The Social Distancing Puzzles

When a pandemic strikes and millions of people lose their jobs, there isn’t a whole lot a puzzle constructor can do about it. But one thing that can be done: The creation of a set of puzzles for the benefit of Feeding America, a charity that specializes in maintaining hundreds of food banks across the country.

Realizing that people needed a fun but safe way of getting together with friends, Eric devised a suite of puzzles that had to be co-solved — “over Zoom or in the same room.” Two solvers each received separate packets of puzzles. The puzzles in each packet were unsolvable without information held by the other solver. Partners therefore had to work together in a variety of fun, creative ways in order to reach the ten answers, as well as the final meta-answer.

Those interested in solving the puzzles were asked to first make a donation to Feeding America. Ultimately, more than $20,000 was raised to help those in need of a helping hand.

If you’d like to try The Social Distancing Puzzles, they are available below. One solver should download Puzzle Set A, and another solver should download Puzzle Set B. A third file contains hints and answers. Expect a total solving time of between four and eight hours, though of course the puzzles do not need to completed in a single session. As before, solvers are highly encouraged to make a donation to Feeding America.