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13h ago

New York Times Puts Mini Crossword Behind Paywall After a Decade of Free Play

The company says the change supports its push to grow paid games subscriptions, with a mix of free titles remaining.

NYT Mini
The New York Times building is seen in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 3, 2020.
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Overview

  • The Mini Crossword is now available only to subscribers on plans that include NYT Games, according to the Times' help page.
  • NYT officials say other popular games such as Wordle, Connections, Strands, and Sudoku remain free as the company continues to experiment with its mix.
  • Many regular players voiced anger and disappointment across X, TikTok, and Reddit after encountering the new paywall this week.
  • Access has appeared inconsistent during the rollout, with some users reporting app access even as the web version displayed a subscription prompt.
  • NYT Games typically costs $6 per month or $50 per year, and outlets noted a limited-time $18 annual deal, as coverage also pointed players to free alternatives and public library access.