Wall Street Journal puzzles are a collection of word games, crosswords, and other brain challenges published by The Wall Street Journal. Visit the official WSJ Puzzles page to explore available games. You can also sharpen your skills with the original practice puzzles and solutions below.
What Are Wall Street Journal Puzzles?
Wall Street Journal puzzles are designed for readers who enjoy wordplay, deduction, and problem-solving. The collection includes crosswords and a range of other puzzle formats, including larger weekend and specialty challenges. The official offerings and access requirements may vary, so consult the WSJ website for the latest details.
Unlike a simple trivia quiz, a well-constructed puzzle often asks you to recognize a pattern, interpret a clue in an unexpected way, or combine several pieces of information to reach a defensible answer.
This guide covers:
- Where to find official Wall Street Journal puzzles.
- How to approach different puzzle formats.
- Original practice puzzles ranging from easy to challenging.
- Hints, answers, and explanations to help you learn as you solve.
The practice challenges below are independently written examples. They are not official WSJ puzzles and are not copied from the newspaper.
Where Can You Play Wall Street Journal Puzzles?
1. Official WSJ Puzzles website
Start with the WSJ Puzzles page . It is the primary destination for exploring the newspaper’s online puzzle offerings.
Best for: finding official games and current puzzle instructions.
2. Daily and weekend crosswords
WSJ crossword offerings include weekday puzzles and larger weekend challenges. The newspaper’s crossword editor’s published specifications describe the traditional 15-by-15 weekday format and 21-by-21 Saturday grid. Check the current schedule on the official site.
Best for: word knowledge, clue interpretation, and themed solving.
3. Specialty and variety puzzles
Depending on the current offering, WSJ puzzle collections can include cryptic or other word puzzles and number-based challenges. Read each game’s instructions before starting.
Access tip: Some WSJ content or features may require a subscription. Check the official puzzle page for current availability, access terms, and instructions rather than assuming every game is free.
How to Solve Wall Street Journal Puzzles More Effectively
You do not need to know every answer immediately. A reliable method is to make progress where the evidence is strongest, then use that progress to solve the harder parts.
1. Start with the most approachable clues
In a crossword, fill in answers you recognize confidently. Short answers and familiar expressions can give you useful crossing letters.
2. Look for the puzzle’s theme
If several answers seem unusually related, consider whether the connection is part of a larger pattern. In a themed puzzle, the theme may be more important than any single clue.
3. Separate evidence from guesses
Write down what you know and distinguish it from what you suspect. In a logic puzzle, one incorrect assumption can make every later deduction unreliable.
4. Read every instruction carefully
Specialty puzzles may change how letters, numbers, or grid entries work. Do not assume a puzzle follows ordinary crossword or Sudoku rules without checking.
5. Use hints before full solutions
Give yourself time to think. If you get stuck, reveal a hint, reconsider the clues, and consult the complete answer only when necessary.
6. Review why the solution works
A correct answer is more useful when you understand the reasoning behind it. Recognizing a repeated clue pattern or logical technique can help with future puzzles.
Original Wall Street Journal–Style Practice Puzzles
Ready to test your skills? These five original puzzles use familiar wordplay, number patterns, and deduction techniques. They are inspired by broad puzzle-solving conventions, not by any particular WSJ puzzle.
Can you solve all five?
Enter your answers, or reveal hints one at a time.
Puzzle 1 The Disappearing Length
Difficulty: Easy
Easy
I become shorter the more you use me. I leave marks behind, and I can fit in a pencil case. What am I?
Show hint Reveal answer
Puzzle 2 The Growing Gap
Difficulty: Medium
Medium
What number comes next: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, __?
Show hint Reveal answer
Puzzle 3 The Meeting Schedule
Difficulty: Medium
Medium
A meeting starts at 10:35 a.m. and lasts 1 hour 45 minutes. It ends on the same day. What time does it finish?
Show hint Reveal answer
Puzzle 4 The Letter Shift
Difficulty: Medium
Medium
Change one letter at a time to turn COLD into WARM. Every intermediate step must be a valid English word, and each step must change exactly one letter.
Show hint Reveal answer
Puzzle 5 The Three Boxes
Difficulty: Hard
Hard
Three closed boxes contain only apples, only oranges, or a mixture of apples and oranges. Their labels say APPLES, ORANGES, and MIXED, but every label is wrong. You may take one fruit from one box without looking inside. Which labeled box should you choose to identify all three boxes?
