinRead articleDNA computer can play chess and solve sudoku puzzles
Computers made from DNA have previously only been able to store information or perform computations on it – now a new device can do both -
August 2024 | Young Chung - NY Times | Image Credit - Nick LittleRead articleMy Race Through the Mini Crossword Archive
In March, Young Chung set a formidable goal for herself: Solve 3,600 Minis before the puzzle’s 10th anniversary on Aug. 21. -
August 2024 | CBS News (Video) | image - WikipediaRead articleMeet the man behind the New York Times Mini Crossword
The New York Times is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its popular Mini Crossword, a bite-sized version of the classic puzzle. For the past decade, Joel Fagliano has been the mastermind behind the Mini, crafting it daily for the Times' website and app. Fagliano joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss his journey. -
August 2024 | Deepti Hajela - The Seattle TimesRead article
She didn’t see her Black heritage in crossword puzzles. So she started publishing her own
It started a couple of years ago when Juliana Pache was doing a crossword puzzle and got stuck. She was unfamiliar with the reference that the clue made. It made her think about what a crossword puzzle would look like if the clues and answers included more of some subjects that she WAS familiar with, thanks to her own identity and interests — Black history and Black popular culture -
August 2024 | LinkedIn - Tony BrennandRead article
The Hidden Commerical Benefits of Puzzles! 🧩💡
Digital Puzzles - Why Bother? -
August 2024 | XWordsAll BlogRead article
Crossword Innovators Series: Michael Curl – The Mind Behind Orlando and Cincinnus
In this instalment of the ‘Crossword Innovators Series,’ we delve into the life and career of Michael Curl, a prolific and influential figure in the world of British crosswords. Known to solvers by his pseudonyms Orlando and Cincinnus, Curl’s puzzles have delighted and challenged countless enthusiasts for decades. -
August 2024 | The San Diego Union Tribune - IngaRead article
Let Inga Tell You: Confessions of a cruciverbalist lexophile bibliotherapist
It’s only in recent years that I learned I was a cruciverbalist lexophile engaging in daily bibliotherapy. In simpler terms, I am a word-loving crossword puzzle enthusiast who indulges in therapeutic reading with a medicinal glass of wine. I don’t think the wine is strictly part of the bibliotherapy definition, but if you’re going for therapeutic, you might as well go all the way. -
August 2024 | CNET - Zachary McAuliffe | Image Credit - James MartinRead article
Wordle Isn't the Only Puzzle Game. You Should Try These Other Games Next
Wordle was 2022's biggest word game, and it continues to be a smash hit two years later. It was created by Josh Wardle for his partner, and it was later bought by the New York Times. CNET's Gael Cooper has loads of tips and tricks to tackle each Wordle puzzle, but if you're finished with today's game -- or just really enjoy puzzle games -- these options are well-worth your time. -
August 2024 | The Guardian - Alan Connor | Image Credit - The GuardianRead articleOrlando (Michael Curl) obituary
Michael Curl, who has died aged 77, brought crosswords into the online world. As Orlando, he set hundreds of elegantly clued Guardian puzzles over 45 years. He was until recently one of the three setters behind the Guardian’s beloved quicks, but was by no means restricted to these pages. -
August 2024 | Stylecaster - Monica MercuriRead article
10 Games Like NYT’s Connections That Will Keep You Hooked
If you’re a Connections addict and want to try puzzle games similar to the popular New York Times game, then you’re in luck! There are plenty of word-themed online games that challenge your brain, from PuzzGrid to Red Herring. Read on for the 10 games like Connections that you can look forward to playing daily. -
August 2024 | Tech Xplore - NYU School of Engineering | Image Credit - arXivRead article
AI produces Connections puzzles that rival human-created ones
Can artificial intelligence (AI) create word puzzles as engaging and challenging as those crafted by human experts? A study, published on the arXiv preprint server, suggests the answer may be yes—at least when it comes to The New York Times' popular Connections game. -
August 2024 | Bostonia - Marc Chalufour | Photo by Gabriela HasbunRead articleEverybody Is a Gamer
Aword-guessing puzzle seems like an unlikely viral sensation, but Wordle was the right game (simple, satisfying, shareable) at the right time (late pandemic doldrums). Players get six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Color-coded tiles reveal which letters they’ve guessed correctly and which they haven’t. -
July 2024 | Wyatte Grantham-Philips & Gaetane Lewis - The IndependentRead article
The New York Times has had enough of people ripping off Wordle
The Times has filed several Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, takedown notices to developers of Wordle-inspired games, which cited infringement on the Times' ownership of the Wordle name, as well as its look and feel — such as the layout and color scheme of green, gray and yellow tiles. -
July 2024 | Daphne Clarance - India TodayRead article
Sudoku, backward walking can keep brain healthy, prevent Alzheimer's disease
In Short - Sudoku improves memory and reasoning skills and delay the signs of Alzheimer's disease - Learning new skills, social interactions, and playing musical instruments can further stimulate the brain - Regular mental activities can enhance cognitive function, say doctors -
July 2024 | Eleanor Butler - EuronewsRead article
New York Times unable to push Germany's Wordle out of puzzle market
The New York Times, which owns Wordle, has been embroiled in a battle with German puzzle distributor Stefan Heine over his own equivalent game. A court decision on Friday ended the dispute. A German court has dismissed a legal case raised by the New York Times over the trademark of the puzzle Wordle. -
July 2024 | Law and Justice - DW.com | Image: Markus Scholz/dpa/picture allianceRead articleGerman court rejects New York Times case over Wordle rights
A German court has thrown out a case of legal action by the New York Times Company attempting to prevent a local puzzle maker from using the name "Wordle." The publisher acquired Wordle from the original inventor in early 2021 and applied for a European Union trademark. On the same day, Hamburg-based puzzle maker Stefan Heine secured the German rights to the name "Wordle." -
July 2024 | Springer Link - Original Research (Jungjoo Lee, Junhyoung Kim & Dubravka Sventina Valdivia)Read article
A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Different Levels of Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activity and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults with MCI
The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationship between different levels of cognitively stimulating leisure activity (CSLA) participation and three cognitive functions (i.e., memory, working memory, attention and processing speed) among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). -
June 2024 | CNN - Jordan Valinsky | Image - NY TimesRead articleWith ‘Strands,’ the New York Times has found its next hit game
Strands, a word search game, is officially joining the newspaper’s portfolio of games Friday following a four-month testing phase in which it garnered millions of players despite being practically hidden. The puzzle marks the latest in a string of successes for Times’ Games section, which has helped grow the paper’s subscription business and bolster its bottom line -
June 2024 | CNET - Zachary McAuliffeRead article
Apple launch their new game - Quartiles
-
June 2024 | Xwords4All - A blog about digital puzzles.Read article
Crossword Creators Series P12: Richard Rogan – The Pioneer of Modern Times Cryptics
The life of Richard Rogan, the illustrious editor of The Times Crossword. Rogan, celebrated for his clever wordplay and innovative contributions, transformed the world of British crosswords with his unique style and editorial acumen. -
June 2024 | The Times - Obituary | Image Credit - Richard PohleRead articleRichard Rogan obituary: innovative crossword editor of The Times
Compiler known for his witty wordplay, hidden messages and splendidly abstruse conundrums -
June 2024 | Belfast Telegraph - Garrett Hargan | Photo Credit - BBCRead article
NI-born crossword editor at The Times dies aged 62: ‘He was enormously liked and respected’
A man from Coleraine who was editor of The Times crossword died at the weekend. Richard Rogan died of a heart attack on Saturday at the age of 62, according to an obituary in The Times. He is survived by his wife, Malika, with whom he lived in Cheltenham, and their 16-year-old son Liam. -
June 2024 | Business Insider - Lucia Moses |Read article
Hearst has big plans for its puzzles and games as it chases The New York Times' Wordle success
-
June 2024 | Flowing Data - Vivek RaoRead articleAnalysis of Sudoku play patterns
Vivek Rao likes to play Sudoku, enough that he collected data on his gameplay and analyzed his strategies: In January 2023, I made a breakthrough. I started tracking what grids I fill out and how I fill them out1. And in the weeks after, I started to analyze my performance to look for patterns and ways I could speed up. -
May 2024 | The Guardian - Alan Connor | Image Credit - David Sillito - The GuardianRead articleCrosswords: what to do when a puzzle looks harder than it actually is
I was finding a recent puzzle a challenge, and wrote as much by the setter’s pseudonym: HARD. A few clues further in, it felt not just hard, but also … familiar. How could this be? I had a look through my clipboards, and there it was. Due to a filing error, this was a puzzle I had solved a month earlier. Written by the setter’s pseudonym: EASY. -
May 2024 | InPublishingRead articleThe Telegraph Launches New Puzzle
PlusWord is a newly created puzzle from The Telegraph which combines the challenge of a crossword with online word-finding games. Invented by the Telegraph’s Puzzle Editor Chris Lancaster, PlusWord is free to play and available daily in print, online and via the Telegraph App. The hybrid puzzle challenges users to solve crossword clues and then find the five letter PlusWord. -
May 2024 | Readers Digest - Lauren Cahn | Image Credit - RD.comRead article
8 Sudoku Tips for Beginners, According to Experts.
Whether you’re a total beginner with no clue at all as to how to solve Sudoku or an experienced player in search of Sudoku tips and tricks to get you to the next level, then you’re in luck. We—and by “we,” we mean the brain game-obsessed crew over here at Reader’s Digest—spoke with Simon Anthony and Mark Goodliffe, two of the UK’s most dedicated puzzlers. -
May 2024 | NY Times - Deb AmlenRead article
Putting New York Times Games to the Test
Meet some of the people who play each game and solve each puzzle before subscribers see them. -
May 2024 | Sticky Puzzles - Tony BrennandRead article
Unlocking the Puzzle: How Travel Companies Can Enhance Customer Engagement and Drive Revenue
The connection between puzzles and travel is a story unfolding for generations, particularly in the UK. As any traveller passing through a British airport or train station can attest, the demand for puzzle books is a testament to the enduring appeal of this pastime. But what if travel companies could harness this enthusiasm for puzzles to create a more engaging, immersive, and profi -
May 2024 | Times of India - TOI Tech DeskRead articleGoogle co-founder says this is the “No. 1” use of AI today
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he is using Gemini “to brush up on my coding skills”. Bring also recounted a colleague asked him in a debate about how good AI would be at solving Sudoku – a popular puzzle game. He said he used AI to write code to solve Sudoku. -
May 2024 | LinkedIn - Sticky PuzzlesRead article
Puzzles and Business Growth: A Match Made in Digital Heaven?
