The New York Times has steadily built an impressive collection of games on its platform, now offering nine unique puzzles for players to enjoy. These games vary in difficulty, style, and skills required, providing something for everyone from word-based challenges to visual and luck-based puzzles. I spent time with each of these games to help students decide which ones to use their precious break time for.
The Crossword: 3/10
A newspaper classic, the Times offers the timeless challenge of filling in clues to complete a grid. While it’s a reliable option for crossword fans, it lacks innovation. The puzzle is also sometimes overly challenging for students, as it includes increasingly difficult clues and a design that caters more to crossword enthusiasts than casual players.
Take, for example, a clue in 2017 that asked, “Google something,” with the answer being EGOSURF. The term egosurf refers to the act of searching for your own name online, a common practice in our digitally obsessed world. So if you got that clue right, congratulations! You must be a seasoned self-Googleer.
Additionally, a subscription is required to access the full set of crossword puzzles, which adds another barrier. For students with busy schedules, this can make The Crossword feel more like a chore than a fun break from the day. While there’s a sense of satisfaction when you complete a tough crossword, the level of difficulty, combined with the paywall, limits its appeal for the average player.
The Mini: 8/10
Unlike its full-sized counterpart, The Mini is a more compact and accessible version of the classic crossword, offering a short but satisfying challenge. It retains the fun word-clue solving of the larger crossword but takes only a few minutes to complete, perfect for students who want a quick mental break without dedicating too much time.
The Mini is available without a subscription, which makes it an easy option for everyone to enjoy. The variety in difficulty from day to day keeps things fresh, and while it doesn’t provide the depth of the full crossword, the balance between challenge and speed makes it a great addition to any student’s routine. If you’re looking for something engaging but not too time-consuming, The Mini hits the sweet spot.
Spelling Bee: 0/10
The Spelling Bee is boring at best. The concept of the game feels tedious, and its repetitive nature makes it more of a chore than a fun distraction.
The objective is to use a set of letters to form as many words as possible, with each word required to include the day’s central letter. However, after reaching a certain score, players are locked out unless they subscribe, which kills much of the fun and limits the game’s appeal.
The repetitive and limited gameplay can lead to frustration. Without enough variation to keep things interesting, the Spelling Bee doesn’t do enough to engage players, especially when compared to more dynamic word games on the platform.
Wordle: 9/10
The Wordle is the most well known out of all the Times’ games, and for good reason. Simple in concept yet surprisingly tricky, Wordle gives players six chances to guess a five-letter word, using feedback on which letters are correct (green), which are in the word but in the wrong spot (yellow), and which don’t belong at all (gray).
The combination of logic and deduction makes each game feel rewarding even on tough days. Additionally, its quick and straightforward gameplay makes it easy to squeeze into a busy student’s schedule—you can complete a round in just a few minutes, making it perfect for a brief break between classes.
While the luck element can occasionally be frustrating, the challenge and satisfaction of solving the daily Wordle keeps players coming back. The built-in social component of sharing results also adds to its appeal, making it not only a game but a community experience. It’s easy to see why this game has become such a viral hit.
Strands: 7/10
Strands is a newer game in the lineup offering a creative twist on word searches. Players must connect adjacent letters on a six-by-eight grid to form words, but the real challenge lies in finding the theme words (in blue), and the “Spangram” (in yellow). You’re tasked with finding the themed words that use every letter on the grid once. They all come together along with the Spangram—a special word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
It sounds complicated, but Strands is surprisingly easy to pick up. It has a balance between being challenging and manageable, thanks to the inclusion of hints. There are also tactics that come with these hints: it is more impressive to solve the Strands with no clues, but when stuck, they are a great option that keeps the game going.
However, Strands’ novelty wears off faster than some other games, making it a solid but not outstanding option for students. It’s a fun third or fourth game to play after you’ve tackled Wordle or Connections, but is not likely to become your go-to game.
Connections: 10/10
Connections is hands-down one of the best games the Times offers. Players are presented with a list of words and must figure out how they can be grouped into four different categories. The difficulty ranges from simple categories like synonyms to obscure trivia that will have you scratching your head. The balance in challenge, along with the variety of categories, keeps each round fresh and exciting.
This variety keeps the game engaging, and the educational aspect is a bonus—I often finish a puzzle having learned something new or feeling compelled to look up an unfamiliar word or concept.
However, the real charm of Connections lies in its collaborative potential. It’s the perfect game to play with friends, as brainstorming together makes the problem-solving process more engaging and fun. You can bounce ideas off each other without revealing the full solution, making it a social experience as much as a mental challenge.
The sense of accomplishment when you finally crack the hardest set is addictively satisfying. Whether you’re working alone or with friends, Connections deserves a top spot in your daily puzzle routine.
Letter Boxed: 1/10
Letter Boxed asks players to form words by connecting letters on the edges of a square, with the rule that consecutive letters cannot come from the same side. While this seems like it could be an interesting concept, the game quickly becomes frustrating. The restrictions on how you can select letters make it difficult to form coherent words without a lot of trial and error, and this leads to more frustration than fun.
Even when you do manage to form a word, the sense of accomplishment feels underwhelming compared to the effort it takes to get there. Unlike other Times games that balance challenge with enjoyment, Letter Boxed feels overly complicated for no real reason, making it easy to lose interest after a few rounds. Overall, it lacks the engaging flow and dynamic play that could make it a go-to choice.
Tiles: 4/10
Tiles is one of the more visually appealing games in the collection, offering a calming, meditative experience. The goal is to match similar geometric designs until the entire board is cleared. It’s not a word or number game, making it a nice change of pace for those looking to unwind rather than face a mental challenge.
However, Tiles lacks the strategic depth that keeps players hooked on other games. While it can be relaxing, it doesn’t offer the same level of engagement or replayability as the word puzzles. It’s a good option if you’re looking for something soothing, but if you want more of a challenge, look elsewhere.
Sudoku: 4/10
Sudoku is a well-known number puzzle that tasks players with filling a 9×9 grid so that each row, column, and box contains the digits 1 through 9 without repeating. While Sudoku is a nice break from the word-focused games, the Times version doesn’t offer anything particularly new or exciting. It’s a solid option for those who love logic puzzles, but it doesn’t stand out in the sea of free Sudoku apps already available.
The harder levels can be quite challenging, making it a decent choice if you’re looking for a more difficult brain teaser. However, for students who prefer quicker, more accessible games, Sudoku may not make the cut.
