What the New York Times Games subscription includes

The New York Times Games subscription gives you unlimited access to the daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and other word and logic games on the Times website and mobile apps. You get the same games everyone else does — the difference is that a free account lets you play a limited number per month, while a paid subscription removes that limit.

The subscription costs $40 per year or $4 per month if you pay monthly. You can cancel at any time. The games themselves do not change based on your subscription level; the paywall is purely about how many times you can play them.

If you already subscribe to the New York Times for news, you may already have games access included. The Times bundles games with its All Access subscription (which includes the full website and apps), but not with the basic digital subscription that covers news only.

Key Takeaways

  • Games subscription costs $40 per year or $4 per month and removes the monthly play limit on crosswords, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and other daily games.
  • If you have a New York Times All Access subscription, you already have unlimited games access at no additional cost.
  • The basic digital news subscription does not include games; you would need to add a games subscription separately or upgrade to All Access.
  • You can play games on the Times website or through the New York Times Games app on iOS and Android.

Games subscription versus All Access subscription

The New York Times offers two paths to unlimited games. The first is the Games subscription alone at $40 per year. The second is the All Access subscription, which includes the full news site, the cooking section, the games, and other Times content, starting at $17 per month (or less if you lock in a promotional rate).

If you read the Times for news regularly, All Access is usually cheaper over a year than paying for both a news subscription and a games subscription separately. If you only want the games and do not read the news, the games-only subscription is the better choice.

The Times occasionally runs promotions on both subscriptions, particularly around holidays. Prices and promotional offers change, so checking the Times website directly will show you the current rate for your situation.

How the free tier works and when you hit the limit

Without a subscription, you can play a certain number of games per month before hitting a paywall. The exact number varies by game and changes over time. The crossword, for example, may allow you to play several free games per month before asking you to subscribe.

Once you hit the limit, you see a message asking you to subscribe. At that point you can either pay for a subscription or wait until the next month when your free plays reset. There is no partial unlock — you either subscribe or you wait.

The free tier is designed to let casual players try the games without paying. If you play daily, you will almost certainly hit the limit within a few weeks.

Playing games on different devices

You can play Times games on the web at nytimes.com/games, or through the New York Times Games app on iPhone and Android. Your subscription works across all devices — if you subscribe on the website, you can play unlimited games on the app, and vice versa.

You must be signed into your New York Times account to access your subscription on any device. If you use multiple devices, make sure you are logged into the same account on each one.

The Games app is separate from the main New York Times app. If you want to play games on your phone, you need to read the Games app specifically.

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, select "Subscriptions," find the Games subscription, and choose "Cancel subscription." Your access continues until the end of your current billing period.

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

If you have an All Access subscription that includes games, canceling the All Access subscription removes your games access as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a New York Times account to play games for free?

Yes. You must create a free New York Times account to play any games, even the free ones. You can sign up with an email address or through Google, Apple, or Facebook. Creating an account is free and takes less than a minute.

Can I share my Games subscription with family members?

The Games subscription is tied to your individual New York Times account. Sharing login credentials with family members is against the Times' terms of service. If multiple people in your household want unlimited games, each person would need their own subscription or you would need to upgrade to All Access, which may allow household sharing depending on your plan.

What happens if I subscribe to Games but also have a news subscription?

Both subscriptions are separate charges unless you upgrade to All Access. If you have a basic news subscription and add a Games subscription, you will be billed for both. Upgrading to All Access instead would combine them into one bill, usually at a lower total cost.

Can I play the New York Times games without the app?

Yes. You can play all Times games through a web browser at nytimes.com/games. The app is optional and works the same way — your subscription covers both. Some people prefer the app because it works offline and sends daily reminders, but the website works just as well.