Santa’s given us a Phi on Christmas Day!
Independent
Independent 12,234 / eimi
Our Christmas Eve cryptic challenge has been set by eimi, perhaps better known to many for his general knowledge puzzles in the i at the weekend. It has been a while since I have solved one of his cryptics, and I am wondering if there is any significance in his name being spelt with a lower-case “e”, both alongside the puzzle and in the clue at 6.
Independent 12233 / Atrica
An Atrica puzzle concludes my Independent blogs for 2025.
Independent 12,232 by Bard
I've not done many Bard puzzles before, so it took me a while to get into the mindset. The grid was unusual with 4 longer double word clues around the perimeter.
Independent on Sunday 1,869/Filbert
Filbert’s crosswords are meticulously clued, and the surfaces are carefully crafted too. This means that often there are multi-part constructions, so while solving is always a challenge, parsing is even more so. Some … Read more >>
Independent 12,231 by Quince
Firstly, thanks to Duncan and miserableoldhack for standing in for us recently. We now have a puzzle by Quince to blog.
Independent 12,230 by Tees
Tees is in the Friday slot this week.
Independent 12,229 / Coot
Coot has provided this Thursday’s teaser. I haven’t blogged many of his puzzles, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect today.
Independent 12228 / Crosophile
Regular Independent setters are not in their usual place this week, so we have a Crosophile puzzle this Wednesday.
Independent 12,227 by Phi
Phi ventures out of his usual Friday schedule to set today’s challenge.
Independent 12,226/Hoskins
Harry has compiled the Monday crossword for Indy readers in trademark fashion.
Independent on Sunday 1,868 by Filbert
Thank you to Filbert. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Independent 12,225 by Tack
The puzzle is available to solve online or download here.
Independent 12,224 / Phi
Phi’s latest puzzle marks the transition from working week into weekend for many of us solvers and bloggers.
Independent 12223 / Mev
Mev is an infrequent Independent setter. The last puzzle by Mev on fifteensquared was back in August this year.