Ever wondered how puzzles, those brain-teasing, patience-testing activities we often associate with leisure time, can significantly impact your business growth? It's high time we delved into this intriguing correlation. -
May 2024 | Dazed - Alice PorterRead articleWhy is everyone so obsessed with puzzle games now?
People are often concerned and baffled by what young people are up to on the internet. But chances are, if you’ve recently spotted a 20-something on the tube or at a coffee shop staring at their phone screen, it’s probably not because they’re Facetuning an Instagram photo or stalking Alix Earle. In reality, they’re probably playing a word association game called Connections. -
May 2024 | Apple NewsroomRead articleApple News+ introduces Quartiles, a new original spelling game, and Offline Mode for subscribers
Apple News+ introduced Quartiles, a new original spelling game, and a new Offline Mode that automatically provides recent and personalized News content for subscribers when they’re not connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network. Both features are available with iOS 17.5 or later for News+ subscribers. -
May 2024 | TelegraphRead articleMurder mystery puzzle collection crowned book of the year
A collection of murder mystery puzzles has been crowned book of the year at the British Book Awards, beating the Duke of Sussex’s memoir. Murdle, described as a mix of Cluedo, Sudoku and Wordle, has been a publishing phenomenon, selling more than 300,000 copies in 2023 and topping the bestseller lists. -
May 2024 | Tech Xplore - NYU School of EngineeringRead article
Researchers test AI systems' ability to solve the New York Times' connections puzzle
Can artificial intelligence (AI) match human skills for finding obscure connections between words? Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering turned to the daily Connections puzzle from The New York Times to find out. -
May 2024 | The Verge - David Pierce | Photo - LinkedinRead article
I regret to inform you that LinkedIn’s games are very fun
I almost didn’t get Pinpoint this morning. Here’s what it taught me about B2B sales. I’m kidding! But I have to admit something: I’ve been going on LinkedIn every day recently, &I’m having a great time. Last week, the company announced it was adding 3 games to its app, both on desktop & mobile, as naked engagement ploy to get you to open app every day. I hate to say but it works! -
May 2024 | LinkedIn - Daniel RothRead article
Bringing Professionals Together with Games
Games, knowledge, and news have always gone together — the first “word-cross," as it was then called, debuted 111 years ago in the New York World — and it’s no wonder. All involve stretching your mind, but in complementary ways. You learn, you solve, and the back-and-forth builds on itself. -
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25437274/1882597060.jpg)
May 2024 | Verge - Andrew Webster | Photo by Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty ImagesRead articleWordle now has a playable puzzle archive / The New York Times is rolling out the feature for ‘Games’ and ‘All Access’ subscribers, with access to more than 1,000 past puzzles.
The New York Times is rolling out the feature for ‘Games’ and ‘All Access’ subscribers, with access to more than 1,000 past puzzles. -
May 2024 | Techradar - Hamish Hector | Image Credit - GoogleRead articleGoogle used AI to make a puzzle game that rivals Wordle
Google has just unveiled four new games that its Arts and Culture Lab team has put together using AI. This follows Google launching its Google Bard experiment – a generative AI that it launched to rival Microsoft’s Bing Chat. Bing is powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. -
May 2024 | Tech Crunch - Ingrid Lunden | Image Credits: LinkedIn.comRead articleLinkedIn launches gaming: 3 logic puzzles aimed at extending time spent on its networking platform
Back in March, TechCrunch broke the news that LinkedIn was quietly testing the waters for games on its platform — word and logic puzzles similar to Wordle. Now, in an effort to attract more users and increase engagement, the platform is launching three of those games officially. -
May 2024 | Mental Floss - Ellen Gutoskey |Read article
‘The New York Times’ Is Accepting Crossword Puzzle Submissions
Avid doers of The New York Times crossword now have the chance to be on the other side of the puzzle: Its editors are currently accepting public submissions. -
May 2024 | Medical Express - Erin Kayata (Northeastern Univiersity)Read article
Can Connections and Wordle games from the New York Times improve cognitive function as you age?
Every day, millions of people across the globe fill their morning commute or lunch break with New York Times games such as Wordle or Connections. The Times offers a slew of popular games from its daily crossword to "Spelling Bee," a daily game that challenges users to come up with as many words as possible using a given set of letters. -
May 2024 | Medical Xpress - Erin Kayata, Northeastern UniversityRead article
Can Connections and Wordle games from the New York Times improve cognitive function as you age?
As people age, certain cognitive functions decline, Jaeggi said. These tend to be more "fluid functions" like problem-solving, processing speed and, most notably, working memory. Some of the popular New York Times games tap into these functions, which is why people often perceive them as combating age-related cognitive decline. -
May 2024 | WRAL News - Jordan Valinsky , CNNRead article
Move over New York Times, now LinkedIn is adding brain-busting games
New York (CNN) — Watch out “Connections,” LinkedIn says it’s adding a variety of games aimed at making actual connections. The Microsoft-owned platform, best known for professional networking and sharing news, is taking a page from the New York Times and adding three, free “thinking-oriented” games as a way to tap into the explosive popularity of brain-busting puzzles people..... -
April 2024 | CNET - Gael Cooper | Image Credit - James MartinRead articleThis Two-Step Wordle Strategy Will Help You Win Every Game
Need a Wordle boost? Follow this simple strategy and build up your win streak. -
April 2024 | WSJ - Michaeleen Doucleff | Illustration - Dan PageRead article
Thinking Doesn’t Have to Feel So Hard
-
April 2024 | Games Press | PR ReleaseRead article
Sudoku Block Puzzle Game Timberdoku Out Today On Nintendo Switch
Indie game publisher Leoful and Argentinian studio Bacord Games are pleased to announce classic block puzzle game Timberdoku has launched today on Nintendo Switch worldwide. Timberdoku is a relaxing puzzle game featuring a variety of wooden block shapes. Place block pieces on the board and clear them by filling a line or square. Earn points by placing and clearing as many blocks a -
April 2024 | CNET - Gael Cooper | Image Credit - James MartinRead article
Wordle Player Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in the English Language
If your starter word doesn't feature E or A, rethink your Wordle strategy. Here's the entire alphabet ranked by use. -
April 2024 | Guardian - Alan ConnorRead article
Crossword roundup: to fool or not to fool?
Last year, late in April, we looked at 2023’s April Fools’ puzzles and noted something cheering. After years of apparent April Fools’ fatigue, setters had found still new ways of adding extra misdirection and short-lived confusion. -
April 2024 | The Miami Student - Meredith Perkins | Photo by Hannah PottsRead articleI played every New York Times game for a week
In classrooms across the country, distracted students have found enjoyment in the most unexpected of places: the New York Times (NYT). Specifically, its ever-expanding game section. The news website, which offers students a free subscription through their Miami University credentials, has seen a surge in its games page’s popularity. In 2023, visits to the NYT Games app exceeded vis -
April 2024 | NY Times - Melissa Kirsch | Image by María Jesús ContrerasRead articleThe Gen Z Crossword Era
Solving a crossword puzzle today feels more like a spirited conversation with modern culture. I’d read about how younger people are getting into puzzles, but this was the first time my Gen Z rep had volunteered a report from the field. I was charmed; I’m a games nerd, but I’d never thought this was an activity that Emma and I would geek out over together. -
April 2024 | NY Times - Adrienne Raphel | Image by Frankie AlduinoRead articleHow Gen Z Made the Crossword Their Own
A younger generation of constructors is using an old form to reflect their identities, language and world. Adrienne Raphel interviewed and solved puzzles by dozens of cruciverbalists under 30 for this article. -
April 2024 | Boing Boing - Gail Sherman |Photo by BOOMRead articleGet some help on the New York Times crossword with easy mode
Recently, the Times introduced Easy Mode, a second version of the Friday puzzle with less punishing clues. For example, in today's puzzle, the clue for 32 down is Capital southeast of Mecca. In the Easy Mode version, the clue is "Capital of Yemen." -
April 2024 | Yahoo Finance - Amanda SilberlingRead article
Apple News is testing a game that kind of looks like NYT Connections
Apple News is testing a new game for iOS 17.5 called Quartiles, which requires players to organize a grid of 20 syllables into 5 four-syllable words. Spotted by Gadget Hacks, the interface for Quartiles looks a lot like the New York Times' newest hit, Connections. Did Apple News sherlock the New York Times? -
April 2024 | WSJ - Ben Zimmer | Image Credit AlamyRead article
Crosswords Reach Down and Across a Century
Today millions of us obsess over the little black and white squares, but the first puzzle book’s publishers just wanted to cash in on a fad This is that story -
April 2024 | Vox - Rebecca JenningsRead article
Connections, the most fun (and sometimes frustrating) game on the internet
A look at the NY Times latest puzzle off the block -
April 2024 | Literary Hub - Hannah ZeavinRead articleUnsolvable Puzzles: Anna Shechtman on the Feminist Psychology Behind Crosswords
Hannah Zeavin Talks to the Author of “The Riddles of the Sphinx” -
March 2024 | The Telegraph (Hearst) - Tony LascariRead articleThe classic newspaper crossword gets a makeover in our free online games
Hearst Newspapers acquired the gaming platform Puzzmo in 2023, and it’s a place for thoughtful puzzles that are reinventing the classic newspaper games page. A brainchild of award-winning game developers Zach Gage and Orta Therox, Puzzmo opened a wait list in October 2023, and in just over a month, 100,000 puzzlers made more than a million attempts to gain access. -
March 2024 | InPublishingRead articlePuzzles section launches in The Telegraph App
The Telegraph says this new section makes it easier for subscribers to play more Telegraph games, including favourites such as Codewords, Sudoku, Plusword, Quick and Cryptic Crosswords. Players will be able to build daily streaks and earning fun achievements, and the app also provides unlimited access to the Telegraph Puzzles archive, added the publisher. -
March 2024 | Sticky Puzzles: LinkedIn PageRead articleTelegraph Puzzles now integrated into full Telegraph App
Sticky Puzzles, in partnership with Twipe, has launched a dedicated puzzles section within The Telegraph app! As the proud supplier of The Telegraph's award-winning puzzles, we are thrilled to bring our engaging games to a new, easily accessible platform. -
March 2024 | The Telegraph - PRESS RELEASERead articlePuzzles Section Launches in The Telegraph App
Subscribers are now able to play Telegraph puzzles in a dedicated puzzles section on the Telegraph app. This new section makes it easier for subscribers to play more award-winning* Telegraph games, including favourites such as Codewords, Sudoku, Plusword, Quick and Cryptic Crosswords. -
March 2024 | InPublishing | Image Credit - Bauer MediaRead article
Puzzle Magazines given new look
Bauer Media says after 10 years, the Take a Break Collection puzzle magazines have had a makeover. The magazines’ new covers are designed around four themes, self-care, social, family and lifestyle – all areas which we know are important to our readers, added Bauer Media. -
March 2024 | The Atlantic - Sophia StewartRead article
What do Crossword Puzzles really test?