Show hint Reveal answer
Check my practice answers Reset practice session
How to Choose the Right Puzzle Difficulty
Not every puzzle requires the same kind of thinking. Use this guide to select a challenge that suits your mood and experience.
| Difficulty | What to expect | Recommended approach |
| Easy | Familiar clues and straightforward patterns | Solve independently before checking hints |
| Medium | Several steps or a less obvious connection | Write down possibilities and eliminate errors |
| Hard | Multiple constraints or an unexpected rule | Track each deduction systematically |
For crossword enthusiasts, the difficulty of a puzzle is not determined only by vocabulary. Themes, unusual clue constructions, and the need to infer an additional answer can make a familiar-looking grid more challenging.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Guessing too early: An answer that fits one clue may conflict with crossing letters or another condition.
- Ignoring instructions: Specialty puzzles can have rules that differ from ordinary word games.
- Treating every pattern as unique: Number sequences sometimes allow multiple mathematical continuations. A good puzzle should provide enough context to support its intended answer.
- Looking up answers too soon: A small hint may be enough to get moving again.
- Skipping the explanation: Understanding the logic helps you recognize similar techniques later.
Are Wall Street Journal Puzzles Worth Trying?
If you enjoy crosswords, wordplay, and structured reasoning, WSJ puzzles offer several ways to challenge yourself. The mix of crossword formats and specialty puzzles can appeal to both regular solvers and people who want an occasional mental break.
They are also a useful opportunity to practice patience and systematic thinking. You do not need to finish every puzzle quickly to benefit from it; working through a difficult clue and understanding the final solution can be rewarding in its own right.
For the most accurate information about current games, schedules, and access, use the official WSJ Puzzles page .
FAQs
What are Wall Street Journal puzzles?
Wall Street Journal puzzles are word games, crosswords, and other brain challenges associated with The Wall Street Journal. They include traditional crossword solving and specialty formats. Visit the official WSJ Puzzles page to check the current selection.
Where can I play Wall Street Journal puzzles online?
You can start at the official WSJ Puzzles website . Browse the available games and follow the instructions for the puzzle you want to play. Access conditions may vary by game, so check the site’s current terms.
Are Wall Street Journal puzzles free?
Availability depends on the particular puzzle and the access terms in effect. Some puzzle experiences may be accessible without a paid subscription, while other WSJ content or features may require one. Check the official website for the current requirements before subscribing.
Does the Wall Street Journal have a daily crossword?
The Wall Street Journal has a well-established crossword program featuring weekday puzzles and a larger weekend crossword. Its offerings and schedule should be confirmed on the official puzzle page, particularly if you are looking for a specific day’s challenge or a specialty puzzle.
How difficult are WSJ crossword puzzles?
Difficulty varies with the clues, theme, vocabulary, and puzzle format. Straightforward clues can help beginners get started, while complex wordplay and thematic twists may require more experience. The best way to improve is to solve consistently and learn from explanations.
Does the WSJ crossword have a Friday contest?
The WSJ crossword has historically featured a Friday contest puzzle with an additional answer to deduce from the completed grid or its theme. Contest conditions and submission deadlines can change, so consult the official puzzle page for current rules.
Can I print Wall Street Journal puzzles?
Printable options have been offered for WSJ crosswords. Whether a downloadable version is available depends on the particular puzzle and current website features. Open the puzzle’s official page and look for printing or PDF options before assuming that every game can be printed.
What should I do when I get stuck on a crossword?
Start with the clues you can answer confidently, then use the crossing letters to narrow down the remaining entries. Reconsider ambiguous clues, look for theme connections, and use a hint if necessary. Reviewing the explanation afterward can help you solve similar clues faster.
Are the practice puzzles on this page official WSJ puzzles?
No. The five practice puzzles in this article are independently written examples designed to teach general puzzle-solving techniques. They are not published by, affiliated with, or reproduced from The Wall Street Journal. Visit the official WSJ website for its own puzzles.
Are there alternatives to Wall Street Journal puzzles?
Yes. You can explore independent crossword collections, number puzzles, logic games, and word challenges from other publishers. Compare the available formats and access terms to find a suitable alternative. If you want to recreate the solving experience, start with original puzzles that offer hints and clear explanations.
Conclusion
Wall Street Journal puzzles combine wordplay, crosswords, and other challenges that reward careful thinking. Whether you prefer familiar crossword clues or more demanding logic problems, the best approach is to start with what you know, use hints strategically, and review the reasoning behind each solution.
Try the original practice puzzles in this guide before moving to the official collection. If you discover a technique that works particularly well, share the challenge with a friend and compare your approaches. For your next step, explore a dedicated collection of crossword-solving tips or beginner logic puzzles to build confidence and tackle increasingly complex challenges.
Ryan Mitchell is a writer and puzzlesmith who crafts engaging brainteasers, logic puzzles and interactive word games for Puzzlenexa.com. With a deep passion for problem solving, his work focuses on challenging readers, encouraging critical thinking and making complex puzzles accessible and fun for all skill levels.