Editorial policy: how we make our puzzles

Puzzles only work if they're fair. This page explains how every Puzzlenest puzzle and guide is made, checked and corrected.

Our standards

1. One answer. Every puzzle must have exactly one correct solution. A puzzle with two valid answers is a broken puzzle.
2. No guessing. Logic puzzles (sudoku and nonograms) must be solvable by reasoning alone.
3. Everyday language. Answers and clues use words most adults know. No obscure words, slurs, or offensive terms.
4. Original work. Our puzzles, clues and guides are written for Puzzlenest. We don't copy puzzles, clues or answer lists from other publishers, and our games aren't affiliated with any other puzzle brand.

How each game is made

Word Groups

Each puzzle is written from scratch around one tricky group, with deliberate "red herrings" that seem to fit two groups. Before publishing, we test-solve every puzzle and check that no other arrangement of the sixteen words works.

Mini Crossword

Our software fills 5×5 grids from a list of about 3,000 common words, with banned-word and name filters. We then pick the cleanest grids and write a clue for every answer. An automatic check makes sure no clue contains another answer from the same grid.

Word Guess

Answer lists for 4, 5, 6 and 7 letters are built from the most frequently used English words, with obscure words, offensive words and simple plurals removed. A much larger list of valid words is accepted as guesses, so you're never blocked by a real word.

Sudoku and Nonogram

Puzzles are generated by our own code. Each sudoku is run through a solver that confirms exactly one solution. Each nonogram is run through a line-by-line logic solver, and only puzzles it can finish without guessing are used.

Word Ladder and Number Nest

The game finds the shortest possible ladder through everyday words, so the "best possible" score is always achievable. Number Nest targets are built by combining that round's numbers, so every target has an exact answer.

Guides and statistics

Our puzzle guides are written for players, by people who play these games. Numbers we quote, such as letter frequencies or the best starting words, are calculated from the exact word lists our games use, and each guide says when it was last updated. We use software tools, including AI-assisted writing and puzzle-generation tools, to help build puzzles and draft text. Everything is reviewed and tested on the live games before it's published.

Corrections

If you think a puzzle has a mistake, two valid answers, or an unfair clue, please tell us at hello@thepuzzlenest.com. We fix confirmed errors in the next update and note significant changes on our What's new page.

Advertising

Puzzlenest is free because of advertising. Advertisers have no say in our puzzles or guides, and we keep ads separate from the game boards.