What is Telematrix?
Telematrix is the TV sibling of Cinematrix, Vulture's movie grid game. The board is a three-by-three grid with a clue along the top of each column and down the side of each row. For each square, you name a TV show that fits both its row and its column, such as a series with a particular actor that also ran on a particular network. Every square needs a different show, so the obvious answer for one square may be better saved for another. Scripted and unscripted television are kept as separate puzzles, so reality-TV experts and drama fans each get their own chance to shine. Unlike most daily games, Telematrix comes out twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, which makes it a nice treat rather than a daily habit. It suits people who watch a lot of television and enjoy remembering who was in what, and it pairs well with Cinematrix.
How to play
- Pick a square and read its row and column clues.
- Name a TV show that fits both.
- Fill all nine squares with different shows.
Quick facts
- Typical time
- 3–8 min
- Difficulty
- Medium–hard
- Price
- Some or all of the game may need payment on their site.
- On a phone
- Works in your phone's browser. Nothing to install.
- Schedule
- New puzzles on Mondays and Thursdays, not every day.
Tips to get better
- Choose the puzzle you know. Scripted and unscripted television are separate grids. Play to your strength.
- Think of shows with big casts. A long-running series with a changing cast fits far more actor squares than a tight six-person ensemble.
- Save the giants. Each show can be used once. A show that fits half the board should go in the square where nothing else will.
- Take care with shows that moved. Some series changed channel or streaming service part-way through. Think about where a show started as well as where it ended.
- Remember the short-lived ones. One-season series and limited series are easy to forget, and they're often the only answer to an awkward crossing.
Who it's for
If you watch a lot of television and remember who was in what, Telematrix is for you. Splitting scripted and reality TV into separate puzzles is a nice touch, since few people are expert in both. It's built around American television, so viewers elsewhere will hit gaps. Twice a week is about right for something this demanding.