In her new book, Anna Sechtman argues for puzzles that reflect a broader sense of common knowledge -
March 2024 | Christopher Livingston - PC GamerRead article
Nearly 2,000 Wordle clones targeted as NYT issues DMCA takedown
NYT says its Wordle copyright includes "unique elements" of its game like "the 5x6 grid" and "green tiles to indicate correct guesses." When Josh Wardle's daily puzzle game Wordle arrived in 2021 it spawned two crazes: millions of people loved playing Wordle, and thousands of developers loved making games like Wordle. Variations quickly popped up like Nerdle (Wordle for math), Worl -
March 2024 | NY TimesRead articleIn Honor of 1,000th Wordle Puzzle, New York Times Games Thanks Players With Celebrations Inspired By Past Solves
Since Josh Wardle released Wordle to the public in October 2021, it has evolved into more than just a game—it’s a daily ritual, a communal challenge and a source of endless conversation for millions of solvers around the world. As we celebrate the 1,000th puzzle on March 15, we’re rolling out the green and yellow and white carpet for a celebration that’s as colourfu as Wordle’s icon -
March 2024 | InPublishing | Image Credit - Puzzler MediaRead article
Puzzler Media relaunches Q Junior Puzzles
Puzzler says Q Junior Puzzles dates back to the 1970s and remains one of the best-sellers in the children’s puzzle-magazine category. Shameem Begg, head of promotions & innovations at Puzzler explained the reason for the revamp: “Junior Puzzles has had a few tweaks over the years, but the logo, content and general look needed a complete transformation to ensure it continued to app -
March 2024 | InPublishingRead articlePuzzler Media relaunches Q Junior Puzzles
After the launch of Puzzler Kids’ Collection last year, Puzzler has turned their attention to their oldest children’s puzzle magazine, Q Junior Puzzles. -
March 2024 | Leigh University - Kristen DiPrinzio | Photo Credit - Christa NeuRead articleCreating a Worthy Crossword Puzzle
Larry Snyder, deputy provost for faculty affairs, constructed a crossword puzzle that made the pages of the venerable publication last month. This is how he did it -
March 2024 | The Atlantic - Ian BogostRead articleThe New York Times’ New Game Is Genius
The word search is perhaps the lowest form of puzzle. As a staple of Highlights magazines and family-restaurant placemats, its purpose is to use up time, quietly. Stare at a grid of letters and find, amid them, a list of indicated words. Is this fun? It is not. The word search is paperwork, but for kids. -
March 2024 | NY Times - Elie LevineRead article
Putting a New Twist on a Classic Puzzle
The New York Times Games team discusses its creative process. -
February 2024 | Adweek - Mark Stenberg | Image by Jakub Porzycki - Getty ImagesRead articleThe New York Times Games Advertising Is More Than an Awareness Machine
The New York Times has expanded its stable of puzzles to nine since acquiring hit game Wordle for a seven-figure sum two years ago. Since then, the publisher has also added homegrown hits like Connections, and slowly introduced advertising across the various gaming surfaces. (There are still no ads in the Games or flagship apps, although they are coming). -
January 2024 | Axios - Alex Fitzpatrick | Illustration: Natalie PeeplesRead articleGames are helping the New York Times thrive amid media chaos
Could gaming help the journalism industry grow? The New York Times’ revenue from digital products such as NYT Games and NYT Cooking rose to $282.2 million last year, underscoring the importance of diversifying revenue for news organizations, -
January 2024 | The Telegraph - Will Bolton | Photo Credit - Jay WilliamsRead article
Struggling with the crossword? This is what you need to do...
Climbing the stairs before doing crosswords could help you solve the clues, a new study has found. The research suggests that walking up just two flights of stairs can help stimulate the brain and help with problem solving. -
January 2024 | The Gamer - Jacqueline ZalaceRead articleEvery New York Times Game, Ranked
New York Times puzzles have taken the world by storm. While daily mini-games have always existed, ones like Wordle have really popularized the daily brain game scene. Many of you are familiar with Wordle, but did you know that there are even more NYT games out there? -
January 2024 | Grimbsy Telegraph - Charlotte SmithRead articleShoppers wowed by £11 puzzle book experts say boosts memory and lowers your risk of dementia
The £11.30 puzzle book has been created by Dr. Tim Beanland, who is Head of Knowledge at Alzheimer's Society -
January 2024 | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | Jim MemmottRead articleRemembering a remarkable Irondequoit woman who spread the word on crosswords
The creator or co-creator of nearly 200 crossword puzzles in The New York Times alone, the first in 1995, the 1968 graduate of the University of Rochester and Buffalo native was also a regular contributor to other publications. In addition, she was a renowned mentor of aspiring puzzle designers, patiently guiding them free of charge. Sidelined in 1982 from her job as a systems.... -
January 2024 | NPR - Ayesha Rascoe | Image - Tsering BistaRead articlePerspective: Getting to know the Puzzlemaster, Will Shortz
Let me start with a confession: I host NPR's Weekend Edition on Sundays, which prominently features a word puzzle every week, but I haven't always been a fan of puzzles. -
January 2024 | NumberPhile - YouTubeWatch Video
A Sudoku Secret to Blow Your Mind - Numberphile
Simon Anthony (from Cracking the Cryptic) reveals the Phistomephel Ring - a hidden feature of ALL Sudoku puzzles. -
January 2024 | Strive CloudRead article
How does gamification drive engagement?
The StriveCloud article explores the multifaceted role of gamification in driving engagement across various industries and platforms. It delves into the psychological underpinnings of gamification, explaining how it taps into both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to encourage desired behaviors. The article highlights the effectiveness of gamification in diverse contexts, from.... -
December 2023 | AvivaRead article
A nation of puzzlers: 63% of UK adults do puzzles at least once a week
UK adults spend an estimated average of 169 hours a year on average doing puzzles - equivalent to a whole week - a new study reveals. - UK adults spend an estimated average of 169 hours a year doing puzzles - Crosswords, wordsearches and Sudoku top the puzzle charts in a new survey - Nearly a third of UK adults spend more time doing puzzles since the pandemic -
December 2023 | NY Times - Isaac Aronow | Image by Virginia GabrielliRead articleMaking Sense of Logic Puzzles
While the world of logic puzzles is vast, finding your niche can make you a stronger solver. -
December 2023 | Vanity Fair - Charlotte Klein | Photo by Matthew SalacuseRead articleInside The New York Times’ Big Bet on Games
Wordle. Connections. Spelling Bee. Ye olde crossword. The Times is home to beloved brainteasers that are helping boost the paper’s bottom line. As one staffer jokes, the “Times is now a gaming company that also happens to offer news.” -
December 2023 | The New Yorker - Natan Last |Illustration by Pablo AmargoRead articleCan Crosswords Be More Inclusive?
