The New York Times Games subscription gives you unlimited access to the Times's daily puzzles and games for a monthly fee
The New York Times Games subscription is a separate paid service from the Times's news subscription. It includes unlimited plays of the daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and other games the Times publishes. You can play on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — and your progress syncs across them.
The subscription costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year when paid annually. The Times occasionally offers promotional rates for new subscribers. You can cancel at any time, and your access ends at the end of your billing period.
If you already have a New York Times news subscription (digital or print), you get Games access included at no extra cost. You do not need to buy Games separately if you are already paying for news.
Key Takeaways
- The Games subscription costs $2.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly and covers unlimited plays of crosswords, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and other daily puzzles.
- News subscribers automatically get Games access included, so you only pay separately if you want Games alone.
- You can play on phone, tablet, or computer, and your scores and streaks follow you across devices.
- The subscription renews automatically each month or year unless you cancel before your billing date.
What games are included in the subscription
The subscription covers the Times's full daily games lineup. The Crossword is the flagship puzzle — the Times publishes one each day, and the difficulty increases from Monday (easiest) to Sunday (hardest). Spelling Bee gives you seven letters and asks you to form as many words as possible using each letter only as many times as it appears. Letter Boxed arranges nine letters in a box and asks you to form a chain of words using each letter only once.
Waffle is a grid puzzle where you fill in words both across and down, similar to a crossword but with a different structure. Quordle is a variant of Wordle where you solve four Wordle puzzles at once. The Times also rotates in other games like Connections, which asks you to group 16 words into four categories of four words each.
All of these games reset daily, so you get a fresh puzzle each morning. You can also replay any past puzzle from the Times's archive, which goes back years for most games.
How to set up and manage your subscription
To start a Games subscription, go to the New York Times Games website or open the Times Games app on your phone. Tap "Subscribe" and choose your plan — monthly or annual. You will be asked to create or sign into a New York Times account and enter a payment method. The Times accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay or Google Pay if you are subscribing through an app.
Your subscription begins immediately after payment. You can start playing right away. If you are already logged into a Times account on your device, you may already see your subscription active without needing to log in again.
To cancel, log into your account on the Times website, go to your subscription settings, and select "Cancel subscription." You will be asked to confirm. Your access continues through the end of your current billing period — if you cancel mid-month, you keep access until your next billing date.
News subscription holders and Games access
If you pay for a New York Times news subscription — either digital-only or the print-plus-digital bundle — Games access is already included. You do not need to buy a separate Games subscription. Log into the same account you use for news, and your Games access will be there.
This matters because it saves money if you already read the Times. A digital news subscription costs $17 per month or $170 per year, and it includes Games at no additional charge. Buying Games separately would cost extra on top of that.
If you have a news subscription but do not see Games access, check that you are logged into the correct account. Some older accounts or accounts created before Games was added to the bundle may need to be updated. Contact Times customer service if you believe you should have access but do not.
Playing across devices and tracking your progress
Your Games subscription works on the New York Times website, the Games app for iPhone and iPad, and the Games app for Android. When you log into the same account on any device, your scores, streaks, and statistics follow you. If you solve the crossword on your phone in the morning, you can see that solve recorded in your stats when you check on your computer later.
Streaks — the number of consecutive days you have solved a particular game — are tracked separately for each game. Your crossword streak is independent of your Spelling Bee streak, for example. The app shows your current streak and your best streak for each game.
Statistics are stored on the Times's servers, so they persist even if you delete the app or switch devices. You can view your stats by tapping your profile icon in the app or logging into your account on the website.
Troubleshooting common subscription issues
If you are charged but do not see access, check that you are logged into the correct account. The Times account you use to subscribe must be the same one you log into to play. If you have multiple Times accounts, make sure you are using the one tied to your payment method.
If your subscription expired or was cancelled, you will see a prompt to renew when you try to play unlimited games. Free users can play one game per day for free, but unlimited access requires an active subscription.
If you are having trouble cancelling or your subscription renewed after you cancelled, contact New York Times customer service through the website. They can review your account and process a refund if the cancellation did not go through properly. Keep your confirmation email from when you cancelled, as it helps them locate your request.
Comparing Games to other puzzle subscriptions
The New York Times Games subscription is one option among several puzzle services. The Washington Post offers a games subscription that includes crosswords, Spelling Bee (which the Post also publishes), and other puzzles. Penny Dell Crosswords and Universal Crosswords are standalone crossword apps with their own subscriptions. Some people subscribe to multiple services because they prefer different puzzle styles or want more variety.
The Times Games subscription is popular because the crossword is well-known and the other games are well-designed, but it is not the only choice. If you are trying to decide whether to subscribe, consider whether you actually play the games regularly. Many people find they use only one or two games regularly and do not need the full subscription.
If you already have a news subscription, the decision is simpler — Games is included, so you might as well try it. If you are considering Games alone, a one-month trial at $2.99 lets you see whether you will use it enough to justify the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Times games for free?
Yes. Free users can play one game per day across the Times's games lineup. You choose which game to play that day. A subscription removes this limit and lets you play unlimited games, plus access the full archive of past puzzles.
Do I need a separate account for Games if I have a news subscription?
No. Use the same New York Times account you use for news. Games access is automatically included with your news subscription, and you access it by logging in with that account.
What happens to my scores if I cancel?
Your scores and statistics are saved on the Times's servers. If you cancel and resubscribe later, your stats will still be there when you log back in. Cancelling does not delete your account or your history.
Can I share my subscription with family members?
The Times does not officially support account sharing. Each person should have their own account and subscription. Some families share a news subscription through the Times's family plan, which includes Games access for all members, but this requires setting up separate accounts within the family plan.
Is there a student discount for Games?
The Times offers discounted news subscriptions for students, and those include Games access. Games alone does not have a separate student discount, but if you are a student, check whether you may have access to for the news subscription discount, which would give you Games at a lower overall cost.