XYZZY Awards (Best Individual Puzzle)

Browse the XYZZY Awards either by year:

• 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or by category:

• Best Game | Best Writing | Best Story | Best Setting | Best Puzzles | Best NPCs | Best Individual Puzzle | Best Individual NPC | Best Individual PC | Best Use of Medium (1997–2009) | Best Implementation (2010–) | Best Use of Innovation (2010–) | Best Technological Development (2010–) | Best Supplemental Materials (2010–2013) | Best Use of Multimedia (2014–) | Other awards

See also:

• Statistics

Best Individual Puzzle Winners

• 1996 Best Individual Puzzle: Opening the gate, in So Far (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
• 1997 Best Individual Puzzle: The language puzzle, in The Edifice (Lucian P. Smith; Z-code).
• 1998 Best Individual Puzzle: Getting out of the chair, from Spider and Web (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
• 1999 Best Individual Puzzle: The maze, in Hunter, in Darkness (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
• 2000 Best Individual Puzzle: The whole game of Rematch (Andrew Pontious).
• 2001 Best Individual Puzzle: Deciphering the language, in The Gostak (Carl Muckenhoupt; Z-code).
• 2002 Best Individual Puzzle: Setting the traps, in Lock & Key (Adam Cadre; Glulx).
• 2003 Best Individual Puzzle: The purple room in The Recruit (Mike Sousa; TADS 2).
• 2004 Best Individual Puzzle: The time travel puzzle in All Things Devours (half sick of shadows; Z-code).
• 2005 Best Individual Puzzle: Following the murderer, in Beyond (Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, and Alessandro Peretti; publisher: Mondi Confinanti; Glulx).
• 2006 Best Individual Puzzle: Navigating the mansion, in Delightful Wallpaper (Andrew Plotkin as "Edgar O. Weyrd"; Z-code).
• 2007 Best Individual Puzzle: Identifying the killer in An Act of Murder (Christopher Huang as "Hugh Dunnett"; Z-code).
• 2008 Best Individual Puzzle: Disconnecting the Internet/Getting rid of the key in Violet (Jeremy Freese; Z-code).
• 2009 Best Individual Puzzle: Finding out how the goggles work in Byzantine Perspective (Lea Albaugh; Z-code).
• 2010 Best Individual Puzzle: Crossing the river in Aotearoa (Matt Wigdahl; Glulx).
• 2011 Best Individual Puzzle: The hat mystery, spread out between The Life (and Deaths) of Doctor M (Michael D. Hilborn), Last Day of Summer (Doug Orleans), Playing Games (Kevin Jackson-Mead), and Cold Iron (Andrew Plotkin).
• 2012 Best Individual Puzzle: Surviving the fall in Bigger Than You Think (Andrew Plotkin, Glulx).
• 2013 Best Individual Puzzle: Creating the meat monster in Coloratura (Lynnea Glasser; Glulx).
• 2014 Best Individual Puzzle: Sequence of time-travel in Fifteen Minutes (Ade McT; Z-code)
• 2015 Best Individual Puzzle: Understanding how the RPS cannon works in Brain Guzzlers from Beyond! (Steph Cherrywell; 01-Oct-2015; Glulx).
• 2016 Best Individual Puzzle: Customizing the robot in The Mary Jane of Tomorrow (Emily Short; 05-Jun-2016; Glulx).
• 2017 Best Individual Puzzle: Getting past the dragon in The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson; 01-Oct-2017; Glulx).
• 2018 Best Individual Puzzle: Solving your murder in Erstwhile (Maddie Fialla and Marijke Perry; 01-Oct-2018; Twine).
• 2019 Best Individual Puzzle: Inspiring the artist in Zozzled (Steph Cherrywell); 01-Oct-2018; Glulx).
• 2020 Best Individual Puzzle: Leaving the house in The Impossible Bottle (Linus Åkesson); 01-Oct-2018; Dialog).