This article explores the fascinating intersection of crosswords, immigration, and inclusivity. Written by Natan Last, it delves into the life of Mangesh Ghogre, a crossword enthusiast from Mumbai who achieved an EB-1A visa for his extraordinary crossword puzzle-writing skills. The piece highlights how immigrants have played a significant role in shaping the crossword landscape -
December 2023 | MailOnline - Guy AdamsRead article
The one puzzle that GCHQ has never been able to solve... As the spy agency issues its annual Christmas codebreaking challenge
The article delves into the annual tradition of the Christmas codebreaking challenge hosted by GCHQ, the United Kingdom's intelligence agency. It underscores the remarkable complexity of the 2021 puzzle, which has become a widely anticipated event. The challenge not only serves as an engaging festive activity but also as a testament to GCHQ's commitment to cybersecurity... -
December 2023 | The Times - Ben MacintyreRead article
D-Day crossword crisis remains an enigma
Question of who inserted code names for the Allied invasion may never be solved but evidence points to an inside job -
December 2023 | Lancashire TelegraphRead article
Blackburn charity to host 'Positivity Puzzle' event at market
Arts 2 Heal offers therapeutic art interventions for people to navigate mental health challenges. The charity’s founder, Banu Adam: “We're thrilled to organise the 'People's Positivity Puzzle' to connect the local community in a creative, enjoyable way. "It blends artwork with a crossword challenge and is part of our project 'Creativity Connects’, which is generously funded by t -
December 2023 | Coventry Live - Graeme BrownRead article
CoventryLive Premium app launches with puzzles and no ads
We are launching the CoventryLive Premium app to Apple IOS users today and then on Android in a handful of days, delivers on all of the above. It will help you keep on top of the very best news, features, sport, podcasts and more from the Coventry Telegraph and CoventryLive, with some extra features for good measure - such as puzzles and giveaways. -
December 2023 | Seven Days - Paula RoutlyRead articleFrom the Publisher: Puzzle Power
Every evening, at some point between dinner and bedtime, I hear the happy little tune that indicates successful completion of the New York Times crossword puzzle. It's not coming from my computer; I'm usually working. The jingle of congratulations is for my partner, Tim Ashe, who starts the word game on his laptop sometime after it's published online the night before it appears..... -
December 2023 | The TelegraphRead article
Interactive puzzle games reach new heights with Puzzmo
Hearst Newspapers today announced the acquisition of Puzzmo, a new collaborative puzzle games platform. -
December 2023 | The Telegraph | Patrick SawerRead articleShane MacGowan’s last secret revealed: he loved doing The Telegraph’s crossword
He was the hellraising singer of The Pogues, notorious for his drinking, drug use and outspoken Irish republican views. But in the comfort of his home, Shane MacGowan was an avid fan of The Telegraph’s crossword, his widow has revealed. RIP Shane MacGowen -
November 2023 | NY Times - David LeonhardtRead article
A Crossword Anniversary
A chat with Will Shortz, who has been editing The Times’s puzzle for 30 years. -
November 2023 | NY Times - Deb AmlenRead article
Will Shortz’s Life as a ‘Professional Puzzle Maker’
The New York Times Crossword editor celebrates his 30th year in a job many would love to have. -
November 2023 | YouTube - Good Morning AmericaWatch Video
Crossword puzzle champ shares tips on solving puzzles
Meet Dan Feyer, winner of the 2023 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, who has won the tournament nine times in the past 13 years, as he give his tips in the YouTube video -
November 2023 | The Washington Post - Evan Birnholz | Photo Credit: Rebecca GoldsteinRead articleA conversation with Nov. 12 crossword creator Rebecca Goldstein
Evan Birnholz is out on paternity leave until early next year, but he took some time this week to interview guest constructor Rebecca Goldstein, who created our Sunday crossword, “The Show Must Go On.” The discussion has been edited for length and clarity. -
November 2023 | WSJ - Raffaele HuangRead article
Chinese Videogames Are Winning on the Global Stage
After decades of learning from foreign game companies, China’s game industry is now producing content with global appeal -
November 2023 | The State Press - Sophia Braccio | Image from Elizabeth VillarRead articleHOW PUZZLES AND PROCRASTINATION IMPACT ACADEMIC LIFE
-
November 2023 | Jamie Hale | The Oregonian/OregonLiveRead article
Portland man crowned UK crossword puzzle champion with ‘totally misleading’ clue
A Portland resident has been named one of the best crossword puzzle solvers in the United Kingdom, after winning the top prize at this year’s iteration of The Times Crossword Championship in London. -
October 2023 | Sticky Puzzles - AmazonRead article‘Around the World in 80 Games’ - An Interesting book about puzzles
Written by Marcus du Sautoy (An award-winning mathematician) this book explores the maths behind the games we love and why we love to play them. For as long as there have been people, there have been games, and for nearly as long, we have been exploring and discovering mathematics. A grand adventure, Around the World in 80 Games teaches us not just how games are won, but how they, a -
October 2023 | E&P - Bob SillickRead article
Puzzles and games. Relief from the news creates a monetizing opportunity
To brand themselves as a primary voice in their communities and appeal to the broadest audience, newspapers have included games and puzzles in their entertainment content for over 100 years. Readers continue to enjoy games and puzzles, but now there are opportunities to monetize that content. -
October 2023 | Pocket-lint - Dave LeClairRead article
How to play daily crosswords on Apple News+: Who needs Wordle anyway?
If you're looking for something with a little more depth than Wordle to play (or you want even more daily word games to go along with Wordle), then it might just be time to sign up for Apple News+ (or Apple One, if you're deep in the Apple ecosystem). -
October 2023 | The Verge - Andrew WebsterRead article
Puzzmo is imagining a better newspaper games page
Puzzmo is a website for puzzles by Zach Gage. It has games like crosswords, Spelltower, and Flipart. Puzzmo adds hints, notes, and personality to the puzzles. It competes with the New York Times’ games section. Puzzmo is in private preview. -
October 2023 | The Times - Mick Hodgkin (Puzzle Editor)Read articleTeacher solves a ‘stinker’ to win Times Crossword Championship
The competition, which is the UK’s only contest of its kind, returned after a four-year post-pandemic gap. Despite widespread travel disruption caused by Storm Babet, 112 contestants came together in London to tackle a series of Times cryptic crosswords over three rounds, culminating in a face-off between the top three. -
October 2023 | Axios - Stephen TotiloRead articleHearst makes its gaming move, in a bid for the Wordle and crossword crowd
The New York Times' Crossword/Wordle/Spelling Bee gaming juggernaut is getting some competition from newspaper rival Hearst through a new puzzle project called Puzzmo. -
October 2023 | E&P - Rob TornoeRead article
How The New York Times is making connections with puzzles and games
Puzzles have always been central to the newspaper experience, but no media company has had as much success mining that obsession digitally as The New York Times. Games are so popular at the Times they’ve become one of four main pillars bundled to keep subscribers paying each. In fact, The NY Times cite it as a primary reason news consumers remain long-term subscribers. -
October 2023 | Press Gazette - Bron MaherRead articleHow the Telegraph’s ‘digital by default’ approach won it website of the year "If we produce something that’s the same as everybody else’s - why are they going to pay for it?”
When Telegraph.co.uk won the News and Current Affairs Website prize this year at Press Gazette’s Future of Media Awards event, judges commended the publisher for producing a site “impressively laid out by user needs, not newsroom priorities”. -
October 2023 | The Guardian - Mark Sweney |Guardian graphic Source - Enders Analysis.Read articleTelegraph auction poses litmus test for value of newspapers in digital age
While falling sales suggest the demise of print, the industry has proved adaptable and remains attractive, as profits switch from classic print to other more innovative elements, such as puzzles. Note the jump in Telegraph growth compared to others - FYI 2022/23 was when Sticky puzzles was delivered. Not claiming all the growth, but it's clear puzzles played their part. -
October 2023 | Twipe Digital Publishing | Carlo PratoRead article
How can publishers use games and puzzles to increase subscribers?
Publishers are always looking for innovative ways to keep readers interested and grow their subscriber base in a world where technology constantly changes how we consume information. A proven strategy showing no signs of losing effectiveness is to include games and puzzles as part of the newspaper’s offering. It gives readers a mental break from the often negative news and effective -
October 2023 | Alexandria Slater: Lancashire Telegraph (Photo: Pendle Brook)Read article
Congratulations to the latest Centurion to reveal their love of Crosswords
Another story of another crossword solver leading a long life - as Edna Walmsley celebrates her 107th birthday. A love of poetry mixed with a passion for reading equals crosswords Well Done Edna - an example for us all! -
October 2023 | The Telegraph - Boudicca Fox-Leonard | Photo Credit - Jay WilliamsRead articleMind games that could ward off dementia
As a brain diseases expert reveals the cognitive benefits of puzzles, give your grey matter a workout with these memory-boosting exercises. Dr Tim Beanland used to do the Telegraph crossword with his father. Now, he does Wordle with his wife and the cryptic crossword. As a writer who has an affinity with words, these are the sorts of puzzles Dr Beanland, who is the Alzheimer’ -
September 2023 | Sarah Scire - NY TimesRead articleThe New York Times finds a match with the word game Connections
Jonathan Knight, head of games for The New York Times, discloses his rules for any new puzzle, and the introduces - Connections, the latest game from NYT Games, -
September 2023 | Emily Olson - NPRRead article
Now's your chance to solve a crossword puzzle with Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne, is one of several actors who's auctioning off unique experiences to support TV and movie crews impacted by the ongoing writers' strike -
September 2023 | By Tiffany Harris Published on www.josepvinaixa.comRead articleBlog Crack the Code: Pro Tips for Mastering Cryptic Crosswords from NYTimes and WSJ
Ever stared at a cryptic crossword in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal and felt like you were trying to decode an alien language? You’re not alone. But some people actually get it, and guess what? You can too. CrosswordZone hooked us up with some insider tips straight from the pros on how to become a cryptic crossword-solving ninja. -
September 2023 | Mark Sellman, Technology Correspondent - The TimesRead articleWordle in one? How thousands cheat their way to the answer daily
A recent study revealed a significant increase in cheating among players of the popular word-guessing game, Wordle. Wordle challenges players to guess a five-letter word in six attempts, with clues provided after each guess. The ease of sharing and the availability of spoilers on the internet have made it tempting for players to cheat -
