Honestly, I get it—there’s just something weirdly addicting about chasing the NYT crossword answers every single day. For me, it started off as a way to keep my brain active, but then it sort of became a bragging rights thing. Like, if you finish the puzzle, especially the tough Thursdays or those wild Friday and Saturday ones, people on Reddit or even at school actually respect that in this nerdy way.

But it’s not just about flexing your brain muscles. There’s all this community hype around the NYT crossword, and even if I get just a few answers and need help with the rest, I still feel like part of some secret club. It’s also the randomness! Like one day there’s a rebus and the next day it’s a super clever theme with puns. I think it goes beyond showing off – a lot of us are just trying to beat the puzzle and feel smart for a second. It’s actually super satisfying to finally get that last word! If you haven’t tried, I totally recommend giving it a shot, even if you need to check some answers online at first.