Ryan Judge Returns With 6th NYT Saturday Crossword, Packing 2011 Emoji Clue and Slow-Burn Puns
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 18
Ryan Judge Returns With 6th NYT Saturday Crossword, Packing 2011 Emoji Clue and Slow-Burn Puns
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 18
Summary
Ryan Judge’s first New York Times puzzle of 2026 is his sixth Saturday grid, and the review calls it an inventive, crunchy themeless crossword with strong puns and tricky trivia.
Several clues hinge on misdirection, including 30-Across for EMOJI KEYBOARD — framed as a smartphone feature that debuted worldwide in 2011.
The review also highlights 57-Across, where “salsa” points to music rather than food for BONGO, and 29-Down, where “Overtook?” resolves to HOARDED.
Harder entries include the legal term A FORTIORI at 3-Down, though shorter fill is said to ease the puzzle’s overall frustration level for solvers.