The New York Times Games subscription gives you unlimited access to the Times's puzzle collection — the daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and others — for a monthly fee
The subscription is separate from a New York Times news subscription. You can buy games alone, buy news alone, or bundle both. The games subscription costs less than the news subscription and does not include access to articles. If you already pay for Times news, you can add games to your existing account, though the bundled price is usually lower than paying for both separately.
You access games through the New York Times website or through the official New York Times Games app on iOS and Android. Once you subscribe, all puzzles from the current day and the archive are available to you. You can play on any device where you log in with your account.
Key Takeaways
- The Games subscription covers daily puzzles including the crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and Tiles, plus archives of past puzzles.
- You can subscribe to games only, or bundle games with a news subscription at a lower combined price than buying each separately.
- The subscription works across the website and the official mobile app on both iPhone and Android devices.
- Some puzzles remain free to play each day; the subscription removes paywalls and gives you access to the full archive.
- You can cancel anytime through your account settings, and your access ends at the end of your billing period.
What puzzles are included in the Games subscription
The subscription includes the daily crossword, which is the Times's most popular puzzle. The crossword difficulty increases from Monday (easiest) to Sunday (hardest). You also get Spelling Bee, where you form words from seven letters arranged in a honeycomb, and Letter Boxed, a word puzzle where you connect letters around a box's perimeter.
Waffle is a grid puzzle similar to a crossword but played on a five-by-five grid with fewer clues. Tiles is a word-building game where you match letters to form words. The subscription also includes Vertex, a strategy game played on a grid, and access to archives of all these puzzles going back several years.
Some puzzles, like the daily crossword and Spelling Bee, have a free version available each day with limited plays. The subscription removes those limits and gives you the full archive. Other puzzles may be games-subscriber-only from the start.
How much the subscription costs and billing options
The New York Times does not publish a single fixed price for the Games subscription. The cost varies depending on your location, whether you are a new or returning subscriber, and current promotions. Introductory rates for new subscribers are typically lower than the regular monthly price.
You can also bundle the Games subscription with a Times news subscription. The bundled price is usually less than the cost of buying both separately. If you already subscribe to Times news, you can add games to your account; the system will show you the additional cost or may offer a bundled rate.
Billing is monthly, and you can cancel anytime through your account settings. Your access continues until the end of the billing period you have paid for. The Times does not offer refunds for partial months.
How to set up and manage your Games subscription
To start a Games subscription, visit the New York Times Games website and look for the subscription option. You will need to create a Times account or log in if you already have one. You will then enter payment information and confirm your subscription.
If you already have a Times news subscription, log into your account, go to your account settings, and look for the option to add Games. The system will show you the cost to add Games to your existing plan or offer you a bundled rate.
You can access your subscription on the web at nytimes.com/games or through the official New York Times Games app. Log in with the same account on any device. Your subscription follows your account, not your device, so you can play on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Managing your subscription and cancellation
To manage your subscription, log into your New York Times account and go to your account settings or subscription page. There you can view your billing date, payment method, and subscription details. You can update your payment information or change your plan from this page.
To cancel, go to your account settings, find your Games subscription, and select the cancel option. Your access will continue until the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged again after cancellation. If you cancel and later want to resubscribe, you can do so at any time through the same process.
Free puzzles versus subscription puzzles
The New York Times offers some puzzles free to all users each day. The daily crossword, Spelling Bee, and Letter Boxed each allow one free play per day. After you use your free play, you hit a paywall unless you subscribe.
With a Games subscription, you get unlimited plays of each daily puzzle and full access to archives going back years. You can replay old puzzles, try harder versions, or solve as many of the current day's puzzles as you want. Non-subscribers can also access some puzzles through the free app or by solving the free version on the website.
Using the Games app on your phone
The official New York Times Games app is available free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Download the app and log in with your Times account. If you have a Games subscription, it will automatically unlock in the app.
The app works offline for some puzzles, though you need an internet connection to sync your progress across devices and to access the full puzzle library. Notifications can alert you when new daily puzzles are available. You can customize notification settings in the app's preferences.
The app is the same subscription — you do not need to pay separately for the app if you already subscribe on the web, and vice versa. Your subscription and your progress sync across all devices where you log in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a news subscription to get the Games subscription?
No. You can buy a Games subscription on its own without subscribing to Times news. However, if you already subscribe to news, you can add Games to your account, often at a lower bundled rate than buying each separately.
Can I play the crossword for free?
Yes, you get one free play of the daily crossword each day. After that, you hit a paywall. A Games subscription removes the paywall and lets you play unlimited times, plus access the full archive of past crosswords.
Will my subscription work on my phone and computer?
Yes. Your subscription is tied to your Times account, not to a specific device. Log in on your phone, tablet, or computer, and your subscription works on all of them. Your progress syncs across devices when you have an internet connection.
What happens if I cancel my subscription?
Your access continues until the end of the billing period you have already paid for. After that date, you lose access to subscriber-only puzzles and the archive. You can resubscribe anytime by logging into your account and selecting the subscription option again.
Is there a way to try the subscription before paying?
The Times sometimes offers free trial periods for new subscribers, though this varies by location and promotion. Check the subscription page to see if a trial is currently available in your area. You will need to enter payment information to start a trial, and you must cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged.