The New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle is my favorite game, and it utilizes a set of mechanics that result in dynamics and aesthetics that keep me engaged and make for a more deeply satisfying player experience.
The mechanics of the Sunday puzzle include its specialized cluing styles, artistic grid layout, theme entries with clever wordplay, and rebus squares where players can type multiple letters into a single cell. Unlike other daily puzzles, the Sunday grid presents the unique challenge of requiring solvers to manage a larger interconnected web of answers, and this creates something analogous to what Hunicke, LeBlanc, and Zubek (2004) would describe as “complex, dynamic (and often unpredictable) behavior” (1) for coded systems.
These mechanics lead to dynamics that include answers strategically revealing themselves, the back-and-forth between different sections of the grid that almost feel like clues are talking to each other, and the gradual unlocking of difficult corners as crossing answers provide additional letters and context. An especially interesting dynamic is how the theme and associated elements encourage mental reframing – discovering one theme entry suddenly clears up how to approach the other ones, which can eventually help solve the puzzle. This relates to the paper’s repeating theme of coherence bringing not only the game together but also the player closer to the game.
The resulting aesthetics, according to the paper, deliver fun that could be categorized as “Discovery” (uncharted territory) and “Challenge” (obstacle course). Additionally, the Sunday puzzle uniquely has “Fantasy” (thematic exploration) and “Narrative” (editorial voice). When a clever answer or theme reveals itself after a player’s continued effort, the solver not only gets a glimpse into the game maker’s mind; they also experience a “dramatic tension” – “a rising tension, a release, and a denouement” (3). This keeps them (and me) hooked to the game.
