The New York Times offers a standalone games subscription separate from its news subscription

The New York Times Games subscription is a separate paid service from the Times' news subscription. You can buy it on its own, or bundle it with a news subscription. The games subscription gives you access to the Times' daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and other word and logic puzzles through the Times' website and mobile apps.

The subscription is optional — the Times publishes one free crossword puzzle each day that anyone can solve without paying. The paid subscription removes the daily limit and lets you solve past puzzles going back years, plus access to harder difficulty levels and special themed puzzles.

You do not need a news subscription to buy games alone. Many people subscribe to games only, especially if they already read the Times through a library or another source.

Key Takeaways

  • The New York Times Games subscription costs around $40 per year or roughly $4 per month when billed monthly, though prices vary by region and may change.
  • You can solve one free crossword daily without a subscription, but the paid version removes daily limits and unlocks the full puzzle archive.
  • Games and news subscriptions are separate products — you can buy either one alone or bundle them together at a discount.
  • The subscription works on the Times website and on iOS and Android apps, and you can sync your progress across devices.

What games are included in the subscription

The subscription includes the daily crossword puzzle, which is the Times' most popular game. Subscribers can solve the current day's puzzle at any difficulty level (Monday through Sunday, with Monday being easiest and Sunday hardest), plus access every crossword published since 2014.

Spelling Bee is a word puzzle where you form words from seven letters arranged in a honeycomb. One letter is in the center and must appear in every word. The subscription removes the daily puzzle limit so you can play as many Spelling Bee puzzles as you want.

Other included games are Letter Boxed (a word puzzle using letters in a box), Waffle (a grid puzzle similar to a crossword but with a different structure), Strands (a word-finding game), and Quordle (a variation of Wordle). The Times also rotates in special puzzles and themed versions of existing games.

The exact list of games can change. The Times has added new games to the subscription over time, and may continue to do so.

Pricing and how to buy

The games subscription costs approximately $40 per year when billed annually, or around $4 per month when billed monthly. Prices vary by region and the Times may adjust them, so check the current price on the Times' website when you are ready to buy.

You can purchase the games subscription directly through the New York Times website or through the iOS App Store or Google Play Store if you are using a mobile app. If you buy through an app store, the payment goes through that store rather than directly to the Times, and you manage the subscription through your app store account.

The Times also offers a bundle that combines the games subscription with a news subscription at a lower total price than buying both separately. The bundle price varies depending on which news subscription tier you choose (basic, standard, or premium).

If you already have a news subscription, you can add games to your account. Log into your Times account and look for the option to add or upgrade your subscription.

How to access your games across devices

Once you have a games subscription, you can play on the Times website (games.nytimes.com) and on the official New York Times app for iPhone and Android. Your progress syncs across all devices — if you start a crossword on your phone, you can finish it on your computer and your answers will be saved.

You must be logged into your New York Times account to access your subscription on any device. If you buy the subscription through an app store, make sure you sign in with the same account you used to purchase it.

The Times also publishes some games in print in the newspaper itself. A print subscription to the Times includes access to the digital games subscription as well.

Canceling or pausing your subscription

You can cancel your games subscription at any time through your account settings on the New York Times website. Go to your account, find the subscription section, and select the option to cancel or manage your games subscription. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you keep access until then.

If you bought the subscription through an app store, you must cancel through that app store's settings, not through the Times website. On iOS, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and find the Times Games subscription. On Android, open Google Play, go to Subscriptions, and select the Times Games subscription to cancel.

The Times does not offer a pause option — you either keep the subscription active or cancel it. If you cancel and want to resubscribe later, you can do so at any time.

Free alternatives and what you get without paying

The New York Times publishes one free crossword puzzle every day on its website. You can solve it without a subscription, but you cannot access past puzzles or harder difficulty levels. The free crossword is always available at games.nytimes.com.

Some of the other games (like Spelling Bee and Letter Boxed) also have free versions available to non-subscribers, though with limits on how many you can play per day. The exact free offerings change over time.

If you want to solve many puzzles or access the full archive, the subscription is necessary. If you only want to solve one crossword a day, the free version meets that need.

Troubleshooting common issues

If your subscription is active but you cannot access the games, first check that you are logged into your New York Times account. Log out and log back in, or try accessing games.nytimes.com in a different browser. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, which sometimes fixes access problems.

If you bought the subscription through an app store and it is not showing up in the app, check that you are signed into the app with the same account you used to purchase it. On mobile devices, you may need to close and reopen the app for the subscription to register.

If you are charged for a subscription you thought you canceled, check your app store account settings to confirm the cancellation went through. App store cancellations sometimes fail if there is a payment method issue. Contact the app store's support team if you see a charge after cancellation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my games subscription with family members?

The Times' terms of service state that subscriptions are for personal use only. Sharing login credentials violates the terms. However, family members can each buy their own subscription, and the Times sometimes offers family or household plans — check the subscription page to see what options are currently available.

Do I need a news subscription to play the games?

No. The games subscription is completely separate. You can buy games alone without any news subscription. Many people do this if they read the Times through other means or do not want a news subscription.

What happens to my saved games if I cancel?

Your puzzle history and saved games are tied to your New York Times account. If you cancel and resubscribe later, your history remains in your account. However, if you delete your account entirely, all saved data is lost.

Can I play the games offline?

No. The games require an internet connection to load and to save your progress. You cannot download puzzles to play without internet access.

Is there a student discount for the games subscription?

The Times does not currently offer a separate student discount for the games subscription. Student discounts apply to the news subscription only. Check the Times' website for current offers, as this may change.