September 2023 | Gemma DiCarlo - OPB.org-Read articleOregon crossword creator shares what he thinks makes a good puzzle
Matt Jones, a renowned crossword creator from Oregon, has been crafting engaging puzzles for nearly 30 years. Woth over 1,163 published puzzles, they are known for their contemporary and accessible feel, often incorporating pop culture references and wordplay. Discover the secrets behind his puzzle-making process and the elements that make a good puzzle by reading the full story. -
September 2023 | USA TODAY NETWORK via Go Erie | Image provided by Lecom HealthRead articleDr. Seth Carter: Headed for retirement? Keep your mind sharp with brain games
Exercising our minds keeps them sharp and can delay many effects of ageing on the brain. Try crossword puzzles, word search games, logic puzzles, card games, memory games and matching shapes. If you’re in the mood for strategies and you have someone to challenge you, consider a game of chess, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit or other board games. -
September 2023 | Xwords4All - A blog about digital puzzles.Read articleIntroducing “Crossword Creators”: A Series Unveiling the Maestros Behind the Grid
The article "Introducing Crossword Creators" is a blog series that features crossword creators worldwide. The series aims to offer a well-rounded appreciation of the art and craft of crossword construction by providing an in-depth look at each creator's unique style, innovations, and contributions to the world of crosswords and puzzles. -
September 2023 | InPublishingRead articleBauer’s Puzzles Team support Alzheimer’s Society
The campaign will support Alzheimer’s Society for World Alzheimer’s Month in raising awareness and challenging the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia. -
September 2023 | Saloni Vyas Published on www.pinkvilla.comRead articleBest Crossword Puzzle Apps
There are many different crossword puzzle game apps to choose from, so it can be tough to know which ones are the best. In this article, Pinkvilla take a look at some of the top-rated crossword puzzle game apps taking into account factors such as type of puzzles offered, the difficulty, features offered, and the price. -
September 2023 | The Washington Post - Amy ParlapianoRead articleTake a Game Break with The Post’s daily games newsletter
This newsletter is for those who want a quick, easy way to access The Post’s games new and old in their inbox each weekday. If you love letting your competitive juices flow or crave a deeper discussion about your favorite diversions. -
August 2023 | Hideaki Fujiwara - Automation MediaRead articleTrademark holder of Sudoku in Japan asserts their right over the puzzle’s name
The name Sudoku, referring to the internationally known logic-based number placement puzzle, is actually a registered trademark in Japan. The holder of the trademark is Nikoli, the publisher that gave Sudoku its current name and first started publishing Sudoku puzzles in mainstream print in Japan. As Sudoku is originally based on a puzzle that was known as “Number Place,” the genera -
August 2023 | Press Gazette - Bron MaherRead articleTelegraph Media Group hits one million subscriptions
TMG, which publishes The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, said that more than 70% of the one million subscriptions are digital and that “subscriber engagement is at a record high, with circa 300,000 of our subscribers now using our app each day”. -
August 2023 | University of York - Dr Fiona McNabRead article
Digital puzzle games could be good for memory in older adults, study shows
Step into the realm of memory enhancement with this eye-opening study. The University of York's researchers have uncovered an astonishing connection between digital puzzle games and memory prowess. Discover how adults over 60 can rival the memory abilities of individuals in their 20s by embracing the captivating world of digital puzzles. -
August 2023 | Facebook: GamingRead article
Generate awareness and build association to amplify your game growth
Some great advice from Facebook, about Facebook, but with some general tips and advice on how to grwo your product through amplification -
August 2023 | YouTube: Cracking The CrypticWatch Video
VIDEO: Twist on Classic Sudoku
A video from 'Cracking the Cryptic' YouTube Channel as they review a twist on Sudoku called Coordi-Loop (by Celery). This ia a puzzle that, in their words "....is difficult to put into words how good this sudoku is..." and is "Well well worth the effort!" -
August 2023 | Times of India - Sumit SabharwalRead article
The role of gamification in employee engagement
-
August 2023 | The Telegraph - Chris Lancaster (Puzzle Editor)Read articlePanagram, our word-perfect word game, reaches 100
What’s got nine letters and an E in the middle? No, it’s not a joke, but a description of today’s Panagram word-finding brainteaser, which turns 100 today. -
July 2023 | 7NEWS AustralianWatch Video
VIDEO: A crossword or computer game could be the key to preventing dementia
Sitting at home doing a crossword or playing chess is more likely to stave off dementia than knitting or catching up with friends. That's the finding of a new Melbourne study looking at the best ways to challenge our brains. -
July 2023 | Medical Express - Monash University | Image Credit - Pixabay/CCO Public DomainRead articleCrosswords and chess may help more than socializing in avoiding dementia
Computer use, crosswords and games like chess are more strongly associated with older people avoiding dementia than knitting, painting or socializing, a Monash University study has found. Published in JAMA Network Open, the findings—some of the most robust on this topic to date—may help older individuals and aged care professionals plan more targeted approaches to reducing dementia -
July 2023 | Xwords4allRead articleWhy is it important to solve crosswords every day
Solving crossword puzzles daily has several benefits that make it a worthwhile habit. Here are some key reasons: 1. Improved vocabulary and language skills: Regularly solving crosswords is a fun and effective way to improve your vocabulary. You’ll come across many new words and phrases that you might not encounter in daily conversation or reading,… -
July 2023 | The Hollywood ReporterRead articleiHeartMedia & A.J Jacobs Team together for a new Daily Puzzle Podcast
The shortform, daily podcasts will challenge listeners and celebrity guests with original, audio-friendly puzzles that are complete with weird history, fun trivia and lots of laughs. The celebrity guests will be featured alongside fellow puzzle fans who will test their skills in real time with Jacobs, before challenging listeners to solve the puzzles themselves. -
July 2023 | The Guardian - Alan ConnorRead article
Cryptic crosswords for beginners – unpicking the dress codes
Some beginner advice on how to tackle those pesky cryptic clues..... -
July 2023 | The Telegraph - Victoria Coren MitchellRead articleDoes it matter if The New York Times’s new puzzle is an Only Connect rip-off?
-
June 2023 | Xwords4All - A blog about digital puzzles.Read articleHow to Use Technology to Improve Your Crossword-Solving Skills
The article discusses how technology can help improve crossword-solving skills. It suggests using apps that provide possible solutions based on known letters and word length, but not relying on them too much. Digital note-taking tools can be useful for cryptic crosswords, and joining online crossword communities can provide additional support and resources. -
June 2023 | Xwords4All - A blog about digital puzzles.Read articleCrosswords and the Artistic Spectrum: A Dialogue Between Classical and Modern Perspectives
In the vast spectrum of human creativity, where do we place the humble crossword puzzle? Is it merely a linguistic game, a mental exercise designed to challenge and entertain, or does it ascend to the realm of art, a creative expression that transcends its functional form? This article explores the intersection of classical and modern… -
June 2023 | Financial Times - Roger BlitzRead article
Roger Squires, record-breaking crossword compiler, 1932-2023
An obitorary to Roger Squires, who has died aged 91, and who set about 80,000 puzzles earning the nickame the “Mozart of setters” - we salute you! -
June 2023 | Sticky Puzzles: LinkedIn PageRead articleLeonard Dawe: A True British Hero
In the annals of history, there are heroes of many kinds. Some wield swords, some wield pens, and some wield words. This is a story that weaves together the seemingly disparate threads of education, football, crosswords, and war into a tapestry of intrigue and resilience. -
June 2023 | Xwords4All - A blog about digital puzzles.Read articleDigital Puzzles, Gamification, and Habit Formation: A Deep Dive
Habit formation is a complex process that involves a series of psychological principles. At its core, a habit is a routine behavior that is performed regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. It’s the brain’s way of saving effort and energy by automating repetitive tasks. -
June 2023 | The VergeRead article
Apple News Plus is getting crossword puzzles with iOS 17
-
May 2023 | International News Media AssociationRead article
Telegraph Puzzle App wins Best Subscription Niche Product at Global Media awards
-
May 2023 | Chris Lancaster - Telegraph | Image - TelegraphRead articleTelegraph Puzzles live: can you beat our journalists at PlusWord?
-
May 2023 | Guy Kelly - Telegraph | Image - TelegraphRead articleThe Telegraph’s smash-hit PlusWord turns one – so which kind of player are you?
Puzzle fanatics have gone mad for our very own invention, an addictive hybrid of crossword and Wordle. Not tried it? Get involved! -
May 2023 | XWords4AllRead articleArthur Wynne: The Godfather of Crosswords
It was a cold Christmas day in the bustling city of New York in 1913. The world had witnessed the tragedy of the Titanic sinking just a year before, and the roaring success of the Model T Ford was revolutionizing the automobile industry. In this era, before the advent of television and the internet, newspapers… -
May 2023 | Xwords4allRead article
Crosswords - Key Terms & Structure Explained
Crossword puzzles are like a wonderful word journey! Typically, they’re presented as a square or rectangle filled with a pattern of black and white squares. Your challenge is to fill in the white squares with letters, creating words based on the clues provided. There are various styles of crossword puzzles, each with its own unique… -
May 2023 | Xwords4allRead articleThe Hidden World of Crosswords: Uncover the Benefits You Never Knew!
Crossword puzzles are more than just a fun way to pass the time. They offer a wide range of benefits that can improve cognitive function, memory, and vocabulary skills. Completing crossword puzzles can also foster camaraderie among friends and family, as well as provide a fun way to learn about history and pop culture. Additionally,… -
May 2023 | Xwords4allRead articleThe Fascinating World of Celebrity Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles have become a beloved pastime that has stood the test of time. From celebrities like Stephen Fry and Benedict Cumberbatch to bloggers like Aimee Song and even social media influencers like Kendall Jenner, people from all walks of life have embraced the challenge and fun of crossword puzzles. These brain-teasing games not only… -
May 2023 | Twipe Digital PublishingRead article
Streaks & Offline Puzzles: The Power of Gamification in News Apps
-
April 2023 | Xwords4allRead articleCracking the Code: AI and Crosswords, can it work?
