The Official 2022 Puzzel of the Year Thread

[Sundowner64]

Dear puzzling community!
A new year has started and we want to keep up the tradition of selecting a Puzzel of the Year.

As usual, we will do it in two rounds: a nomination round and a voting round.

Here are the rules and guidelines as they were handed down from the years past.

* * * *

Please nominate your faves by posting the title and author of your favorite puzzles from this year. If you have the time, a link to the puzzle would be much appreciated. Nominate as many as you like.

Nominations will be closed around January 31st, but will not close them until everyone who expressed an interest has had a chance to post.

THE GUIDELINES

1. You must choose puzzles that were spoiled in 2022, that is, between 01 Jan 2022 00:00 GMT and 31 Dec 2022 23:59 GMT.
2. You must nominate classical-style puzzles. Novelty or special puzzle types, such as lateral adventures and rulebreakers, as much as we love them, are ineligible for this list. OAATPs are considered a subset of classical puzzles and are eligible. Neologisms may be eligible, as long as there is a classic lateral twist involved. (As I see it, we had only classical puzzles in 2022.)
3. You may rank the puzzles. This won't weight them any more heavily for consideration for round two, but it's nice for forum users to see that their puzzle was someone's particular favorite.
4. You must provide the name of the puzzle and the host. You are not obliged to provide a hyperlink, but it is useful and greatly appreciated.
5. You may choose multiple puzzles by the same host, or keep it to one per LTPFer if you'd prefer.
6. You may not submit one of your own puzzles or vote for yourself, but I do encourage people to let us know afterword, or separately in the Chatroom: what was your favorite of your own puzzles this year?
7. You are not obligated to justify your choice or explain your criteria, but it can be nice for the hosts to see what they did especially well.

THE PRIZE
Our undying awe and gratitude. Renewed confidence in your awesome mental capabilities. And possibly a funny Top Gun style nickname for you.

Oh, and your puzzle title will be edited to say [PUZZEL OF THE YEAR 2022] after it.

The voting round will start as soon as the nomination is closed. Any puzzle that received at least two nominations is eligible for voting.

Thanks and have fun.

[Sundowner64]

And here are my top ten for this year (in no particular order).

[WiZ] - One at a Christmastime, Please
[Traveller] - Coffee and (lack of) politeness
[Doriana] - Jan at a time please
[gendervoid_killua] - 3, 2, 1, takeoff!
[GalFisk] - I'm not superstitious
[WiZ] - PrObLEmS Brewing
[Bardificer] - It sparks joy
[Doriana] - As intended
[GalFisk] - Sand
[Bardificer] - That means you do care

[doriana_]

Here's my top ten, limited to two puzzles per LTPFer:
[WiZ] - One at a Christmastime, please
[Traveller] Coffee and (lack of) politeness
[JenBurdoo] The curious date
[GalFisk] Morning is broken
[Sundowner] All the way to Reno
[WiZ] PrObLEmS Brewing
[Sarisberie] Here Comes Bod
[Bardificer] Haberdasher
[Bardificer] It sparks joy
[Balin] Costume conundrum

Honorable mention because it's a re-run of someone else's puzzle:
[Balin] (orig. [Hamilton]) Maybe he works for Honda?

[GalFisk]

I nominate:
[JenBurdoo] I quit! for its latertalness.
[Doriana] As intended for its humorous simplicity.
[Bardificer] That means you do care for being multilayered.
[Sarisberie] Here Comes Bod for the funny things we get up to as kids.
[trebor2] Face It for the image it evokes.
[WiZ] RAW! F***ING! HALIBUT! NOT GOOD ENOUGH! for the image that's included.

[WiZ]

Keeping it to one puzzle per LTPFer, although my shortlist ended up without double-ups rather organically:

[Doriana] Who spends NYE on Wikipedia anyway? - Intriguing statement with a simple, unguessable and satisfying answer
[Traveller] Coffee and (lack of) politeness - A classic phrasing full of conflict and intrigue, and some clever lateral logic in the solution
[Bardificer] It sparks joy - A paradoxical statement with a lateral twist I hadn't seen before, and a sweet story to boot
[Balin] Ars longa, vita brevis - This wins my award for the most 'classic' puzzle, the one that reads most like it had been sneakily lifted from one of Paul&Des' books
[gendervoid_killua] 3, 2, 1, takeoff! - A simple question and answer, which fit each other well but in a way that is initially counter-intuitive
[JenBurdoo] Accidentally Accurate - A straightforward-sounding question which is nonetheless pregnant with misdirection - and, as ever, I learned something
[Sarisberie] Stumblebum - A lateral catch I've seen used a few times, but posed in such a way my mind didn't leap to it - and such a fun premise

Trebor's 'Ahead: uncleaned plasmasol" was my favourite title.
GalFisk's 'Sand' had my favourite puzzle wording.

