NYT Crossword Answers for Feb. 29, 2024

Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues

THURSDAY PUZZLE — When solvers open a crossword, whether it’s in print or on a mobile device, they expect to see a blank grid and a list of written clues. They generally don’t expect to see pictures where their words should be, but here we are.

After the initial shock wears off, the questions begin: Why are there pictures in my crossword puzzle? (Because.) Who drew them? (Daniel Savage, an illustrator in Los Angeles.) Are the puzzle editors doing this because I once complained about the Thursday themes? (Probably.)

Despite the unusual clue list, this puzzle by Esha Datta is not hard to solve. The nontheme clues are fair and contain some clever wordplay, but the picture clues still need to be worked out, so there’s some challenge. I think that this crossword would be an excellent first Thursday puzzle for a solver to tackle.

This is Ms. Datta’s second in The Times. Her 2023 debut was the result of her completion of the 10-week Diverse Crossword Constructor Fellowship, which pairs constructors from underrepresented groups with New York Times puzzle editors.

By the way, please make sure your device is updated to the latest version of the New York Times Games app, or print out the puzzle to see it in full. There is a note at the top that says: “This puzzle is intended to have picture clues. If you are solving on an app that hasn’t been updated, you might see a description of the missing image file instead of the intended clue. If you aren’t able to update your app, you can solve online or in print to get the full solving experience.”