The Rackenfracker
@therackenfracker.bsky.social
Variety puzzles and cryptic diversions.
If you love cryptics, you’ve probably asked “why aren’t there more, and more fans of them?” The tl;dr is that people can only fall for them if they encounter them, and so first love scales with the publishers. There are precious few; AVCX is a good one. Consider adding their puzzles to your week.
AVCX, the world’s finest puzzles and games service, and an independent media venture, has done some really cool stuff this year! A thread to brag (and to hype our mini subscription drive) …
October 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
If you love cryptics, you’ve probably asked “why aren’t there more, and more fans of them?” The tl;dr is that people can only fall for them if they encounter them, and so first love scales with the publishers. There are precious few; AVCX is a good one. Consider adding their puzzles to your week.
If you like cracking cryptic clues for longer words, this one’s on target. therackenfracker.com/eights-and-n...
Eights and Nines
Our attempt at a slightly easier hard puzzle — bulls***! (You’ll have to decide whether it’s an “eye” or a “hit.”)
therackenfracker.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
If you like cracking cryptic clues for longer words, this one’s on target. therackenfracker.com/eights-and-n...
We've got a new puzzle and some new slang: therackenfracker.com/sixes-and-se...
Sixes and Sevens
Middle schoolers are going nuts right now.
therackenfracker.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
We've got a new puzzle and some new slang: therackenfracker.com/sixes-and-se...
Thanks to those who played along for our series of instructionless puzzles. Out of curiosity, how would you feel about ... no grid? therackenfracker.com/fracks-in-fi...
Fracks in Five
If you think our puzzles defy categorization, well, let's hope you're wrong this time.
therackenfracker.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Thanks to those who played along for our series of instructionless puzzles. Out of curiosity, how would you feel about ... no grid? therackenfracker.com/fracks-in-fi...
Here's the thing*: therackenfracker.com/fantastic-fo... (* Not actually related to the comic/movie at all, sorry.)
Fantastic Fours
When it's your turn, it's 90°.
therackenfracker.com
July 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Here's the thing*: therackenfracker.com/fantastic-fo... (* Not actually related to the comic/movie at all, sorry.)
Sometimes we-a give you helpful instructions, but indicia case, we don't. therackenfracker.com/high-c/
High ©
A gimmick that's got it where it counts.
therackenfracker.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Sometimes we-a give you helpful instructions, but indicia case, we don't. therackenfracker.com/high-c/
Delighted to be back in @avcx.bsky.social with another puzzle, edited by @mossdef.bsky.social. It’s a 15x cryptic with no shenanigans other than, you know, everything. avxwords.com/puzzles/1846/
Puzzle – AVCXTwitterFacebookTwitterFacebook
avxwords.com
June 12, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Delighted to be back in @avcx.bsky.social with another puzzle, edited by @mossdef.bsky.social. It’s a 15x cryptic with no shenanigans other than, you know, everything. avxwords.com/puzzles/1846/
Reposted by The Rackenfracker
First full issue of The Gnomon is live now, with five puzzles from @longyfan.bsky.social , @bewilderingly.bsky.social, and @juffowup.bsky.social , and from guest editors @joeadultman.bsky.social and Skaldskaparmal.
www.gnomoncryptics.com
www.gnomoncryptics.com
The Gnomon
Variety cryptic crosswords
www.gnomoncryptics.com
June 1, 2025 at 12:28 PM
First full issue of The Gnomon is live now, with five puzzles from @longyfan.bsky.social , @bewilderingly.bsky.social, and @juffowup.bsky.social , and from guest editors @joeadultman.bsky.social and Skaldskaparmal.
www.gnomoncryptics.com
www.gnomoncryptics.com
A puzzle that will you a clear picture of our cryptic sensibilities:
therackenfracker.com/high-definit...
therackenfracker.com/high-definit...
High Definition
Today's puzzle is HDMI*-compatible. (*Handleable despite missing instructions.)
therackenfracker.com
May 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A puzzle that will you a clear picture of our cryptic sensibilities:
therackenfracker.com/high-definit...
therackenfracker.com/high-definit...
We're thrilled to have provided today's minutecryptic.com clue. We looked to see what solvers thought of our first clue — if they want more of our mischief, they can find it at therackenfracker.com. #minutecryptic
April 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM
We're thrilled to have provided today's minutecryptic.com clue. We looked to see what solvers thought of our first clue — if they want more of our mischief, they can find it at therackenfracker.com. #minutecryptic
If you found our last puzzle to be a doozy, you'll be happy to hear we've got a fun, fair puzzle for your amusement today — and for once the instructions give you all you'll need to play.
High Roller
Step right up.
therackenfracker.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
If you found our last puzzle to be a doozy, you'll be happy to hear we've got a fun, fair puzzle for your amusement today — and for once the instructions give you all you'll need to play.
Very happy to have written the clue for today's #minutecryptic (www.minutecryptic.com) — hopefully the first of many of our clues you'll see there. If you're new to us, we've got free puzzles aplenty and even more for subscribers: therackenfracker.com/new-to-you-p...
New-to-You Puzzles
We'd like to introduce Browser subscribers to the puzzles of the Rackenfracker, and Rackenfracker subscribers to our new puzzle in The Browser!
therackenfracker.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Very happy to have written the clue for today's #minutecryptic (www.minutecryptic.com) — hopefully the first of many of our clues you'll see there. If you're new to us, we've got free puzzles aplenty and even more for subscribers: therackenfracker.com/new-to-you-p...
"These variety cryptics, those instructions can get so long!" We hear you, and we're doing something about it.
