Editorial Policy

Our Mission

Solver Tools: How They Work

Word Lists and Official Puzzle Compatibility

Strategy Guides: How They Are Written

Accuracy and Corrections

Independence and Advertising

Last updated: May 2026

PuzzleUnlock is an independent puzzle help resource. This page explains how we build our solver tools, how we write our strategy guides, and how we handle accuracy and corrections.

PuzzleUnlock exists to help puzzle players understand how puzzles work — not just to reveal answers. Our tools and guides are designed to teach solving logic and strategy alongside providing practical help. We believe a player who understands why an answer is correct gets more from puzzle solving than one who simply receives the answer.

>Word-based solvers > (Wordle, Spelling Bee, Boggle, Scrabble, and similar) use algorithmic constraint matching against comprehensive English-language word lists. Solvers filter valid words based on the constraints you provide — letter positions, confirmed letters, eliminated letters — and return all matching results.

>AI-powered solvers > (Crossword, Connections, Cryptic Crossword) use the Anthropic Claude API to interpret clues, analyze word groupings, and decode wordplay. AI-powered results represent the model's best interpretation and should be verified against the puzzle's official answer. AI results may occasionally be incorrect.

>Logic solvers > (Sudoku, KenKen, Kakuro) use deterministic algorithms — constraint propagation and backtracking — that produce mathematically correct results for any valid puzzle. These solvers do not make errors; if no solution is returned, the puzzle as entered has no valid solution.

>Photo scanning > uses AI image recognition to read puzzle grids from photographs. Accuracy depends on image quality, lighting, and grid clarity. We recommend straight-on photos with even lighting for best results.

PuzzleUnlock's word-based solvers use comprehensive English-language dictionaries that may differ from the word lists used by official puzzle publishers. The NYT Spelling Bee, NYT Wordle, Scrabble, and other games each maintain their own curated word lists. As a result:

Some words PuzzleUnlock returns may not be accepted by the official puzzle. Some words the official puzzle accepts may not appear in our results. We note this limitation on relevant solver pages and recommend using our results as a candidate list to try, rather than a guaranteed valid word list.

All strategy guides on PuzzleUnlock are written by puzzle enthusiasts with direct experience solving the puzzles described. Our guides cover solving logic, strategy, and technique — not just "tips" lists. We aim for guides that genuinely improve a solver's independent ability, not guides that increase solver tool dependency.

AI writing assistance may be used in drafting guide content. All AI-drafted content is reviewed and edited for accuracy, appropriate tone, and genuine usefulness before publication. We do not publish AI-generated content without human review.

Strategy claims in our guides are based on established puzzle-solving knowledge, mathematical analysis of game mechanics, and direct solving experience. Where we cite specific statistics (e.g., letter frequency in English words), these are sourced from publicly available linguistic research.

We strive for accuracy in all solver tools and guide content. When errors are identified — whether in solver logic, factual guide content, or word list accuracy — we correct them promptly.

To report an error or inaccuracy, contact us at >[email protected] > with a description of the issue and the specific page or tool affected. We review all correction requests and update content when errors are confirmed.

PuzzleUnlock is independently operated and is not affiliated with any puzzle publisher, game developer, or media company. Our solver tools and guide content are produced independently of any commercial relationship with puzzle publishers.

The Site displays advertising served by Google AdSense and may display other third-party advertising. Advertising relationships do not influence our solver tool development, guide content, or editorial decisions. Advertisers do not review or approve content before publication.

For editorial questions, corrections, or feedback: >[email protected] >