How to Build a Crossword Puzzle (That People Actually Want to Play)

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Hey, Good Game

Nate Kadlac, Aaron Kardell, Joseph Rueter

76 episodes

2 weeks ago

Hey, Good Game explores the stories behind your favorite brainy games. Each week, we interview game creators and dig into what it takes to build a successful indie game, how to monetize, and how to get traction.

All content for Hey, Good Game is the property of Nate Kadlac, Aaron Kardell, Joseph Rueter and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

How to Build a Crossword Puzzle (That People Actually Want to Play)

Hey, Good Game

41 minutes

6 months ago

How to Build a Crossword Puzzle (That People Actually Want to Play)

David Steinberg went from submitting crosswords to the New York Times at age 12 to becoming the editorial manager at Andrews McMeel. In this episode, he shares how puzzles captured his imagination, what makes a great daily game, and why accessibility, surprise, and player-first design are key to long-term success. We also dive into how AI, onboarding, and syndication are shaping the future of games for indie developers and solvers alike.

Check out David's Resources:
https://syndication.andrewsmcmeel.com/puzzles/category/puzzles
https://www.gocomics.com

Find David Online:
http://www.customcrossword.com
https://www.xwordinfo.com/Thumbs/?author=David+Steinberg
60 Seconds With David Steinberg

Game Mentions
https://beekeeperlabs.com/crossfire/
https://www.playbalatro.com/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2400510/Dungeons__Degenerate_Gamblers/
https://playthebazaar.com/
https://imsqueezy.com/
https://crosswordfiend.com/

(00:59) - David's Favorite Game Right Now
(02:13) - Discovering Crosswords and Early Inspirations
(03:54) - First Attempts and Early Rejections
(04:46) - Getting Published and Shifting Focus
(06:27) - The Appeal and Evolution of Crosswords
(09:14) - Creating Crosswords: Tools and Tips
(12:56) - Solving Strategies and Tournament Insights
(14:58) - Crossword Tournaments and Competitions
(18:49) - The Future of Crosswords and Puzzle Games
(21:49) - Easy Mode for Friday Crosswords
(22:03) - Evolution of Puzzle Creation
(23:20) - Criteria for Syndicating Puzzles
(25:12) - Measuring Puzzle Success
(27:23) - Surprising Aspects of Syndication
(28:28) - Trends in the Puzzle and Gaming Industry
(33:04) - Merging Comics and Puzzles
(35:42) - AI in Puzzle Creation
(37:29) - Onboarding Players in Puzzle Games

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com