Money is tight right now, of course, and we’ve had a few people write us lately to say they can’t afford subscriptions. If you’re struggling but want to solve our puzzles, hit us up any time - [email protected] - and we will happily hook you up free for a year. No questions asked.

Money is tight right now, of course, and we’ve had a few people write us lately to say they can’t afford subscriptions. If you’re struggling but want to solve our puzzles, hit us up any time - [email protected] - and we will happily hook you up free for a year. No questions asked.

If you love cryptics, you’ve probably asked “why aren’t there more, and more fans of them?” The tl;dr is that people can only fall for them if they encounter them, and so first love scales with the publishers. There are precious few; AVCX is a good one. Consider adding their puzzles to your week.

AVCX is an awesome, independent publisher for all kinds of cool #crosswords (including North American #cryptic!), plus variety #puzzles and #trivia 🤓 Try a subscription and/or give one as a gift 🎁

It's a good time to support the good people of AVCX Cryptics, as well as the good people of AVCX in general.

AVCX, the world’s finest puzzles and games service, and an independent media venture, has done some really cool stuff this year! A thread to brag (and to hype our mini subscription drive) …

It’s been lovely to watch all the personal growth and constructing skills developed by our mentees all year! And we couldn’t have done it without all our subscriber support.

AVCX, the world’s finest puzzles and games service, and an independent media venture, has done some really cool stuff this year! A thread to brag (and to hype our mini subscription drive) …

Starting tomorrow, AVCX will be running a mini subscription drive for the fall. We hope to add 100 new subscribers, which will keep us healthy going into next year. If you’re able to spread the word, our thanks!! If you have a platform or outlet where you can plug us, we’ll gladly swap too

Lil AVCX is looking for new and emerging constructors to be a part of our 2026 constructing roster. Deadline for applications is November 14, 2025. Here's the information: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

I've had a go at a puzzle for the American market in @avcx.bsky.social . avxwords.com. Thanks to @francisheaney.bsky.social for getting it in shape. I was advised against too much depressing reality, but was allowed one: Perhaps Trump and Musk supporting introduction of fascism (5)

AI kinda never slops harder than when you try to use it to develop crossword clues

Starting tomorrow, AVCX will be running a mini subscription drive for the fall. We hope to add 100 new subscribers, which will keep us healthy going into next year. If you’re able to spread the word, our thanks!! If you have a platform or outlet where you can plug us, we’ll gladly swap too

This was a really fun conversation. I don’t get too many chance to talk about puzzles as independent media, but I really believe in the point and Phil is a pretty brilliant interlocutor.

@avcx.bsky.social is great for this. You get a PDF emailed to you and you can print it out. The crosswords are excellent! And you get to support indie constructors. 👍

really digging the games on this new daily puzzle site dailybaffle.com (& shoutout @avcx.bsky.social for pointing me to it in their puzzle email today)

switched to these crosswords after canceling my nyt puzzle subscription and have been loving them. I had been worried about finding non-nyt puzzles that are sufficiently challenging, but I’m not worried anymore (they offer puzzles at a variety of difficulty levels). Cancel your NYT sub and get avcx!

Much appreciated!

These are dope actually I really like their Defector crosswords

Support indie crosswords! They’re more fun than the NYT, I promise.

I'm currently typesetting tonight's AVCX+ crossword, by hand, as I have for years. Other companies would call this an inefficiency and automate it. But we still do it this way because we like its human touch, and no corporation can force us otherwise. I like this job. I'd like to keep doing it.

As we move toward our fall subscription drive, we hope you’ll consider supporting us in part bc we are an independent media company. No, crosswords are not as vital as journalism. But yes, all content that we consume matters, and it should be as free as possible from corporate control.

I'm learning Spanish and we had the ano/año talk, which I was well-prepared for thanks to the crossword community 😆 BUT I don't think I ever asked if constructors can't just make sure the cross also uses a Ñ in it? Like AÑO/MAÑANA or something? Would that help? Do constructors do this?

