Aries Freestyle August 2024

Aries Freestyle August 2024 - PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | PUZ | Solution (PDF)

While a freestyle crossword doesn't count as a variety puzzle, it's definitely a change-up for me. I haven't written a freestyle puzzle since the end of Aries Freestyle in December 2022, so it's definitely been a while. I hope you're okay with the change of pace. I made sure to go extra-hard on the cluing, so don't think you're getting off easy this month. Hope you enjoy!

The monthly bundles for Aries Rows Garden have been updated to include the August puzzles. And if you'd rather not wait for the monthly bundles, subscriptions are always open. The summer special is still available if you are not a current subscriber too. 

Happy solving! Back next month with something more firmly in the "variety puzzle" category.

Section Eight #2

Section Eight #2 - Harder (PDF) | Easier (PDF) | Solution (PDF)

Back this month with another Section Eight puzzle! These Patrick Berry inventions are a sort of current obsession of mine, and what's frustrating about that is that this format is relatively rare, even among Berry creations. I've exhausted the archive of the Berry Section Eights that ran in the Wall Street Journal since they launched their variety puzzle offerings in 2010, but even that well was already fairly dry - there were only five or six total puzzles included in that archive, including a period of eight (!) years where no Section Eight puzzle ran at all in the Journal. Joon Pahk has run a few of these for his variety service (he dubs them "Eight Tracks"), but other than that...I got nothin'. If anyone can point me to some unknown-to-me treasure trove of Section Eight puzzles - please, hit me up; interesting trades considered. 

From a constructing side of things, as I mentioned last year when I first ran a Section Eight puzzle, these are at the top of the list when it comes to "satisfyingly challenging" puzzle-writing experiences. Perhaps to fill the void of being unable to solve more of these puzzles, I've taken to binge-writing them for a new side project, which [hint-hint] you might hear details about soon. So stay tuned.

These are by nature a *hard* puzzle type, so be warned. There are two difficulty levels offered. The Harder version is the version that is offered in the WSJ - only the outermost Ring answers have known placements and letter counts; for all other Rings you must determine the placement and direction of the answers on your own. The Easier version discloses the direction and length of all answers. Still, I imagine the Easier version would play harder than even a Hardest-level Rows Garden, so don't feel like you're cheating by trying the Easier version, especially if this is your introduction to the format. Either version you try, hope you enjoy the challenge!

Speaking of Rows Gardens, there's one more Tuesday in July so stop by next week when the Monthly Bundles will be updated. 8/1/2024 UPDATE: The July monthly bundle is now available! Subscriptions are always open if you don't want to wait for the Monthly Bundles. 

Happy solving!  

Marching Bands #7

Aries Marching Bands #7 - PDF | JPZ | Solution (PDF) 

Back with another Marching Bands puzzle! These are always fun to make and I hope this one is fun to solve as well. There's a PDF for paper solving and a JPZ for digital solving. To solve online, first download the JPZ and then head over to Crossword Nexus and open the file to use their web interface. 

The archive has been updated: first with the June 2024 monthly bundle; also, the 2024 First Half bundle is now available, and the Full Archive dating from 2014 has been updated with the 2024 First Half puzzles. That full bundle now has over 400 puzzles! Get your hands on a bundle today, and/or subscribe to get weekly puzzles straight to your inbox. The Summer Special is still running for first-time subscribers which can get you some free archive puzzles as a bonus upon subscribing - also makes a great gift for the hardcore puzzler in your life.

Happy solving!  

Twists & Turns #10

Twists & Turns #10 - Standard (PDF) | Harder (PDF) | Standard (JPZ) | Solution (PDF)

Back with another Twists & Turns puzzle! If you've never tried your hand at one of these challenging puzzles, I recommend giving the Standard version a shot. The Harder version lists the Twists clues alphabetically which does ramp up the challenge even more, so fair warning that you're in for a workout. The Standard version is also available in digital JPZ format - first download the JPZ link above, then head over to Crossword Nexus and open the file to solve in their smooth online interface. Either way you solve, hope you enjoy!

If you're interested in more T&Ts, pick up the Twists & Turns puzzle pack from a few years ago - 50% off for a limited time! 

On the Rows Garden front, the May bundle has been posted. Subscriptions are always open for Aries Rows Garden - and if you've been on the fence about subscribing, check out the Summer Special for new subscribers: you'll get three *free* months of archived Rows Gardens if you purchase a 1-Year or 6-Month subscription! For more details and to subscribe, head over to the Subscriptions page.

Happy summer, and happy solving!