Digital crosswords have been around for quite some time now, but with the advancement of AI and technology, they are set to undergo a transformation that will change the way we approach them. In this presentation, we will explore the future of digital crosswords and how AI and technology will play a significant role in their evolution. -
April 2023 | WNIPRead articleTelegraph Puzzles make Digital Publishing Awards Shortlist
Although Telegraph Puzzles didn't win the award, we are pleased to see the product being acknowledged as best in class, and competing hard with other products not in the puzzling sector. The platform, build with Sticky Puzzles platform in association with Digital Marmalade was nominated for Best Digital Publishing Innovation -
April 2023 | The TelegraphRead article
Puzzles: Audiences Are Just Getting Younger
The Telegraph reports that puzzle-solving has become increasingly popular among younger generations, particularly during the pandemic, and discusses how the newspaper is adapting to meet this demand. -
April 2023 | Alzheimer Society of CanadaRead articleGive Your Brain a Small Challenge by Playing a Game of Crossword – It Really Helps
This article discusses the benefits of crossword puzzles in improving cognitive function and reducing the risk of developing dementia. -
March 2023 | DigiDayRead articleThe New York Times Aims to Increase Game Play Time in Subscription Push
The New York Times is exploring the use of longer play sessions to keep subscribers engaged, including investing in the development of more games with broader appeal. The paper has seen success with its existing puzzle games, but hopes to attract a wider audience with new games that offer more depth and longer gameplay. -
January 2023 | Our Town - Deborah Fenker | Photo Credit - Mellor Family (via Our Town)Read articleMyles Mellor: The man who turned his puzzling hobby into booming crossword syndicate
There are people who solve puzzles and then there are true puzzle people. Normal puzzle people peruse the news and ads in our weekly papers and reward themselves on the penultimate page with a trio of games preceding the classifieds. Myles Mellor, however, is the other kind of puzzle person. -
December 2022 | Guy Kelly - Telegraph | Image - TelegraphRead article
Confessions of a Telegraph PlusWord addict
To celebrate the 200th PlusWord one writer reveals why, like thousands of others, he’s hooked on the daily brain teaser -
November 2022 | Duke - Univwersity of Medicine | P. Murali DoraiswamyRead articleStudy Shows Crossword Puzzles Beat Computer Games in Slowing Memory Loss
Crossword puzzles showed an advantage over digital brain games in sharpening memory among older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study in NEJM Evidence. In a randomized, controlled trial led by Murali Doraiswamy, MBBS, FRCP, director of the Neurocognitive Disorders Program and a professor of psychiatry and geriatrics at Duke University School of Medicine, and -
November 2022 | TelegraphRead article
Cross-Atlantic: The Telegraph Launches First New Flagship Crossword Since 2008
The Telegraph has launched a new flagship crossword puzzle, the first since 2008, which is available on both digital and print platforms. -
October 2022 | CNET - Amanda Kooser | Image Credit - Amanda KooserRead articleEvil Wordle Knockoff Dordle Makes You Tackle Two Words at Once
First came Wordle. Then came the endless Wordle knockoffs. Among them is Dordle, a devious word game that doesn't let you off easy. You have to guess two five-letter words at the same time, but you can only input one word guess at a time. Play it and you'll get it. -
September 2022 | Press Gazette - Charlotte TobittRead article
Sunday Telegraph closes Stella print mag and launches ‘Britain’s biggest’ puzzles section
Sunday Telegraph print supplement Stella is closing following audience research with its subscribers that has led to a revamp of its weekend print package. The women’s lifestyle and beauty magazine, which was introduced to the paper by short-lived former editor Sarah Sands in 2005, will still exist as a brand within the Sunday paper in print as well as online and with Stella Live b -
September 2022 | The TelegraphRead articleTest Yourself With The Telegraph’s New Puzzles Website
The Telegraph has launched a new online puzzles website, featuring interactive versions of the newspaper's famous brain teasers. The new site includes more than 50 crosswords, 25 sudoku puzzles, 10 word searches and a host of other challenges. -
September 2022 | InPublishing | Image Credit - TMGRead article
The Telegraph Puzzles launches new digital home
The Telegraph has announced that it is bringing to life its popular puzzles in a new dedicated interactive Puzzles website. The website features modernised design and playing features in a solver friendly format. Puzzle enthusiasts will be able to test their skills across the Telegraph’s collection of puzzles, including: Crosswords, PlusWord, Sudoku, Kakuro, and Codewords. -
September 2022 | The Indian ExpressRead articleWhy Gen Z Are Solving Crosswords More Than Before
According to a recent study conducted by the online crossword platform Wealth Words, daily online crossword puzzles have become a popular activity among Gen Z, with a significant increase in the number of young people engaging in the game. The study found that more than 50% of the platform's players were aged under 35, and the popularity of the game is expected to continue growing a -
September 2022 | The TelegraphRead article
The Launch of a New Digital Home for Telegraph Puzzles
The Telegraph has launched a new digital platform for its puzzles section, including crossword puzzles, with features such as timed puzzles, leaderboards, and personalized recommendations. -
July 2022 | InPublishingRead articleBauer launches new puzzle magazine
Bauer Publishing, the team behind UK puzzle magazines including Take a Crossword and the Eclipse franchise, has launched a mixed puzzle magazine containing brain training and traditional puzzles produced for Asda in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society. Asda Brain Boost is a compilation of memory games, mindfulness pages and classic puzzles to engage both the left and right sides -
July 2022 | Educational Technology and Mobile LearningRead articleHow to Use Puzzles to Improve Critical Thinking Skills in Classrooms
This article provides tips and strategies for using puzzles, including crossword puzzles, in the classroom to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. -
June 2022 | Infortech ReportsRead articleExpert.Ai and Siena University Launch First AI-based Multilingual Crossword Solver
Expert.ai and the University of Siena have launched a new AI-based software, called WebCrow 2.0, that can solve crossword puzzles. This software has the ability to recognize the meaning of words in crossword puzzles based on definitions and other clues, imitating human-like reading, comprehension, and reasoning processes. -
May 2022 | Chris Lancaster - Telegraph | Image - TelegraphRead article
The Telegraph crossword reaches 30,000 - can you crack the first ever one?
Even though they weren’t to know it at the time, readers of The Daily Telegraph of July 30 1925 were present at the very start of what has since become a national institution - the publication of the first ever Telegraph crossword. -
May 2022 | NUK UK Via Dementia ResearchRead articleCan doing a daily crossword or Sudoku puzzle keep your brain young?
In 2 linked studies, researchers asked people aged 50 to 93 to fill in online surveys, which included questions about whether they regularly did number puzzles (like Sudoku) or word puzzles (such as crosswords). People also did online tests designed to test their thinking and memory (known as cognitive abilities). The researchers found that people who said they did puzzles regular -
April 2022 | CNET - Amanda Kooser | Image Credit - Amanda KooserRead articleAnother Wordle Archive Shuts Down Under New York Times Pressure
Looking to go back and play Wordles you missed? You might be out of luck. Wordle Archive once had you covered, giving you access to all the entries in the viral word game's back-catalog. But that dream is now over. The archive's creator announced Wednesday that The New York Times, which bought Wordle in late January, asked for the site to be shut down. -
March 2022 | Media Makers Meet - Esther Kezia ThorpeRead article
How The Atlantic’s new newsletter seeks to bridge the gap between puzzle player and subscriber
Puzzles as a habit-building tool have been thrust back into the spotlight following the New York Times’ acquisition of viral game Wordle. The power of word games and crosswords to bring audiences back day after day is well-documented. -
March 2022 | Prikanka TanwarRead article
Crossword expands to 72 stores across India
-
March 2022 | CNET - Amanda Kooser | Image Credit - Amanda KooserRead articleThink You're a Wordle Badass? Octordle Will Humble You Fast...
Octordle throws down a version of Wordle that asks you to sort out eight different five-letter words at the same time with only 13 guesses to do it in. The mechanics are familiar. You get clues as to which letters are in each word and which aren't and which ones are simply in the wrong places. -
March 2022 | Spiny TrendsRead articlePuzzles and games power relationships with readers
The world went crazy for Wordle this year and the simple word game’s incredible viral success led the New York Times to acquire it for a rumoured $1.5 million. With other newspapers and magazines eyeing online games as a strategy for bringing audiences closer, what makes puzzles so powerful? -
February 2022 | Tech Xplore - David Kearns, University College, Dublin | Image Credit - University College DublinRead articleMastering Wordle is all about sticking with it and starting strong, analysis suggests
When it comes to Wordle, practice does makes perfect, it seems, as a new analysis of more than 3 million tweets of the word puzzle shows its players are getting better. The success of Wordle—a web-based word game in which players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word—has seen it grow from 300k players at the start of January to over 2m by the month's end. -
February 2022 | CNET - Amanda Kooser | Image Credit - Amanda KooserRead article'Evil and Genius' Quordle Word Game Is Wordle Times Four
Quordle is the Wordle knockoff for people who think Dordle (the game that asks you to sniff out two words simultaneously) is too easy. Quordle demands four words within nine guesses. -
February 2022 | Tech Xplore - AFPRead article
New York Times buys 'Wordle'
The New York Times announced Monday it had bought Wordle, a phenomenon played by millions just four months after the game burst onto the Internet, for an "undisclosed price in the low seven figures. -
January 2022 | Phys Ord - Penny Pexman, The ConversationRead articleThe Wordle craze: Why do we love puzzles, and are they good for our brains?
