Time well misspent.

The Rackenfracker publishes US variety cryptic crosswords by dadgumituh and jmsr525, whose puzzles have also appeared in Out of Left Field and AVCX. Subscribe today to get an exclusive puzzle emailed to your inbox every month, as well as free puzzles as we release them. Plus, you'll always be able to get the last four months of exclusive puzzles on the website.

We only email you when we have a new puzzle — we'll put links to our latest shop talk posts and other news in those puzzle emails, and we always announce everything as it happens on Twitter @rackenfracker.

Out of Shape

Right now, subscribers are receiving puzzles from Out of Shape, which grafts cryptic clues onto some classic (and original!) crossword gimmicks to create some mind-bending, and possibly page-bending, grids. You can try a free puzzle here.

What are solvers saying?

“What a feat! This was so much fun — challenging but accessible. So many levels! It must have been quite a task to create, but … MORE PLEASE! Looking forward to the next.” — Cathy Bowen, subscriber

Just solved this #cryptic and wow! Even though this theme wasn’t in my pop culture wheelhouse, the solve and aha moment were still super enjoyable. https://t.co/Gc1bpifUFZ
— Nate Cardin (he/him) 🏳️‍🌈 (@naytnaytnayt) August 23, 2022

“No one does reveals quite like The Rackenfracker. ... It’s a challenge, but isn’t that what you really want?” — Aaron Riccio, The Crossword Scholar

Best crossword I've ever solved! Took over seven hours, a delight the entire time. https://t.co/eAroLf6jhW
— Gennady Gorin (@GorinGennady) August 29, 2023

Puzzles for Everyone

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Out of Shape

What are solvers saying?

Puzzles for Everyone

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