Best Individual Puzzle Winners and Finalists

• 1996 Best Individual Puzzle: Opening the gate, in So Far (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The crystals, in Fear (Chuan-Tze Teo; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The elephant, in The Meteor, the Stone and a Long Glass of Sherbet (Graham Nelson; Z-code).
  • Finalist: (cramped, crawling), in So Far (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Riding the creature, in So Far (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
• 1997 Best Individual Puzzle: The language puzzle, in The Edifice (Lucian P. Smith; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Setting the digital clock, in Heist (Andy Phillips; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The whole game of Pick Up The Phone Booth And Die (Rob Noyes; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Defeating the Kunkel, in Sins Against Mimesis (Adam Thornton; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Building the sand castle, in Sunset Over Savannah (Ivan Cockrum; TADS 2).
• 1998 Best Individual Puzzle: Getting out of the chair, from Spider and Web (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The snack machine, in Little Blue Men (Michael Gentry; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The granite cube, in Losing Your Grip (Stephen Granade; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: Getting out of the maze, in Photopia (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Entering the warehouse, in The Plant (Michael J. Roberts; TADS 2).
• 1999 Best Individual Puzzle: The maze, in Hunter, in Darkness (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The water puzzle, in Break-In (Jon Ingold; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Stopping the flood, in For a Change (Dan Schmidt; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The clone puzzle, in The Frenetic Five vs. Mr. Redundancy Man (Neil deMause; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: Getting the light upstairs, in The Mulldoon Legacy (Jon Ingold).
    • Note: The gypsum flowers, in The Jewel of Knowledge (Francesco Bova; Z-code), was never actually nominated. This was a joke made during the ceremony.
• 2000 Best Individual Puzzle: The whole game of Rematch (Andrew Pontious).
  • Finalist: The whole game of 9:05 (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The mannequin, in Above and Beyond! (Mike Sousa; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: The letter rooms, in Ad Verbum (Nick Montfort; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The recursive room, in Being Andrew Plotkin (J. Robinson Wheeler; Z-code).
• 2001 Best Individual Puzzle: Deciphering the language, in The Gostak (Carl Muckenhoupt; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The birds, in All Roads (Jon Ingold; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Switching the glasses, in Pytho's Mask (Emily Short; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The chess game, in Silicon Castles (David Given; Z-code).
  • Finalist: [unspecified], in Textfire Golf (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Disarming the bomb, in Vicious Cycles (Simon Mark; Z-code).
• 2002 Best Individual Puzzle: Setting the traps in Lock & Key (Adam Cadre; Glulx).
  • Finalist: The maze in Constraints (Martin Bays; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Entering the church in Forever Always (Iain Merrick; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: Decoding the letter in Savoir-Faire (Emily Short; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The computer password in Till Death Makes a Monk-Fish Out of Me! (Jon Ingold and Mike Sousa; TADS 2).
• 2003 Best Individual Puzzle: The purple room in The Recruit (Mike Sousa; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: Escaping the quicksand in Max Blaster and Doris de Lightning Against the Parrot Creatures of Venus (Dan Shiovitz and Emily Short; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: Making the sandwich in Max Blaster and Doris de Lightning Against the Parrot Creatures of Venus (Dan Shiovitz and Emily Short; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: Creating the black powder in Risorgimento Represso (Michael Coyne; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Getting into the farm in Risorgimento Represso (Michael Coyne; Z-code).
• 2004 Best Individual Puzzle: The time travel puzzle in All Things Devours (half sick of shadows; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The toilet in Blue Chairs (Chris Klimas; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The cistern in The Dreamhold (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Cracking Eno's computer in Future Boy! (Kent Tessman; Hugo).
  • Finalist: The poltergeist in Necrotic Drift (Robb Sherwin; Hugo).
• 2005 Best Individual Puzzle: Following the murderer, in Beyond (Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, and Alessandro Peretti; publisher: Mondi Confinanti; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Moving the stone (after the labyrinth), in All Hope Abandon (Eric Eve; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: Finding something to eat, in Chancellor (Kevin Venzke; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: Beating the creature, in Distress (Mike Snyder; Hugo).
  • Finalist: Identifying the killer, in Mystery House Possessed (Emily Short; Z-code).
• 2006 Best Individual Puzzle: Navigating the mansion in Delightful Wallpaper (Andrew Plotkin as "Edgar O. Weyrd"; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Choosing the present in Floatpoint (Emily Short; Glulx).
  • Finalist: The piano puzzle in Madam Spider's Web (Sara Dee; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The reactor puzzle in Möbius (J. D. Clemens; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Final puzzle in Strange Geometries (Phillip Chambers; Z-code).
• 2007 Best Individual Puzzle: Identifying the killer in An Act of Murder (Christopher Huang as "Hugh Dunnett"; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Getting the toy from the cabinet in Child's Play (Stephen Granade; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The thermostat puzzle in Orevore Courier (Brian Rapp; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Beating the shark in Slap That Fish (Peter Nepstad; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: Opening the vault door in Suveh Nux (David Fisher; Z-code).
• 2008 Best Individual Puzzle: Disconnecting the Internet/Getting rid of the key in Violet (Jeremy Freese; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Putting the vampire together in Afflicted (Doug Egan; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Calling for help in Escapade! (Juhana Leinonen; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The gallows in Gun Mute (C.E.J. Pacian; TADS 3).
• 2009 Best Individual Puzzle: Finding out how the goggles work in Byzantine Perspective (Lea Albaugh; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Defeating the Eagle Beast in The Ascot (Duncan Bowsman; ADRIFT 4).
  • Finalist: Working out the controls in Rover's Day Out (Jack Welch and Ben Collins-Sussman; Glulx).
• 2010 Best Individual Puzzle: Crossing the river in Aotearoa (Matt Wigdahl; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Deciding what to do with the baby in The Warbler's Nest (Jason McIntosh; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Dividing up the oxygen reserves in Oxygen (Benjamin Sokal; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Getting the lighter from Kai in Allein mit Kai (Ingo Scharmann and Joana Markus; Glulx; German).
  • Finalist: Roof tile repair in The 12:54 to Asgard (J. Robinson Wheeler; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Saving Dr. Ephart in One Eye Open (Colin Sandel and Carolyn VanEseltine; Glulx).
• 2011 Best Individual Puzzle: The hat mystery, spread out between The Life (and Deaths) of Doctor M (Michael D. Hilborn), Last Day of Summer (Doug Orleans), Playing Games (Kevin Jackson-Mead), and Cold Iron (Andrew Plotkin).
  • Finalist: Assembling the name of the final location in The Race (Andy Why).
  • Finalist: Escaping the tower in Indigo (Emily Short).
  • Finalist: Putting out the fire in How Suzy Got Her Powers (David Whyld).
• 2012 Best Individual Puzzle: Surviving the fall in Bigger Than You Think (Andrew Plotkin, Glulx).
  • Finalist: The hold-all in A Killer Headache (Mike Ciul, Glulx).
  • Finalist: Making a taco in Shuffling Around (Andrew Schultz, Glulx).
• 2013 Best Individual Puzzle: Creating the meat monster in Coloratura (Lynnea Glasser; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Maximizing your profit in Captain Verdeterre's Plunder (Ryan Veeder; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Getting out of the lab in Chemistry and Physics (Colin Sandel and Carolyn VanEseltine; Web browser).
  • Finalist: Three-latch door in Faithful Companion (Matt Weiner; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Discovering the type of route that works in Threediopolis (Andrew Schultz; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Earning one million dollars in ULTRA BUSINESS TYCOON III (Porpentine; Web browser).
• 2014 Best Individual Puzzle: Sequence of time-travel in Fifteen Minutes (Ade McT; Z-code)
  • Finding the treasure in More (Jason Dyer; Z-code)
• 2015 Best Individual Puzzle: Understanding how the RPS cannon works in Brain Guzzlers from Beyond! (Steph Cherrywell; 01-Oct-2015; Glulx).
  • Catching the fairy in Oppositely Opal (Buster Hudson)
  • The Hard Puzzle in Hard Puzzle (Ade McT)
  • Identifying the murderer in Toby's Nose (Chandler Groover)
  • The skull in Sub Rosa (Joey Jones, Melvin Rangasamy)

