Games World of Puzzles
@gamesmagazine.bsky.social
Official news and updates from Games World of Puzzles magazine. Visit us at https://gamesworldofpuzzles.com
If you like the idea of camping in theory, but not in practice, we have a suggestion: Give the “Tents” puzzle on the cover of September’s issue of Games World of Puzzles a try. The puzzle is lots of fun, and the illustration—by Lindsay Archer—is awfully cute!
“The average age of puzzle makers continues to get younger. For a pastime that was always thought to be so guarded and erudite, it is almost—I’d say a good word for it—democratized.” — Sam Ezersky uvamagazine.org/articles/its...
It’s all fun and games: How four UVA alumni helped shape the “golden age” of puzzles. Plus: Play our three UVA-themed games.
How four UVA alumni helped shape the “golden age” of puzzles. Plus: Play our three UVA-themed games.
uvamagazine.org
Looking forward to reading this article!
Jeff 🏳️🌈@tinmanic.bsky.social · 2d agoJust in from my alumni magazine: interviews with Will Shortz (my fellow UVA Law alum) and Sam Ezersky (my fellow UVA undergrad alum), along with two UVA alums who made a word game called Twofer Goofer. It also has some word puzzles. uvamagazine.org/articles/its...
“There are people who are intelligent and then, there are puzzle solvers. Their intelligence comes with a reserve of patience, allowing them to see beyond, in between and underneath the surface.” — Trisha Mukherjee indianexpress.com/article/expr...
Interactive | Why AI can’t beat humans at setting puzzles yet
Meet the setters behind the toughest crossword clues, the art of the perfect ‘aha’ moment, and why technology is not yet a formidable rival to the human mind
indianexpress.com
Thomas L. McDonald reviewed 007 First Light in September’s issue of Games World of Puzzles. As he noted, “All aspects of the game work together to recreate the rising tension and explosive action that has made James Bond so beloved among fans.” Grade? A!
Alex Bellos’s Monday puzzle always gives our mental muscles a good workout. Here’s his latest. See if you can solve it. But, please, no spoilers! www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Can you solve it? The fin-tastic fish puzzle
Can you think in 3D?
theguardian.com
“Once a community is known to be welcoming to queer and trans folks, it attracts more queer and trans folks, and that’s a lot of what’s happened with Magic.” — Arya Karamchandani, a game designer for Wizards of the Coast www.npr.org/2026/08/26/n...
How 'Magic: The Gathering' creates transgender community
Magic: The Gathering, the fantasy card game with over 50 million enthusiasts worldwide, has become an important social outlet for some real people: the transgender community.
npr.org
We’re always delighted to get a fresh batch of “Battleships.” Perhaps that’s because all you need to tackle the solitaire version of this classic paper-and-pencil game are a sharp pencil and a sharper mind. Grab the September issue of Games World of Puzzles and give ’em a shot!
We've been giving students a chance to become everything they can Bee since 1925. Enrolling your school is as easy as A-B-C. Visit https://spellingbee.com/enroll and start your Bee journey today! 🐝
We are so excited to welcome these excellent constructors to the Midwest Crossword team! Sign up today at midwestgridfest.com to secure your spot. Seats are going very fast!
“Beach Bandits benefits from excellent artwork and a lively element of interaction and decision-making. It’s another light, fun entry from Happy Camper.” — Thomas L. McDonald writing in September’s issue of Games World of Puzzles
Check out the Chicago Sun Times today, featuring a puzzle by @kayebrown.bsky.social as a preview for the @midwestcrossword.bsky.social! Registration will sell out soon, we hear chicago.suntimes.com/games/crossw...
Crossword
Solve the clues, down and across.
chicago.suntimes.com
We like to begin each new issue of Games World of Puzzles by tackling Joel Nanni’s “52-Skiddoo.” It’s a good warm up that gets us ready to tackle tougher puzzles. September’s grid includes a particularly apt entry. Have you spotted it yet?
Great news, puzzle lovers: The September issue of Games World of Puzzles is on sale now. In addition to many of our regular puzzles, this issue includes all the crosswords from the 2026 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Grab a copy and start solving!
Alex Bellos’s latest puzzle may leave you feeling nostalgic about old game shows. See if you can solve it, but don’t spoil it for others by revealing the answer. Ready? Get started! www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Can you solve it? A new goat for puzzledom’s GOAT
Take this puzzle by the horns
theguardian.com
“The art is very highly realistic. It’s not cartoony or stylized. It’s all about rendering. You know, make a dragon look like it could come right out of the wall at you.” — Alayna Danner, an illustrator at Magic: The Gathering www.marketplace.org/story/2026/0...
