Luke K. Schreiber mixes business with leisure.
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WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Despite what you might have been led to believe, solving crossword puzzles is supposed to be fun. Relaxing, even! I know that some grids can be challenging to the point of utter frustration — I break out into a sweat whenever I see Sam Ezersky’s byline on a Saturday puzzle — but their joyful intention remains pure.
In today’s crossword, Luke K. Schreiber has layered one soothing diversion onto another. His theme hinges on a rather tranquil video game whose popularity peaked in 2020, when it served as a form of escapism from the doom and gloom of the daily news cycle. Today, thanks to Mr. Schreiber’s clever puzzle, we get to experience its gentle joy in a whole new way.
Today’s Theme
The animal kingdom is well represented in this grid, and for good reason: Every species in this puzzle is part of a certain [Nintendo video game series suggested by every answer running through this one?] at 14D, which is ANIMAL CROSSING.
But we’re not finished yet — that question mark in the revealer clue means there’s wordplay afoot. Each of the letters in the entry ANIMAL CROSSING is intersected by an Across entry that names a kind of animal: ANTEATER at 14A, NEMATODE at 17A, GUINEA PIG at 18A, CLAM at 22A and so on.
I’ve never played Animal Crossing, but I did spend several weeks immersed in the burbly nonsense language that its characters use, which is my own brand of diversion.
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Source: Elections - nytimes.com
