This puzzle has interesting properties therackenfracker.com/concerning-d...

Great cause + great puzzles alert: The ORCA Crossword Awards are sending out all 84 nominated puzzles for those who make a donation to @trevorproject.bsky.social. This includes 9 block-style cryptics and 10 variety cryptics, and we're honored to have High Definition and Fantastic Fours in the set. +

If you play with words, you should play Raddle, a top “new thing in 2025” in our books. Our own @dadgumituh.bsky.social contributed another such recommendation for today’s edition: raddle.quest/2025/12/26

The journey we’re always striving for. Happy holidays, Jeff.

How about some board gaming for the holidays? therackenfracker.com/pirate-pirat...

Reminder: This is approximately *half* of the correspondence that goes into writing a year's worth of puzzles.

I have definitions in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and wordplay the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.

Unlike Taylor, we hope you *do* like our little games — therackenfracker.com/unintended-c...

Gnomon issue 4 is coming in one week, with five more variety cryptics. Now featuring more blocks than ever! With puzzles by @longyfan.bsky.social @matttheshirt.bsky.social @therackenfracker.bsky.social and @juffowup.bsky.social

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.

If you like cracking cryptic clues for longer words, this one’s on target. therackenfracker.com/eights-and-n...

We've got a new puzzle and some new slang: therackenfracker.com/sixes-and-se...

Thanks to those who played along for our series of instructionless puzzles. Out of curiosity, how would you feel about ... no grid? therackenfracker.com/fracks-in-fi...

Here's the thing*: therackenfracker.com/fantastic-fo... (* Not actually related to the comic/movie at all, sorry.)

Sometimes we-a give you helpful instructions, but indicia case, we don't. therackenfracker.com/high-c/

Delighted to be back in @avcx.bsky.social with another puzzle, edited by @mossdef.bsky.social. It’s a 15x cryptic with no shenanigans other than, you know, everything. avxwords.com/puzzles/1846/

First full issue of The Gnomon is live now, with five puzzles from @longyfan.bsky.social , @bewilderingly.bsky.social, and @juffowup.bsky.social , and from guest editors @joeadultman.bsky.social and Skaldskaparmal. www.gnomoncryptics.com

A puzzle that will you a clear picture of our cryptic sensibilities: therackenfracker.com/high-definit...

We're thrilled to have provided today's minutecryptic.com clue. We looked to see what solvers thought of our first clue — if they want more of our mischief, they can find it at therackenfracker.com. #minutecryptic

If you found our last puzzle to be a doozy, you'll be happy to hear we've got a fun, fair puzzle for your amusement today — and for once the instructions give you all you'll need to play.

Very happy to have written the clue for today's #minutecryptic (www.minutecryptic.com) — hopefully the first of many of our clues you'll see there. If you're new to us, we've got free puzzles aplenty and even more for subscribers: therackenfracker.com/new-to-you-p...

"These variety cryptics, those instructions can get so long!" We hear you, and we're doing something about it.

Two-puzzle day! Delighted to have worked with our friends at patreon.com/CrypticCrossweird on a timely little variety puzzle, and we decided to commemorate the occasion with an even littler free variety puzzle ...

Face it, solver, you just hit the jackpot. therackenfracker.com/all-cherry-n...

We're very happy to be making our TheBrowser.com debut today with a feisty little cryptic crossword we think you'll enjoy. If you've found us because of The Browser, welcome, and have we got some puzzles for you.

We're back with a tricky conjunction fun variety cryptic: therackenfracker.com/parts-of-spe...

Excited to welcome two new puzzle publications: Cryptic @crossweirdtv.bsky.social and @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social! If you’re reading this, then I assure you these are of interest. We hope to be solving their puzzles for a long time. therackenfracker.com/theyve-got-i...

Today we've got a new free cryptic in our series for cryptic crossword beginners: therackenfracker.com/nerfracker-6/

🚨🚨🚨 new cryptic outlet alert! 🚨🚨🚨 Proud to announce Cryptic Crossweird, a venue for midsized cryptics at $2.50/mo. For launch, we have a special 4-puzzle pack featuring: @fabioethics.bsky.social, @bewilderingly.bsky.social, @joeadultman.bsky.social and us! patreon.com/crypticcross... 💖

A loosely coupled set of two mini's. I love this puzzle!

One last puzzle to send 2024 on its merry way; thanks to all of you who have found us puzzling. therackenfracker.com/downright-tr...

If you're thinking of packing a flask for the holidays, we've got one for you: therackenfracker.com/downright-tr...

New free Nerfracker today — if you want to dip your toes into the cryptic waters, we've got the pool noodles. therackenfracker.com/the-nerfrack...

This month features an even deeper dive into our dirty tricks basket. Feedback welcome!

Trying something different and brand-new today — let us know what you think: therackenfracker.com/downright-tr...

Our newest free puzzle — Nerfracker 4: Nerfs in Paradise therackenfracker.com/nerfracker-4/

We've done jigsaw crosswords before, but never quite like this one: therackenfracker.com/jig-antic/

We promised peculiar crossword grids, and today we've got *pentagons* — plus an easy new online solver! This puzzle is our editor Will Nediger's favorite of the series — a mere 24 clues, but plenty to get lost in. We're excited for you to give it a try!

It's been a big week for national news, from Milwaukee to Delaware, the White House to Capitol Hill. But steel yourself: next Tuesday, you have to deal with the rackenfrackin' pentagon. Do you like puzzles that are as unconventional as their wordplay? Come play with us!

Today's ⭑⭒⭒⭒⭒ difficulty puzzle has a secret answer to discover that's ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ classic:

Run for your lives! It's a new Rackenfracker!

The new @therackenfracker.bsky.social cryptic is really really good and I had a great “aha” moment during it. therackenfracker.com/one-good-tur...

For fans of tricky Rackenfrackers, this spiral puzzle's a corker. So, a cork-screw-er? A corker-screwer? A test of your cork competencies?

A free cryptic with helpers? Don’t mind if we do: therackenfracker.com/nerfracker-3/

Listen, we didn't ask for drumroll or fanfare but once these guys get going, they don't stop. Fall in!

New free (non-variety) cryptic with solver's aids!

Happy ACPT Recovery day to those who celebrated, and extra congrats to third place finisher @bewildering_ly! Will's the editor keeping our Out of Shape variety cryptic series in tip-top shape. ... third place finisher? Y'know, that reminds us of a story: therackenfracker.com/will-nediger...

A small logic-driven cryptic for solvers willing to take leaf of their senses.

The only way to enjoy maximum racking and fracking is if you have a firm foundation in the basics. So for those just getting started or anyone who wants a more modest challenge, we present the first in a series of new puzzles called the Nerfracker therackenfracker.com/nerfracker-1/

New Rackenfracker — wo(v)e is you? therackenfracker.com/weave-only-j...