• 2016 Best Individual Puzzle: Customizing the robot in The Mary Jane of Tomorrow (Emily Short); Glulx).
  • Killing the vampire in 16 Ways to Kill a Vampire at McDonalds (Abigail Corfman)
  • Sneaking quietly though the house in Detectiveland (Robin Johnson)
  • Delivering the metallophilic ice to the Robotics Lab in Inside the Facility (Arthur DiBianca)
  • Performing the Three Card Trick in Three-Card Trick (Chandler Groover)
  • Raise a world to the Galactic Accord (worldbuilding) in Worldsmith (Interactive Fables)

• 2017 Best Individual Puzzle: getting past the dragon in The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson); Glulx).
  • discovering the rest of the game in [The Wand]] (Arthur DiBianca)
  • getting through the undersea vent in Measureless to Man (Ivan R.)
  • Learning the Cycle in The Wand (Arthur DiBianca)
  • Milking the cow in Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
  • Navigating the swamp in Crocodracula: What Happened to Calvin (Ryan Veeder)

• 2018 Best Individual Puzzle: solving your murder in Erstwhile ([[Maddie Fialla, Marijke Perry); Twine).
  • defeating Ynf-Okh-Omm in The Lurking Horror II: The Lurkening (Ryan Veeder)
  • The last Flower Child puzzle in The Temple of Shorgil (Arthur DiBianca)
  • Rooftop puzzle in I.A.G. Alpha (Serhii Mozhaiskyi)
  • Werewolf/moon puzzle in The Origin of Madame Time (Mathbrush)

• 2019 Best Individual Puzzle: Inspiring the artist in Zozzled (Steph Cherrywell); Glulx).
  • Finding the good ending in Dull Grey (Provodnik Games)
  • Helping Madame Ping Ping with the séance in Zozzled (Steph Cherrywell)

• 2020 Best Individual Puzzle: Leaving the house in The Impossible Bottle (Linus Åkesson); Dialog).
  • Cow tipping in Seasonal Apocalypse Disorder (Zan, Xavid)
  • Following the cat through the forest in Stuff of Legend (Lance Campbell)
  • Registering the game in Crocodracula: The Beginning (Ryan Veeder)

Links

• XYZZY Award for Best Individual Puzzle at Wikipedia.