In aid of RNIB and BBC Children in Need
Clues by Guinevere and Grid by Komorník. Essentially, what we have here is a Theme and Variations puzzle — a traditional cryptic format which I feel has fallen out of fashion, although I am not sure why, because T&Vs can be very satisfying, just as this one proved to be.
Clues by Soup and Grid by Komorník. A toppled conical grid with a (for these puzzles, very) large base 13 spaces in diameter and 12 in circumference, tapering to a single letter at the peak provides the vehicle for this month.
Clues by Soup and Grid by Komorník Enter the prize draw by 30 September. The background for this puzzle is a Dennis Sylvester Hurd photo of a monkey eating an ice cream in a cornet wafer. This puzzle by Soup uses an innovative conical grid by Komorník consisting of seven progressively smaller dials, the last of which… Read more Hints & Tips September 2025
Clues and Grid by Komorník. We have an unusual shape for this Extra puzzle. It’s sort of 6x3x5 but with gutters so words can be written around the separate pieces.
Clues by Komorník and Grid by Gin. Komorník is a major contributor to the success of the 3D Calendar in several roles and this is the third year in a row that he has presented us with a November Extra puzzle. I have vivid memories of last year’s offering,
Each 2025 3D crossword puzzle will be published below by the beginning of the month. The deadline to enter the prize draw for regular monthly puzzles will be the last day of that month. Extra puzzles will be added from time to time and will have later, mid-month deadlines.
Hints & Tips: If you need helping cracking that last clue, or even getting started, hints and tips for regular puzzles will be published usually in the last week of each month. Subscribe to the Hints & Tips newsletter to receive them by email.
2025 3D Crosswords World Championship: Solvers who buy the calendar and correctly solve 12 puzzles by the due date each month will be eligible to enter our annual tie-break competition for the 2025 3D Crosswords World Championship. Check your progress to see how you’re tracking.
Errata: For owners of the printed calendar, we are very sorry but there are some corrections needed in the printed copies.
by Carpathian and Patch
by Curmudgeon and Chalicea
by Soup and Komorník
by Guinevere and Komorník
by Enigmatist and Gin
Order your copy of the 2026 Calendar now.
Clues and Grid by Komorník. The winner of the May puzzle is Jacqueline Corbett of Kent. In the 3D Calendar year May normally brings a more challenging puzzle, as the relatively benign spring turns to summer, and this was no exception:
Clues and Grid by Komorník Enter the prize draw by 31 May. The background for this puzzle is a Graham Fox photograph showing birds perching on telephone wires. In his notes, Graham singled this out as his favourite photograph of this year’s calendar, with the arrangement of the birds on the five wires suggesting notation appropriate to… Read more Hints & Tips May 2024
Clues and Grid by Komorník. What a year’s end to the 2023 calendar! Two puzzles from Komorník, including December’s, promise a stiff challenge to even the most experienced solver and this tie-break proved to be no exception.
Clues and Grid by Komorník The first notable thing about this puzzle is the unique diagram. It’s clearly a teapot caught in the act of pouring. And the first clue uses its shape to bend an answer through the handle, around and out onto the smaller grid.
