Inkubator Crosswords

An entertaining collection of witty feminist crosswords from some of today's best woman and nonbinary puzzle-makers today. Join the crossword revolution! Indie-crossword favorite the Inkubator was launched to embrace a diverse community of constructors, long underrepresented in the mainstream puzzle world. These immensely engaging grids from women and woman-aligned puzzle writers are fun, relatable, and often surprising with clever, original clues that speak our language. Enjoy hours of satisfying solving as you dive into inclusive puzzles that truly reflect modern life, from dating apps to activism, to the occasional body part--almost nothing is off-limits, except outdated crosswordese. This collection includes 100 easy to challenging crosswords, complete solutions, and a section of cryptic and meta puzzles. Crossword fans of all levels are sure to love tackling these playful mind-twisters.

The New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically goes on a rollicking journey to understand the enduring power of puzzles: why we love them, what they do to our brains, and how they can improve our world. “Even though I’ve never attempted the New York Times crossword puzzle or solved the Rubik’s Cube, I couldn’t put down The Puzzler.”—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before What makes puzzles—jigsaws, mazes, riddles, sudokus—so satisfying? Be it the formation of new cerebral pathways, their close link to insight and humor, or their community-building properties, they’re among the fundamental elements that make us human. Convinced that puzzles have made him a better person, A.J. Jacobs—four-time New York Times bestselling author, master of immersion journalism, and nightly crossworder—set out to determine their myriad benefits. And maybe, in the process, solve the puzzle of our very existence. Well, almost. In The Puzzler, Jacobs meets the most zealous devotees, enters (sometimes with his family in tow) any puzzle competition that will have him, unpacks the history of the most popular puzzles, and aims to solve the most impossible head-scratchers, from a mutant Rubik’s Cube, to the hardest corn maze in America, to the most sadistic jigsaw. Chock-full of unforgettable adventures and original examples from around the world—including new work by Greg Pliska, one of America’s top puzzle-makers, and a hidden, super-challenging but solvable puzzle—The Puzzler will open readers’ eyes to the power of flexible thinking and concentration. Whether you’re puzzle obsessed or puzzle hesitant, you’ll walk away with real problem-solving strategies and pathways toward becoming a better thinker and decision maker—for these are certainly puzzling times.

Created by Natan Last, a senior at Brown University, three-time intern with Will Shortz, and in 2008 the youngest person to have a puzzle published in the Sunday New York Times, Word kicks the crossword puzzle squarely into the 21st century for a new generation of puzzle-lovers, replacing fusty crossword-ese with hip cultural references, modern wordplay, and a lively mix of high-and low-brow pop trivia. A Word puzzle begins with the shared knowledge of a literate but not-so-reverent generation, and celebrates the knowingness with a deft touch. Your parents' crosswords make solvers feel smart. Word puzzles make solvers feel smart and cool, getting the references to The Daily Show, Mario Brothers, the Goo Goo Dolls, and a hefty dose of nostalgia (the name of the motel in Psycho). But they also know the core curriculum: Charlotte Bronte's Jane, Roman generals, Berlioz and von Bismarck, Homer—and not just Homer Simpson. The puzzles are constructed with all the smarts of a daily Times crossword: themes, interconnected clues, titles that unlock the overall puzzle (solve all the clues and the circle letters will spell out a famous name at Hogwarts). Assisting Mr. Last is a group of five more top “under 25” constructors, all of whom have published puzzles in The New York Times.

Fun with a purpose. Crosswords for radicals--and everyone else.

Warning: Adults Only! Jonesin’ for Crosswords is a fresh and addictive new spin on solvers’ favorite pastime. The hip crosswords of creator Matt Jones, a syndicated puzzle master, have appeared in alternative papers all over the country. Expect a diverse mix of clues ranging from old school and modern pop culture, to historical and current events. Plus, you’ll find edgy drug references and too hot to show you X-rated words scattered throughout these outrageous puzzles with themes like Ribbed for Your Pleasure, The Big Owe, and Lets Get High.

Discover the curious history of the world's most addictive game and its unusual upbringing. Celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the beloved crossword puzzle, readers can solve over 100 different puzzles from top constructors.

mental_floss teams up with puzzle aficionado Matt Gaffney to bring solvers one of the most amazing crossword collections ever devised. Each of the 66 puzzles not only features a fun theme and witty clues, there's also a secret puzzle within the puzzle waiting to be solved. This is called a meta-puzzle in the biz, and Gaffney has pulled out all the stops to keep your mental wheels turning.

Hungry for great crosswords? Then feed your brain with these 72 tasty puzzles that feature food-related puns and themes. The menu offers options ranging from easy to more difficult, so there's something for every solver to enjoy. Bon appétit!

The Crosswords Club Collection returns with more of the puzzles enjoyed by the subscribers of the exclusive mail-order service that provides original Sunday-size crosswords. In addition to these special puzzles, there is a unique Answers section, which provides interesting tidbits about each crossword.