About CrosswordGuru
A small magazine for the modern crossword lover. We write about the puzzles you actually play, the people who make them, and the strange, durable culture that has grown up around the daily word grid.
CrosswordGuru is an independent publication launched in 2026 to do one thing well: cover the world of crossword and word puzzles with the seriousness that magazines like The Atlantic and Wired bring to their beats. Reviews, news, long features, strategy guides, and the occasional irreverent take. No SEO sludge. No sponsored content disguised as editorial. No “top 10” articles that aren’t actually ranked by anything.
We’re built around a simple question: does this puzzle deserve your morning? Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is “only until they fix the new ad load.” Sometimes the answer is “only if you have nine more minutes than the Mini gives you.” We try to be honest about all three.
What we cover
We publish in five sections, each anchored by an editor:
- News — What’s actually happening in the crossword world. App launches, format experiments, record breakers, the small dramas that the daily-puzzle crowd argues about on Twitter. Edited by Daniel Voss.
- Reviews — Honest, slow, played-it-for-a-month verdicts on every word puzzle worth your time. Edited by Priya Anand.
- Guides — Practical, sometimes ruthless solving advice. How to read a clue, how to spot a theme, how to stop dying on Thursday. Edited by Priya Anand.
- Culture — The history, the people, and the ideas behind the world’s most enduring word puzzle. From Margaret Farrar to TikTok constructors. Edited by Margaux Chen.
- Best Of — Lists we’d actually defend. Updated when something actually changes. Edited by Sam Wojcik.
Who we are
CrosswordGuru is run by a small team of four working editors. We are crossword players first and writers second — every member of the team has a daily-puzzle streak above 500 days, which is either a credential or a small embarrassment depending on how you look at it.
Long features on the people and ideas behind word puzzles. Previously at The Atlantic and Wired. Current solving streak: 1,847 days.
Covers the small-but-loud world of crossword news. Previously on the games desk at Polygon and Eurogamer. Wordle starter word: TRACE.
App reviews, themed puzzles, the occasional cryptic. Previously at The Verge. Constructed themed grids for The Inkubator before joining us.
Writes the lists, tests the apps, deletes the apps. Previously a contributing editor at Wirecutter. Has installed approximately 200 phone games since 2022.
How we work
Every review on this site is based on at least 30 days of regular use of the product being covered. We do not accept paid placements, sponsored reviews, or affiliate-driven “best of” listings. Our editorial process is described in detail in our editorial policy.
Get in touch
News tips, corrections, story pitches, and complaints about our Wordle starter-word rankings can all go to [email protected]. We read everything. We respond to most things.
For specific desks, you can reach editors directly at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
Welcome to the magazine.