[Sarisberie2]

Trebor2 - Face it (great fun, satisfyingly simple.)
Balin - By vigor (prize for most perfectly-formed puzzle)
Jenburdoo - Now plant the potatoes (reminds me of playing the game as a kid)
Jenburdoo - I quit (outrageous premise, heartwarming outcome)
Wiz - Problems Brewing (binary but better)
Bardificer - It sparks joy (meta but better)
Bardificer - Haberdasher (I picture him as a mafia boss)
Doriana - As intended (just <3 it)

(Sorry can’t link atmo)

[Braindrop]

[Balin] Ars Longa, Vita Brevis - Classic type of puzzle with that "aha" moment
[Doriana] Bored Game - Your multilingual multinational life always makes for some nice lateral twists
[WiZ] Problems Brewing - Great setup, and one of those real world bits of clever lateral-thinking that you can't help but smile about
[GalFisk] What Other Secrets Are You Keeping From Me - Fun one, and reminds me of the magic of child-like thinking
[Bardificer] It Sparks Joy - A clever observation about how we derive meaning from things
[Sarisberie] 1234 Ummm - Borders on being something like a riddle or a crossword clue, but I really enjoyed the mix of magical and mundane involved
[JenBurdoo] Accidentally Accurate - Unfolds nicely as a puzzle and as a great bit of historical trivia

I'd also like to give a nod to GalFisk's "A Skydiving Puzzle". I actually love the lateral nature of this one, but since it's something like only half a puzzle, since there wasn't really a puzzle statement, I didn't feel like I could nominate it as it stands. But I could definitely see working up a good statement for this one to share with others.

Also, I discovered that I had zero puzzles last year. I should rectify this for 2023.

[JenBurdoo1]

Sadly, there weren't many puzzles this year; happily, plenty of them are ones I'll retell.

[Doriana]Lock and Key - I've faced the same situation with my own pets!
[Doriana]Rise and Shine - Classic presentation and fine twist to the solution.
[Bardificer] Nighthawks - Reminiscent of another classic.
[gendervoid_killua] 3, 2, 1, takeoff! - A puzzle after my own heart.
[Balin] Ars longa, vita brevis - Another in classic style, that makes you look at the object depicted in a new light.
[WiZ] RAW! F***ING! HALIBUT! NOT GOOD ENOUGH! - Hilarious twist. One of my favorites.
[WiZ] One at a Christmastime, Please - Yet another classic type, with a very satisfying answer.

I appreciated "A Skydiving Puzzle" too. I agree that it could go on this list, assuming a more conventional presentation for people who don't know Galfisk.

[trebor2]

Posting without the link, because I don't know how to do that....

[Wiz] Problems Brewing - absolutely stands out for me. May review and add more later.

[Sundowner64]

Hi @trebor2, please let me know whether you would like to add some more puzzles to your list. Otherwise I would start the voting round tomorrow.

[doriana_]

Balin let me know that he also wants to nominate some puzzles and will do so today after work

[BalinTheDwarf]

I've got computer access at work so I'm able to go through the list now and pick out nominations.

[BalinTheDwarf]

My nominations:

[Bardificer] Haberdasher
[Doriana] Rise and shine
[Doriana] We all scream for ice cream
[GalFisk] I see what you did there
[GalFisk] What other secrets are you keeping from me
[JenBurdoo] Accidentally Accurate
[JenBurdoo] I quit!
[Sarisberie] Little Boxes
[WiZ] A concrete example
[WiZ] E-Quality

[Bardificer]

Sorry folks, I ran out of hours in my day to look through and nominate. But I agree with the nominations above, and thanks for mentions of mine! And I'll get back here for voting, promise.

[Sundowner64]

Hello folks, now the voting round starts.
Below I have listed all puzzles that have been nominated at least twice. (if I missed any please let me know)

You have now three votes: 3, 2 and 1 point.
The voting will stay open until 20 February. The puzzle with the highest total of points will win. In case of a tie, the puzzle with more three point votes, in case of still a tie, the puzzle with more two point votes.

