Solution: Me, Myself, and I
Answer: DYNAMIC THICKENING
Author: Max Chang
The title and the flavor text should suggest that the author of this puzzle is pretty full of themselves. Thankfully, you are given that the author’s name is Max. All of these clues solve to an answer with the suffix, MAX. The first letters of all the clues spell NUMBER OF MES IN CLUE. If you count the number of times the substring “me” appears in the clue and index into the clue answer, you get the answer DYNAMIC THICKENING.
| Clue | Answer | Number of MEs | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable rhythm video game series | DJMAX | 1 | D |
| Universally (nearly) usable Pokemon game mechanic | DYNAMAX | 2 | Y |
| Media website that published conspiracy theories following the 2020 election | NEWSMAX | 1 | N |
| Bot programmed with extensive medical and combat knowledge | BAYMAX | 2 | A |
| Extreme post-apocalyptic film series | MADMAX | 1 | M |
| Relatively common theaters with domed ceilings | IMAX | 1 | I |
| One of the American used car retailers | CARMAX | 1 | C |
| Format war loser named after a Greek letter and developed for consumer-level home video recordings | BETAMAX | 3 | T |
| Major streaming platform with tens of millions of customers | HBOMAX | 1 | H |
| Established rule in game theory that avoid the worst outcomes | MINIMAX | 2 | I |
| Summit or most intense part of something | CLIMAX | 1 | C |
| Ironclad warship class laid down in 1861 involved in naval engagements with Prussia | KAISER MAX | 1 | K |
| NYSE traded American home selling company | REMAX | 2 | E |
| Canadian utility company that provides services to commercial clients and homeowners in Alberta. | ENMAX | 2 | N |
| Long-lived American premium cable network specializing in theatrical releases formed in 1980 | CINEMAX | 2 | I |
| Usually disappointing comedown or disillusionment | ANTICLIMAX | 2 | N |
| East Asian species of legume | GLYCINE MAX | 1 | G |
Author’s Notes
Yea. So, a friend mentioned to me that my name appears in a lot of words, phrases, and names. I was skeptical so I did a Nutrimatic query and was surprised to find quite a few options. This feeder answer was unclaimed because it is quite long and isn't actually a real phrase. Thanks a lot, meta author. (That's also me.) Most of the test solves of this puzzle involved a comment similar to, “Really Max? Really?” followed by an eye roll and a smirk. I promise I’m not this self-centered. I just like my name.