A strange little side quest
Put Dog! next to the history of puzzles and a few unexpected connections appear. The first crossword puzzle book appeared in 1924 in a cautious initial printing of 3,600 copies, complete with a free pencil. The broader history adds one more wrinkle. Early computer role-playing games helped turn rules, inventories, exploration and character progression into systems that could support long-form digital adventures. That long chain of experiments is part of why puzzles still feels fresh when a game finds the right twist.