In recent weeks, a web-based word puzzle called Wordle has become a popular daily distraction. Suddenly, millions of people are focused on their vocabulary of five-letter words, and are newly aware of concepts like letter frequency and letter position as they strategize about the best opening words and faster solutions. -
January 2022 | Tech Xplore - Brett Molina | Image Credit - CCO Public DomainRead articleCopycats not allowed: Apple yanks knockoffs of viral puzzle game Wordle from App Store
Apple said it removed several apps ripping off the viral puzzle game Wordle. Apple confirmed Wordle clones were removed from the App Store in an email to USA TODAY. The tech giant did not specify how many apps it removed or the names of the apps pulled from its digital marketplace. -
January 2022 | Nieman Lab - Sarah ScireRead article
The New York Times debuts a fellowship for crossword constructors
NYT Games editorial director Everdeen Mason on building a more diverse set of puzzle constructors and an “ecosystem” for solvers. “I don’t want people to just come in and play a game and leave.” The New York Times announced a new fellowship for crossword constructors on Monday aimed at increasing the number of puzzles created by underrepresented groups, including women, people of c -
January 2022 | Magnetic Memory MethodRead articleCrossword Puzzles: A Powerful Memory-Boosting Tool
he Magnetic Memory Method blog discusses the benefits of crossword puzzles for improving memory and cognitive function. The article provides tips for using crossword puzzles to enhance memory, including focusing on specific word associations and using visualization techniques. -
December 2021 | MediaweekRead articleNews Corp Australia Launches Puzzle Games App, Brain Gains
News Corp Australia has launched an App called Brain Gains, which features various types of puzzles and games aimed at stimulating cognitive functions. The app includes crosswords, Sudoku, word search and trivia games. It includes our first mulitplayer puzzle - Battle Wordsearch and available to subscribers of News Corp Australia publications. -
November 2021 | Cracking the Cryptic - YouTubeWatch Video
How To Do Hard Sudokus In 10 Minutes
Hi! We're Simon Anthony and Mark Goodliffe, two of the UK's most enthusiastic puzzle solvers. We have both represented the UK at the World Sudoku Championships and the World Puzzle Championships. We're also "cryptic crossword" aficionados. Mark is the eleven-time winner of The Times championship and Simon is the former record holder for most consecutive correct solutions to The List -
November 2021 | The MirrorRead article
Improve Your Memory with Crossword Puzzles, Says Study
A new study shows that completing crossword puzzles may improve memory function in older adults. The study found that individuals who regularly completed crossword puzzles had improved memory test scores compared to those who did not engage in similar cognitive activities. -
October 2021 | PreventionRead article
Study Finds Crossword Puzzles May Improve Memory Better Than Other Brain Games
The article highlights a study that found that crossword puzzles may be more effective than other types of brain games, such as Sudoku or Lumosity, at improving memory and cognitive function in older adults. The author also provides tips for incorporating crossword puzzles into daily routines. -
October 2021 | Study FindsRead articleCrosswords May Be More Effective Than Video Games for Improving Memory, Study Finds
A study published in the Journal of Gerontology has found that crossword puzzles may be more effective than video games in improving memory function in older adults. -
September 2021 | Media Makers Meet - Peter HustonRead article
Puzzles and games power relationships with readers
The world went crazy for Wordle this year and the simple word game’s incredible viral success led the New York Times to acquire it for a rumoured $1.5 million. With other newspapers and magazines eyeing online games as a strategy for bringing audiences closer, what makes puzzles so powerful? -
September 2021 | The Times Mind GamesGet book
The Times General Knowledge Crossword Book
A book containing various puzzles from The Times. -
July 2021 | GamesverRead article
21 Compelling Benefits and Advantages of Crossword Puzzles
Healthline offers suggestions for brain-boosting activities for individuals with dementia, including memory games like crossword puzzles. The article explains how these games can help with cognitive function and offers tips for incorporating them into a daily routine. Additionally, the article provides advice on finding games suitable for different levels of ability and interests. -
March 2021 | Washington Post - Hau Chu | Image Credit - Washington Post Illustration; iStockRead articleFor crossword constructors, an inclusivity debate: What’s ‘common knowledge’ and who decides?
The crossword community buzzed approvingly when the New York Times kicked off Black History Month in February with a week of puzzles built by Black constructors. -
January 2021 | InPublishing - NewsRead articleBauer to launch two new puzzles titles
Bauer Media UK will add two new magazines to its growing Puzzles portfolio. The company, which already publishes several Take a Break puzzles magazines, launched Bella Puzzles Train Your Brain yesterday – a brand extension to Bella, a women’s weekly title. -
December 2020 | Gradunet Education NetworkRead article
Educational Benefits of Crossword Puzzles
The article discusses the educational benefits of crossword puzzles. It explains how solving crossword puzzles can improve vocabulary, spelling, and memory skills, as well as enhance problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. It also highlights how crossword puzzles can be incorporated into classroom activities to make learning more engaging and enjoyable for students. -
October 2020 | InPublishingRead articleBauer’s Puzzles team launches Take a Break puzzles
Bauer Media’s in-house Puzzles team yesterday announced a series of new developments, including new content partnerships and the launch of Take a Break Puzzles. -
October 2020 | Bauer Media Group NewsRead articleBauer Media's Puzzles team launches 'Take a Break' Digital Puzzles & announces content partnerships
Bauer Media’s in-house puzzles team announced a series of new developments today. The team, led by Commercial Development Editor Nisha Ponnappa has just completed a refresh of Take a Break magazine’s website to incorporate a new free interactive puzzles section. -
July 2020 | GCHQRead articleGCHQ and puzzles
GCHQ explain how puzzling helps them to do their jobs -
June 2020 | Twipe - Mary-Katharine PhillipsRead article
How puzzles play an essential role in reader engagement
Over the past few months, we have seen puzzles and games grow in importance for many publishers. On our platform, Ouest-France’s L’Edition du Soir has seen a significant portion of its page views come from their puzzle and game section recently. Publishers are leaning into this, using puzzles as a strategic tool in habit formation, so join us as we dig further into this trend. -
June 2020 | Twipe Digital PublishingRead articleHow puzzles play an essential role in reader engagement
-
March 2020 | Natan Last - The Atlantic | Image Credit - Arsh RaziuddinRead articleThe Hidden Bigotry of Crosswords
The popular puzzles are largely written and edited by older white men, who dictate what makes it into the grid—and what is kept out. -
February 2020 | InPublishingRead articleThe Guardian launches Puzzles app
The Guardian yesterday announced the launch of Guardian Puzzles – a dedicated app for crosswords and puzzles from The Guardian and The Observer. -
January 2020 | Press Gazette - Dominic WirepostsRead article
Celeb sues for libel over crossword clue
Here’s a cryptic tale. A national newspaper has been threatened with libel over a crossword clue. Apparently the clue asked a question about the romantic interest of a young actress. Sky News’ Simon Bucks writes on his blog: “Not long after it appeared, a letter was delivered to the paper’s managing editor from one of London’s top libel lawyers. It said they represented a young -
January 2020 | PubMed Central (PMC)Read Research Paper
Cognitive Training with Mental Rotation Task Improves Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The study investigated the association between cognitive activities, such as playing puzzles and crosswords, and cognitive function in a sample of older adults. The results showed that participating in cognitive activities was significantly associated with higher cognitive function, particularly in the domains of processing speed, attention, and visuospatial ability. -
December 2019 | PubMed Central (PMC)Read Research Paper
Cognitive Training in Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
This research paper discusses the effectiveness of cognitive training on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients. The study conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and found that cognitive training showed small to moderate benefits in improving cognitive function in AD patients, particularly in the domains of attention, memory, and executive function. -
November 2019 | TwipeRead article
Why publishers are creating vertical subscription products
Publishers can either focus on how to better convert and retain subscribers for their main news product or add additional revenue streams. Recently we are seeing more and more news organisations experiment with additional subscription products. To better understand this trend, join us as we dig into three reasons why vertical subscription products are bringing success for publishers -
October 2019 | TelegrafiRead article
Playing Sudoku every day rejuvenates your brain for 10 years
-
October 2019 | GCHQRead articleHints and tips for solving brainteasers
Recognising the type of puzzle you’re looking at will help you determine how best to solve it. Here are some tips from GCHQ - a world-leading intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe -
August 2019 | Inc.Read article
The Humble Crossword Puzzle Is the Best Way to Improve Your Memory, New Columbia Study Finds
The article summarizes the findings of a study on the cognitive benefits of crossword puzzles, including improved memory and delayed onset of dementia. The author also provides tips for incorporating crossword puzzles into daily routines. -
May 2019 | Science Daily - University of ExeterRead article
Regular crosswords and number puzzles linked to sharper brain in later life
Older adults who regularly take part in word and number puzzles have sharper brains, according to the largest online study to date. The more regularly adults aged 50 and over played puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku, the better their brain function, according to research in more than 19,000 participants, led by the University of Exeter and King's College London. -
May 2019 | Medical Express - University of Exeter | Image Credit - CCO Public DomainRead articleRegular crosswords and number puzzles linked to sharper brain in later life
Older adults who regularly take part in word and number puzzles have sharper brains, according to the largest online study to date. The more regularly adults aged 50 and over played puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku, the better their brain function, according to research in more than 19,000 participants, led by the University of Exeter and King's College London. -
May 2019 | Mail Online | Victoria AllenRead article
Older adults who regularly do Sudoku or crosswords have sharper brains that are 10 YEARS younger, finds study
Crosswords and Sudoku may keep your brain a decade younger in middle age. Sitting down to do a puzzle once a day has a dramatic effect on memory, and could help to ward off dementia in later life. The largest and most detailed joint study of how puzzles affect the over-50s asked people to do a battery of cognitive tests over a week. -
May 2019 | The Telegraph - Sarah Knapton | Photo Credit - Jay WilliamsRead articleCompleting a daily Sudoko could delay brain ageing by eight to ten years
Completing a daily Sudoku could delay brain ageing by eight to 10 years, a study of nearly 20,000 people suggests. Researchers at the University of Exeter and King’s College London have already discovered that people who regularly solve crosswords have sharper brains, but new results show number puzzles have the same impact. -
May 2019 | Oprah Daily | Michelle DarrisawRead article
People Who Regularly Play Sudoku and Crossword Puzzles Have Sharper Brains, New Study Finds