How Magic: The Gathering cards come to life
Meet the professionals behind Magic: The Gathering’s fantastical worlds.
marketplace.org
“The Inside Scoop,” a new puzzle by Shawn Kennedy, combines crossword-style clues, anagrams, and hidden messages. It’s a heck of a lot of fun, too. Grab the August issue of Games World of Puzzles and see if you can solve it!
We couldn’t agree more: “Crosswords have endured in the public eye and in the hearts of puzzlers because of the endless creativity they represent. A clever mind can take a crossword places solvers didn’t expect, challenging and delighting them in equal measure.”
PuzzCulture@puzzculture.bsky.social · 3w agoIn today's post, we look at the world of variety crosswords and explore the many ways constructors put new twists on a familiar format! puzzculture.com/2026/08/11/v...
“I think that people love games and they want to be together.” — Sandy Gunn, co-founder of the Vancouver-based Lucky Tile www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/ar...
New generations of Canadians are obsessed with this centuries-old pastime
Traditionally popular among older generations and in Asian cultures, the centuries-old Chinese game of mahjong has now been drawing fans from a variety of backgrounds.
ctvnews.ca
“Code Crosswords” puzzles combine a little bit of guessing, a little bit of logic, and a whole lot of fun. Joel Nanni’s latest is in the August issue of Games World of Puzzles. Grab a sharp pencil, a good eraser, and get started!
It’s here! 😁😁 The eagle has landed! Already read the lovely interview with @mickhodgkin.bsky.social and the blurbs about the setters! Looking forward to solving - and hearing how others enjoy it too! #cryptic #crossword @unchcrosswords.com
“I’m convinced that only a small minority of gamers now care about how many beautifully lit, ray-traced, frame-injected polygons a machine can fling around.” — Keith Stuart www.theguardian.com/games/2026/a...
The games industry’s obsession with visual fidelity is costing them money and talent
Big developers are discovering that the technical progress of photorealism doesn’t always translate into the creative spark that gives gamers joy – and keeps them playing
theguardian.com
Don’t tell anyone, but… Sometimes we do the puzzles in the Kid Stuff section. Speaking of which, have you seen “Symbol Sudoku” in August’s issue? It’s trickier than it looks. And a lot more fun, too!
“It doesn’t matter if it’s your first Pokémon or your thousandth Pokémon, that little click of the Pokéball will always bring you joy.” — Mairead Ralph www.theguardian.com/games/2026/a...
‘The language of Pokémon is universal’: why fans are still catching ‘em all after 30 years
As Pokémon Go celebrates its 10th anniversary, its devoted players explain how the game has created a vibrant intergenerational community spanning the globe
theguardian.com
“Hopping Mad,” the puzzle on the cover of August’s issue of Games World of Puzzles, is a lot of fun. And the adorable amphibian, drawn by our lead artist Olivia Dreon, just makes it even more enjoyable. If you haven’t tried it yet, leap right in!
Can you solve the latest puzzle presented by Alex Bellos? This one came courtesy of a teen whose got a genuine gift for math. Give it your best shot. And remember: No spoilers! www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Can you solve it? Are you a match for the world’s smartest teen?
A genius puzzle from a teenage genius
theguardian.com
“In crosswords, though, there is no winner. The setter wants the puzzle to be solved. The solver wants to be entertained by the clever, amusing or devious choices a setter has made...” — Alan Connor www.theguardian.com/crosswords/c...
Crossword editor’s desk: what would be the point of an AI puzzle?
Some reassurance that our puzzles are created by flesh-and-blood setters – and your clues for the name of Brockwell’s dog
theguardian.com
“Hitori” has been a real hit around here. Like the best logic puzzles, the underlying idea is so simple that it’s elegant. But figuring out which cells in these 8×8 grids should be shaded isn’t so easy. Grab a copy of the August’s Games World of Puzzles and give ’em a try!
AVCX crosswords *do not* treat the letter N as equivalent to Ñ (bc they are different). If you’ve got NIÑO going across, it can’t be PIANO down, it has to be ARAÑA etc. And if you have ANO in the grid, it’s getting clued as “Acapulco Anus,” not “Spanish year.” Need to put this in our spec sheet