Last winter, AVCX ran a subscription drive to continue funding our expanded puzzle offerings. It worked great! We won’t need to do anything at that scale this year. But we will run a mini-drive this fall to keep the old budget stable. So if you like what we do, please spread the word!

❤️

best crosswords for like 20 years running

In a world where there’s a lot of moral ambiguity as a consumer, AVCX is a place where you can feel good knowing your money goes directly to the labor that makes the puzzles possible. No ads from scammy apps or scummy government agencies. Just great puzzles.

Great puzzles, great causes. I've been a subscriber since the beginning (2012?!) and I'll keep subscribing as long as they're around. You should too.

We doing AVCX love this morning? Good because I love AVCX puzzles every morning afternoon and evening of my life. Great slate of constructors and consistently surprising and engaging themes.

Do you have an AVCX subscription? If not, what are you waiting for?!?!

I tend to avoid American-grid crosswords. But AVCX is one of my exceptions. Their puzzles are consistently fun to solve, and I look forward to each and every one. And! They do a bi-weekly cryptic that always puts a smile on my face. If you’re *at all* interested in crosswords, check them out.

Subscribe to AVCX You like crosswords. Why haven't you done it already?

If you’re a crossword fan who for some reason isn’t subscribed to the best crossword puzzles in the world, please rectify that immediately.

Last winter, AVCX ran a subscription drive to continue funding our expanded puzzle offerings. It worked great! We won’t need to do anything at that scale this year. But we will run a mini-drive this fall to keep the old budget stable. So if you like what we do, please spread the word!

Sorry @avcx.bsky.social but my answer is better. (Great puzzle otherwise though!)

Excited to make my first AVCX Cryptic appearance! Many thanks to Stella Zawitowski for fantastic editing! Just one clue as a teaser: "Tori Spelling making comeback in latest Uno documentary (6)" @avcx.bsky.social avxwords.com/avcx-puzzle-...

@lilavcx.bsky.social is AVCX’s mini crossword, if you’re not familiar with our stuff. And Pao Roy is an amazing constructor, so don’t miss this one. Avxwords.com

Today's puzzle is a 13x10 puzzle from guest constructor Pao Roy entitled "Leading Questions." We think you'll find it more challenging than the average Lil AVCX puzzle, but don't worry, you got this. Any questions?

😇

Definitely solve Rebecca Goldstein’s “X Ratings,” tonight’s Classic puzzle, which is filthy.

Hey in case you didn't get in on this yet, there are now bonus puzzles (including two cryptics edited by me)! Remember: the pride will continue until human rights improve

ada nicolle (@luckyxwords.com) made an absolutely unbelievable piece of art for the symphony series! ive been a fan of hers since she clued HOT DOG BUN as [It's a mouthful, frankly], and cannot be prouder to be hosting her art. check it out: dissonantgrids.blogspot.com/2025/06/intr...

@avcx.bsky.social is among the best in the biz, so I'm absolutely stoked to have another puzzle with them😎. If you're not already subscribed (which, why aren't you???) get it here: avxwords.com/puzzles/1867/

@avcx.bsky.social taking sides (the correct one.)

Appreciate this! We’re an independent puzzle outlet, we send out content almost every day, we don’t harvest your data, we pay creative people fairly, and we are not connected to any (any!) craniometric cults. Subscribe at avxwords.com

There are a billion clones of Wordle on the internet and @avcx.bsky.social will more than satisfy that crossword cravings. You should not be giving NYT a dime.

Appreciate this! We’re an independent puzzle outlet, we send out content almost every day, we don’t harvest your data, we pay creative people fairly, and we are not connected to any (any!) craniometric cults. Subscribe at avxwords.com

@avcx.bsky.social has been my go-to now for a year. They're good and fun!

This is like when my daughter was 6 and would try to give my wife and me riddles to solve.

AI out here talking like a serial killer explaining his letters to the detectives.