‘The Pyrotechnics of Puzzles:’ How NYT Games Are Made

Overview

This episode dives into the creative process behind The New York Times Games, featuring insights from editors Wyna Liu, Joel Fagliano, and Sam Ezersky. They discuss the art of puzzle-making, the philosophy of game design, and the balance between challenge and accessibility in games like the Crossword, Spelling Bee, and Connections.

Notable Quotes

- Cheating is great. Looking at the answers is great. – Wyna Liu, on the value of learning through solving puzzles.

- It's your puzzle. Solve it however you like. – Sam Ezersky, emphasizing the personal nature of puzzle-solving.

- Unpredictable, playful, and solvable—those are the hallmarks of a good puzzle. – Joel Fagliano, on what makes a game engaging.

🧩 The Philosophy of Puzzle-Solving

- Wyna Liu shared her evolution from avoiding cheating to embracing it as a learning tool, encouraging solvers to look up answers to improve.

- Sam Ezersky emphasized that there’s no universal definition of cheating, as puzzles are meant to be solved in ways that feel satisfying to the individual.

- Joel Fagliano highlighted the communal aspect of puzzles, noting that solving with others can enhance the experience and foster learning.

📜 Becoming a Puzzle Editor

- All three editors began as puzzle enthusiasts who submitted their own crosswords to The New York Times.

- Joel Fagliano started in high school, eventually landing an internship with Will Shortz after cold-emailing him.

- Wyna Liu humorously recounted how a crush on someone solving crosswords led her to the puzzle world, culminating in her role as an editor.

- Sam Ezersky described his early fascination with puzzle patterns and his journey into the niche community of puzzle creators.

🛠️ Crafting the Perfect Puzzle

- The team receives over 150 crossword submissions weekly, which are rigorously reviewed and edited for accuracy, difficulty, and creativity.

- Difficulty is tailored to specific days: Mondays are straightforward, while Saturdays are designed to be challenging.

- Wyna Liu explained the importance of balancing tough clues with easier crossings to ensure fairness and solvability.

- For Spelling Bee, Sam Ezersky curates puzzles by selecting engaging letter combinations and deciding which words are acceptable, a process he described as both data-driven and subjective.

🎮 What Makes a Good Game?

- Sam Ezersky stressed the importance of a sense of accomplishment, where solvers feel rewarded for their efforts.

- Joel Fagliano highlighted unpredictability and playfulness, noting that human-created puzzles carry a unique spark that auto-generated ones lack.

- Wyna Liu underscored the value of humor and connection, emphasizing that puzzles are a form of communication between creators and solvers.

🐦 Controversies and Feedback

- The editors discussed debates over word inclusions, such as Loris in Wordle and niche bird names in Spelling Bee, reflecting the subjective nature of language.

- Family and friends often provide unsolicited feedback, ranging from complaints about difficulty to suggestions for new words. Joel Fagliano noted that this feedback is part of the fun and helps improve the games.

- Wyna Liu shared how her parents support her work in unique ways, like wearing Connections-themed merchandise, even though they don’t play the games themselves.