Gameplay|Puzzle Mania 2022: Contest Rules, Clues and Answers
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Here’s everything you need to know about our special print puzzle section.
By New York Times Games
Welcome to the seventh year of Puzzle Mania, the annual section of The New York Times that entertains long past its cover date. This year you’ll need extra time to solve the Super Mega crossword, by Joel fa*gliano, which is larger than ever before. It has a whopping 782 entries. The grid alone takes up three newspaper pages. Accompanying the crossword are seven minipuzzles by the composer/quizzicist Greg Pliska. Together, the crossword and the minipuzzles are like a treasure hunt or an escape room in newspaper form. Solve everything, and then follow the directions to get a “meta-answer.” Email that to us at crosswordcontest@nytimes.com for a chance to win $1,000. Your deadline is Jan. 7 at 11:59 p.m.
Elsewhere in this issue are seven other variety puzzles and a Super Seven Search by yours truly on the front page. Hope seven is your lucky number!
— Will Shortz
Puzzle Mania F.A.Q.
What is Puzzle Mania?
Puzzle Mania is an annual special puzzle section in the print edition of the Sunday paper. It includes Sudoku, a Cryptic Crossword, word games, visual puzzles and more.
The centerpiece of the section is the Super Mega Crossword, a huge crossword that is more than four times the size of the daily crossword. This year, the puzzle is a whopping 67 squares wide by 41 squares tall.
The section also includes a contest that requires finishing the mammoth of a puzzle and the corresponding minipuzzles.
What is the Puzzle Mania contest?
Solve the Super Mega Crossword and the seven minipuzzles on the accompanying page. Combine the highlighted answers (and their clues) with the answers to the minipuzzles. Then follow the instructions to get a final answer. Send that to crosswordcontest@nytimes.com for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card or “The New York Times Mega Book of Sunday Crosswords: 500 Puzzles”
The deadline is Jan. 7 at 11:59 p.m.
Where can I get Puzzle Mania?
If you are a print subscriber, the section should arrive in your Sunday paper.
If you are not a print subscriber, you can buy Puzzle Mania either:
Wherever you can buy a New York Times Sunday paper on Dec. 18.
From The New York Times Store starting Dec. 19.
Super Mega Clues
Because our Super Mega is so big this year, the clues are on a separate solving sheet. If you need access to the clues in another format or have lost your slip sheet, you can access the clues here:
How to solve the biggest crossword you’ve ever solved
Puzzle Mania’s Super Mega may look overwhelming, but you’ve got this. Here are our top tips for a successful solve:
See more on: The New York Times
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