The University of Exeter and King's College London analyzed how 19,000 participants engaged with word and number puzzles for a week. Researchers found that those who frequently completed crossword and Sudoku puzzles had sharper performance "across a range of tasks assessing memory, attention, and reasoning." -
May 2019 | Medical Coding BuffRead Research Paper
7 Benefits of Medical Crossword Puzzles
The article highlights the benefits of medical crossword puzzles. It states that medical crossword puzzles not only enhance knowledge retention but also help in improving critical thinking skills, analytical skills, and vocabulary. Additionally, medical crossword puzzles improve mental agility and promote problem-solving skills, which are crucial for medical coding professionals. -
March 2019 | Adrienne RaphelGet bookThinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them
A book by Adrienne Raphel that explores the history and cultural significance of crossword puzzles and the passionate community of crossword enthusiasts. Through interviews with constructors, editors, and solvers, Raphel uncovers the creative and intellectual challenges of constructing puzzles and more. -
February 2019 | Media Makers Meet - WNIPRead article
400,000 people now subscribe to NYT’s digital crossword
-
February 2019 | Wiley Online Libary - Helen BrookerRead article
The relationship between the frequency of number-puzzle use and baseline cognitive function in a large online sample of adults aged 50 and over
Establishing affordable lifestyle interventions that might preserve cognitive function in the aging population and subsequent generations is a growing area of research focus. Data from the PROTECT study has been utilised to examine whether number-puzzle use is related to cognitive function in older adults. -
January 2019 | Slate - Ruth Graham | Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by waffleboy/Flickr.Read articleThe NYT Crossword Puzzle’s Use of an Ethnic Slur Says a Lot About the State of Crossword Puzzling
The clue for 2 down in the New York Times’ first crossword puzzle of the new year was nothing unusual: “Pitch to the head, informally.” But the answer stopped many puzzlers in their tracks: BEANER, which, as critics quickly pointed out, is also a slur used against Mexicans. “I’m very sorry for the distraction,” longtime puzzle editor Will Shortz wrote in a response posted that after -
January 2019 | Columbia PsychiatryRead articleCrossword Puzzles Superior to Video Games in Slowing Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
A study by Columbia Psychiatry found that crossword puzzles may be a better way to slow cognitive decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment compared to computer and video games. Regular crossword puzzle completion was associated with a slower decline in cognitive function. -
December 2018 | Medical Express - Amy Norton (Healthday Reporter) | Image Credit - CCO Public DomainRead articleHow puzzles, games might help your aging brain
(HealthDay)—Those Sunday crossword puzzles may not prevent the aging brain from slowing down—but they might protect it in a different way, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at the "use it or lose it" theory on brain health. The concept holds that mentally engaging activities—from reading to crosswords to board games—may help the brain resist dementia later in life. -
November 2018 | Wiley Online Libary - Helen BrookerRead article
An online investigation of the relationship between the frequency of word puzzle use and cognitive function in a large sample of older adults
The identification of modifiable lifestyle factors to preserve cognitive function in older individuals becomes increasingly of importance. This study examines whether word puzzle use is related to cognitive function in older adults. -
November 2018 | International Journal of Geriatric Medicine | Helen Brooker, Keith A. Wesnes, Clive Ballard, Adam Hampshire, Dag Aarsland, Zunera Khan, Rob Stenton, Laura McCambridge, Anne CorbettRead article
An online investigation of the relationship between the frequency of word puzzle use and cognitive function in a large sample of older adults
-
May 2018 | The Coast News - Adam BradleyRead article
Carlsbad’s King of Crossword Puzzles
-
March 2018 | David Parfitt, Puzzles Editor @ The TimesRead articleQuintagram: our new quickfire word puzzle
Today we are excited to launch a new, exclusive digital puzzle in The Times. Quintagram is a five-clue crossword with one important difference: there is no grid. The idea for the puzzle began with a conversation I had with Anne Ashworth, the paper’s property and personal finance editor. Anne had become addicted to tackling a 5x5 mini crossword on her commute, and it got me thinking -
February 2018 | BBCRead articleCamra apologise for 'offensive' crossword in magazine
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) group has apologised after one of its branches published a crossword clue with the word "negro". The crossword, printed in Derby Camra's bi-monthly magazine, also suggests "effeminate" men share a name with a sex toy. -
November 2017 | Catersource - Alan BergRead articleWhat Crossword Puzzles Can Teach Us About Life & Business
Crossword puzzles are my diversion. I do one almost every day. It’s both a brain stimulant and meditation for me. When I’m doing a puzzle my mind is focused, not wandering or multi-tasking. What’s your diversion? For some of you it’s Sudoku, or maybe a game on your phone or tablet. For others it may be yoga, or reading a book. -
June 2017 | Nieman LabRead articleSolving the crossword puzzle: Rebuilding a print habit on digital devices
This article discusses how the digital age has affected the crossword puzzle industry and the challenges of transitioning print readers to digital platforms. -
August 2016 | Glyn Moody - Ars Technica | Listing image by Arthur KöpckeRead articlePensioner fills in crossword puzzle art exhibit, claims copyright of “new” work
Lawyer says her additions add value and are true to the spirit of the £68,000 original. -
March 2016 | Matt Gaffney - Slate | Image by Matt GaffneyRead articleHow to Spot a Plagiarized Crossword
-
March 2016 | Tech Xplore - Sarah Collins, University of Cambridge | Image Credit - BethRead articleAI crossword-solving application could make machines better at understanding language
A web-based machine language system solves crossword puzzles far better than commercially-available products, and may help machines better understand language. Researchers have designed a web-based platform which uses artificial neural networks to answer standard crossword clues better than existing commercial products specifically designed for the task. -
March 2016 | Life HackRead article
Science Explains Why Crossword Puzzles Are Good For Your Mental Health
Crossword puzzles have long been a popular pastime for many, and it turns out they may have some surprising benefits for mental health. According to scientific research, crossword puzzles can help to improve cognitive function, reduce stress, and even delay the onset of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. -
August 2015 | Perkins School for the BlindRead articleA Crossword for the Blind
The Perkins School for the Blind reviews a crossword puzzle app that is specifically designed to be accessible for users with visual impairments. The review notes the app's intuitive interface and customizable settings, which allow users to adjust the puzzle to their preferred level of difficulty. -
June 2015 | Scientific American ObservationsRead articleThis Is Your Brain on Crosswords – Those Black-and-white Squares Can Help Us Understand How Memory Works
This literature review examines the cognitive benefits of puzzle-solving, including crosswords, on various aspects of cognitive performance, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. The authors conclude that regular puzzle-solving may improve cognitive function in older adults, and may also offer potential therapeutic benefits for those with neurological disorders. -
January 2015 | Association for Psychological ScienceRead article
Playing with Puzzles and Blocks May Build Children’s Spatial Skills
The article discusses a study that found a link between playing with puzzles and blocks in early childhood and improved spatial skills in adulthood. The study followed 847 adults and found that those who had played with puzzles and blocks as children performed better on spatial reasoning tasks than those who hadn't. -
July 2014 | Medical Express - Amy Norton (Healthday Reporter) | Image Credit - CCO Public DomainRead article
Can games, puzzles keep aging minds sharp?
(HealthDay)—Older adults who enjoy mentally stimulating games may have bigger brains and sharper thinking skills than their peers, new research suggests. The study looked at the connection between playing games such as puzzles, crosswords, cards and checkers and mental acuity for adults in their 50s and 60s. -
September 2013 | Electronic Journal of Research in Educational PsychologyRead Research Paper
Crossword Puzzles as a Learning Tool for Vocabulary Development
This article discusses a study that aimed to investigate the effectiveness of crossword puzzles as a tool to enhance learning in English vocabulary, spelling and word recognition. The study found that crossword puzzles are an effective tool for improving students' English language skills, promoting active engagement in the learning process and a valuable addition to English. -
September 2013 | The Guardian Crossword BlogRead article
Super Solvers: Are They Born or Made?
The article explores the skills and abilities of expert crossword solvers, discussing whether these skills are innate or developed over time through practice and experience. The author also discusses the challenges and strategies involved in creating crossword puzzles. -
January 2013 | Denise Sutherland via her Blog www.goodreads.comRead article
American vs British crosswords
American and British crosswords. Is there a difference? The short answer is HELL YES! Now for the long answer ... There are major differences between American-style and British-style crosswords (which are seen in Commonwealth countries too). -
November 2012 | NY Times - YouTube | image Credit - YouTubeWatch Video
Will Shortz on How a Crossword Is Made - From New York Times Puzzle Master
Short video on how NY Times compiles their Crosswords -
May 2011 | Springer LinkRead Research Paper
Effectiveness of Crossword Puzzles as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Cognitive Function in Older Adults
This research paper examines the effectiveness of crossword puzzles as a non-pharmacological intervention for improving cognitive function in older adults. The authors conclude that regular crossword puzzle-solving can improve cognitive function, particularly in the areas of attention and memory. -
January 2011 | CNET - Nick HideRead article
Google Goggles for Android lets you cheat at Sudoku
Google's Goggles app for Android will now solve your Sudoku puzzle in less than 30 seconds. Come see how cool it looks. -
November 2010 | The Washington PostRead articleCrossword Puzzles, Memory Loss, and Brain Games
The article highlights a study that found that crossword puzzles can improve memory and cognitive function in older adults. The author also discusses the potential benefits of other brain games, such as Sudoku, and provides tips for incorporating puzzle-solving into daily routines. -
November 2010 | CNET - Rick Broida | Image Credit - Rick BroidaRead articleUSA Today's 'secret' crossword-puzzle app for iPad
The iPad's big screen makes it an ideal home for crosswords, and USA Today's app serves up all the puzzles you can play--no extra charge -
September 2009 | Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine - Anurag Saxena, MD, MBBS; Raenelle Nesbitt, MD; Punam Pahwa, PhD; Sheryl Mills, PhDRead article
Crossword Puzzles: Active Learning in Undergraduate Pathology and Medical Education
A research paper aiming to determine student perceptions of the usefulness of crosswords as a quick and effective way to reinforce essential concepts and vocabulary. -
January 2009 | CNET - Stephen ShanklandRead article
My latest puzzle love: KenKen
-
September 2006 | New York TimesView Book
The New York Times Supersized Book of Sunday Crosswords: 500 Puzzles
These crossword puzzle books from The New York Times are designed for seniors and offer easy-to-solve puzzles that promote memory function and cognitive health. -
May 2005 | Source: The Associated Press via NBC NewsRead articleSudoku puzzle enchants British problem-solvers
Britain has a new addiction. Hunched over newspapers on crowded subway trains, sneaking secret peeks in the office, a puzzle-crazy nation is trying to slot numbers into small checkerboard grids. It’s Sudoku — a sort of crossword without words that has consumed the country.