You don't have to use all of your three votes. You may not split points (i.e. not 1.5 and 1.5 instead of 1 and 2).
You may not vote on your own puzzles.

And now here's the list (in alphabetic order of the puzzle host). Happy voting.

[Balin] Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
[Bardificer] Haberdasher
[Bardificer] It Sparks Joy
[Doriana] Rise and shine
[Doriana] As intended
[GalFisk] What other secrets are you keeping from me
[gendervoid_killua] 3, 2, 1, takeoff!
[JenBurdoo] Accidentally Accurate
[JenBurdoo] I quit!
[Sarisberie] Here Comes Bod
[Traveller] Coffee and (lack of) politeness
[trebor2] Face It
[WiZ] Problems Brewing
[WiZ] RAW! F***ING! HALIBUT! NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
[WiZ] One at a Christmastime, Please

[GalFisk]

3 points: I quit! by JenBurdoo
2 points: Here Comes Bod by Sarisberie
1 point: RAW! F***ING! HALIBUT! NOT GOOD ENOUGH! by WiZ

[doriana_]

3 points: [Bardificer] It sparks joy
2 points: [Traveller] Coffee and (lack of) politeness
1 point: [WiZ] Problems Brewing

[BitterLemonCurry]

I vote for:

(3 Points) [WiZ] Problems Brewing
(2 Points) [Bardificer] It sparks joy
(1 Point) [JenBurdoo] Accidentally Accurate

[WiZ]

3 Points: [Balin] Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
2 Points: [Bardificer] It Sparks Joy
1 Point: [Traveller] Coffee and (lack of) Politeness

[BalinTheDwarf]

3 points: [JenBurdoo] I quit!
2 points: [Bardificer] Haberdasher
1 point: [GalFisk] What other secrets are you keeping from me

[JenBurdoo1]

I struggled to pick just three! I think all four of these are worthy of inclusion in one of Admin's books.

3 points: [Doriana] Rise and Shine
2 points: [Balin] Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
1 points: [Wiz] One at a Christmastime
Honorable Mention: [Galfisk] What Other Secrets

[Sarisberie2]

[edited 15/02/23 as I'd accidentally reversed the order]

3 points - Haberdasher - Bardificer
2 points - I quit! -JenBurdoo
1 point - Problems Brewing - Wiz

Honorable mention:- Raw F***ing Halibut! - Wiz

[Bardificer]

3 points: [WiZ] One at a Christmastime, Please
2 points: [Balin] Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
1 point : [JenBurdoo] I quit!

[Biograd1]

3 points: It Sparks Joy
2 points: Coffee and (lack of) politeness
1 point: Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

Also, I know I missed the nomination so these aren't in the running, but along with some of the ones nominated that didn't make the round 2 list (particularly "Who spends NYE on WIkipedia anyway?" and "All the way to Reno"), here are some of my favorites (in case anyone still wants to revisit the memories).
[WiZ] Unites States vs. Shrek
[Jenburdoo] White Paper

[Sundowner64]

And we have a winner!

The title Puzzel of the Year 2022 goes to: "It sparks joy" by Bardificer.

Congratulations!

Bardificer's puzzle collected 10 points.
On second place: "I quit" by JenBurdoo 9 points
On third place: "Ars Longa, Vita Brevis" by Balin 8 points.

Thanks to all who participated in the nomination and voting.

[GalFisk]

Congrats Bardificer!

[JenBurdoo1]

Congrats! Well deserved!

[GalFisk]

And congrats on 2nd place, Jen! I liked that puzzle a lot.

[WiZ]

Well done, Bardificer, on the back-to-back golds. A great puzzle which will make me never look at that phrase the same way again.

Well done also to Balin and Jen, who once again came tantalisingly close to taking the contest out. Your moment will come.

Well done to Traveller for a solid first showing.

Thank you to all those who enjoyed my puzzles last year.

[JenBurdoo1]

Thank you Galfisk, and everyone who voted! I was quite surprised to get such high marks.

[BalinTheDwarf]

Congrats Bardificer! Fantastic set of outings, all round.

[Sarisberie2]

Congratulations Bardificer!
I found it really difficult to choose because so many of the puzzles - from everyone - sparked joy.

[doriana_]

Congrats, Bardificer!