NYT Games review
Wordle, Connections, the Crossword and more, every day
- The New York Times Company
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Web
4.8 from 299.1K App Store ratings 10M+ Google Play downloads #49 in Games on the US App Store
Does it deserve #3?
Is NYT Games worth it?
For most people, yes. NYT Games scores 8.4/10 and ranks #3 in Puzzle & Word Games. It's best for word and logic fans who like a daily puzzle ritual. Skip it if you want endless levels to binge rather than a few puzzles a day. Price: Wordle, Connections and Strands are free; a Games subscription unlocks the rest.
The verdict
NYT Games is the best daily puzzle habit you can build on a phone. Wordle, Connections and Strands cost nothing, and a subscription adds the famous Crossword, the new Midi, the full Spelling Bee and an archive of more than 10,000 past puzzles. Bots that grade your Wordle and Connections play add a nice coaching layer. The catch is privacy: the App Store label lists a lot of tracking.
- Wordle, Connections and Strands
- The Crossword, Midi and Mini
- Spelling Bee, Pips, Sudoku and Tiles
- WordleBot and Connections Bot analysis
- 10,000-plus puzzle archive for subscribers
- Friends leaderboards and streak stats
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Oct 2026Halloween editions of Spelling Bee, the Mini, Strands and more
- Sep 2026Weekly bonus puzzles such as Wordle in 1, Connections 3x3 and Colorful Strands
- Feb 2026The Midi, a mid-sized daily crossword for subscribers
Privacy 5.5/10
App Store label: purchases, financial info, location, contact info, browsing history, identifiers and usage data may be used to track you and linked to your identity.
What we like
- Fresh puzzles every day across many styles
- The biggest names, Wordle and Connections, stay free
- Stats, streaks and friend leaderboards built in
What could be better
- Heavy tracking listed on the App Store label
- The Crossword and archive need a subscription
- The App Store listing notes ads in the app
Word and logic fans who like a daily puzzle ritual
you want endless levels to binge rather than a few puzzles a day
Questions about NYT Games
Is NYT Games worth it in 2026?
For most people, yes. NYT Games scores 8.4/10 and ranks #3 in Puzzle & Word Games. It's best for word and logic fans who like a daily puzzle ritual. Skip it if you want endless levels to binge rather than a few puzzles a day. Price: Wordle, Connections and Strands are free; a Games subscription unlocks the rest.
Is NYT Games free?
The app is free, and Wordle, Connections and Strands can be played without paying. A Games subscription unlocks the full Crossword, the Midi, Spelling Bee and the puzzle archive.
What is the Midi crossword?
A mid-sized daily crossword, usually 9x9, that sits between the Mini and the full Crossword. It launched in February 2026 and needs a subscription that includes Games.
What is NYT Games' age rating?
It's rated 13+ on the App Store, and the listing notes advertising and user-generated content such as the hint forums.
What are the best alternatives to NYT Games?
The closest alternatives are Wordscapes, CodyCross and Sudoku.com. See all of them ranked on our NYT Games alternatives page.
Where does NYT Games rank?
NYT Games ranks #3 of 12 in our Puzzle & Word Games ranking, with an overall score of 8.4 out of 10.