High Stakes
😬
therackenfracker.com
March 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
"These variety cryptics, those instructions can get so long!" We hear you, and we're doing something about it.
Two-puzzle day! Delighted to have worked with our friends at patreon.com/CrypticCrossweird on a timely little variety puzzle, and we decided to commemorate the occasion with an even littler free variety puzzle ...
March 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Two-puzzle day! Delighted to have worked with our friends at patreon.com/CrypticCrossweird on a timely little variety puzzle, and we decided to commemorate the occasion with an even littler free variety puzzle ...
Face it, solver, you just hit the jackpot. therackenfracker.com/all-cherry-n...
All Cherry, No Lemon
Katy, BAR BAR BAR the door — there's trickiness afoot.
therackenfracker.com
February 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Face it, solver, you just hit the jackpot. therackenfracker.com/all-cherry-n...
We're very happy to be making our TheBrowser.com debut today with a feisty little cryptic crossword we think you'll enjoy. If you've found us because of The Browser, welcome, and have we got some puzzles for you.
New-to-You Puzzles
We'd like to introduce Browser subscribers to the puzzles of the Rackenfracker, and Rackenfracker subscribers to our new puzzle in The Browser!
therackenfracker.com
February 16, 2025 at 12:24 PM
We're very happy to be making our TheBrowser.com debut today with a feisty little cryptic crossword we think you'll enjoy. If you've found us because of The Browser, welcome, and have we got some puzzles for you.
We're back with a tricky conjunction fun variety cryptic: therackenfracker.com/parts-of-spe...
Parts of Speech
A noun-verbed puzzle that will verb pronoun verb, "Exclamation!"
therackenfracker.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
We're back with a tricky conjunction fun variety cryptic: therackenfracker.com/parts-of-spe...
Excited to welcome two new puzzle publications: Cryptic @crossweirdtv.bsky.social and @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social! If you’re reading this, then I assure you these are of interest. We hope to be solving their puzzles for a long time. therackenfracker.com/theyve-got-i...
They’ve Got It (The Right Stuff)
Welcoming the new kids on the block.
therackenfracker.com
January 24, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Excited to welcome two new puzzle publications: Cryptic @crossweirdtv.bsky.social and @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social! If you’re reading this, then I assure you these are of interest. We hope to be solving their puzzles for a long time. therackenfracker.com/theyve-got-i...
Today we've got a new free cryptic in our series for cryptic crossword beginners: therackenfracker.com/nerfracker-6/
Nerfracker #6
Simple … you need to obtain a gold coin (10)
therackenfracker.com
January 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Today we've got a new free cryptic in our series for cryptic crossword beginners: therackenfracker.com/nerfracker-6/
Reposted by The Rackenfracker
🚨🚨🚨 new cryptic outlet alert! 🚨🚨🚨
Proud to announce Cryptic Crossweird, a venue for midsized cryptics at $2.50/mo. For launch, we have a special 4-puzzle pack featuring: @fabioethics.bsky.social, @bewilderingly.bsky.social, @joeadultman.bsky.social and us!
patreon.com/crypticcross...
💖
Proud to announce Cryptic Crossweird, a venue for midsized cryptics at $2.50/mo. For launch, we have a special 4-puzzle pack featuring: @fabioethics.bsky.social, @bewilderingly.bsky.social, @joeadultman.bsky.social and us!
patreon.com/crypticcross...
💖
January 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
🚨🚨🚨 new cryptic outlet alert! 🚨🚨🚨
Proud to announce Cryptic Crossweird, a venue for midsized cryptics at $2.50/mo. For launch, we have a special 4-puzzle pack featuring: @fabioethics.bsky.social, @bewilderingly.bsky.social, @joeadultman.bsky.social and us!
patreon.com/crypticcross...
💖
Proud to announce Cryptic Crossweird, a venue for midsized cryptics at $2.50/mo. For launch, we have a special 4-puzzle pack featuring: @fabioethics.bsky.social, @bewilderingly.bsky.social, @joeadultman.bsky.social and us!
patreon.com/crypticcross...
💖
Reposted by The Rackenfracker
A loosely coupled set of two mini's. I love this puzzle!
January 2, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A loosely coupled set of two mini's. I love this puzzle!
One last puzzle to send 2024 on its merry way; thanks to all of you who have found us puzzling. therackenfracker.com/downright-tr...
Downright Tricky #4
By March, nearly got blood from stone (6)
therackenfracker.com
December 31, 2024 at 3:21 PM
One last puzzle to send 2024 on its merry way; thanks to all of you who have found us puzzling. therackenfracker.com/downright-tr...
If you're thinking of packing a flask for the holidays, we've got one for you: therackenfracker.com/downright-tr...
Downright Tricky #3
10/10 civil government exam? (8)
therackenfracker.com
November 26, 2024 at 4:02 PM
If you're thinking of packing a flask for the holidays, we've got one for you: therackenfracker.com/downright-tr...
New free Nerfracker today — if you want to dip your toes into the cryptic waters, we've got the pool noodles. therackenfracker.com/the-nerfrack...
The Nerfracker #5
Baseball player is sorta bad (5)
therackenfracker.com
November 8, 2024 at 5:36 PM
New free Nerfracker today — if you want to dip your toes into the cryptic waters, we've got the pool noodles. therackenfracker.com/the-nerfrack...
This month features an even deeper dive into our dirty tricks basket. Feedback welcome!
Downright Tricky #2
Return unopened letter? (5)
therackenfracker.com
October 29, 2024 at 3:02 PM
This month features an even deeper dive into our dirty tricks basket. Feedback welcome!