NYT Games is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 7.7. NYT Games wins on 4 of the 5 scores, CodyCross on 1.
Word and logic fans who like a daily puzzle ritual
Trivia lovers who want crossword clues that teach them something
Score by score
The details
| Feature | NYT Games | CodyCross |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Puzzle & Word Games | Puzzle & Word Games |
| Category rank | #3 of 12 | #9 of 12 |
| Developer | The New York Times Company | Fanatee |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is NYT Games better than CodyCross?
NYT Games is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 7.7. NYT Games wins on 4 of the 5 scores, CodyCross on 1.
Which is cheaper, NYT Games or CodyCross?
NYT Games: Wordle, Connections and Strands are free; a Games subscription unlocks the rest. CodyCross: Free with ads; $0.99 buys 30 ad-free days, and a monthly Club plan is listed from $3.99. On value for money, NYT Games scores higher.
Do NYT Games and CodyCross work on the same devices?
Only NYT Games runs on Web.
Which is more private, NYT Games or CodyCross?
CodyCross scores higher on privacy (5.8/10). App Store label: purchases, identifiers and usage data may be used to track you; contact info, user content and diagnostics are also among the data linked to your identity.
Strengths and weaknesses
NYT Games
- Fresh puzzles every day across many styles
- The biggest names, Wordle and Connections, stay free
- Stats, streaks and friend leaderboards built in
- Heavy tracking listed on the App Store label
- The Crossword and archive need a subscription
- The App Store listing notes ads in the app
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.
Full NYT Games review
CodyCross
- Trivia clues teach you something as you solve
- Daily puzzles on top of a long main map
- Main map levels play offline once loaded
- An ad after each level unless you pay
- Loot boxes, and limited energy for missions
- Daily puzzles and new worlds need a connection
CodyCross turns the crossword into a trivia tour. Clues come from general knowledge across themed worlds, every grid hides a secret word, and Today's Crossword and Today's Password give you a reason to come back daily. Levels on the main map work offline once they've loaded. Free play brings an ad after each level, though, and loot-box packs and limited mission energy keep nudging you toward the store.
Full CodyCross review
