What the New York Times Games subscription includes
The New York Times Games subscription gives you unlimited access to the Times's puzzle collection through a single monthly or annual payment. You get the daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and several others, plus access to the full archive of past puzzles going back years. Without a subscription, you can solve a limited number of puzzles each month before hitting a paywall.
The subscription is separate from a New York Times news subscription. You can buy Games alone, or bundle it with a news subscription if you want both. The Games app and website work on phones, tablets, and computers.
Key Takeaways
- A Games subscription costs $39 per year or $3.99 per month, paid through your New York Times account.
- You get unlimited daily puzzles, access to the archive, and the ability to save your progress across devices.
- You can start a free trial to test the puzzles before you pay, and cancel anytime without penalty.
- The subscription works on the NYT Games app, the Games website, and the main New York Times app if you have a news subscription.
How to start a free trial and subscribe
Go to nytimes.com/games or open the New York Times Games app. Tap or click on any puzzle that shows a lock icon. The app will prompt you to start a free trial — the length varies, but typically lasts seven days. You will need to enter a payment method to begin the trial, but you will not be charged during the trial period.
When the trial ends, your subscription will convert to a paid plan automatically. If you do not want to continue, you can cancel through your account settings before the trial expires and you will not be charged. After you subscribe, you can log in on any device using the same New York Times account.
Pricing and payment options
The Games subscription costs $3.99 per month if you pay monthly, or $39 per year if you pay annually. The annual plan works out to about $3.25 per month. You can change your payment frequency anytime — switching from monthly to annual, or vice versa — through your account settings.
Payment is processed through your New York Times account using the payment method you have on file. If you have a news subscription, you can add Games to it, and both will appear on the same bill. You can also buy a bundle that includes both Games and a news subscription at a discounted rate, though the bundle pricing changes periodically.
Which puzzles you get access to
The subscription includes the Crossword (the daily puzzle and the Sunday puzzle), Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, Quordle, Tiles, and Vertex. Each puzzle resets daily, and you can solve them as many times as you want. You also get access to the archive, which holds thousands of past puzzles you can solve anytime.
Some puzzles are harder than others. The Crossword difficulty increases from Monday (easiest) to Sunday (hardest). Spelling Bee and Letter Boxed have a single puzzle per day. Waffle and Quordle are newer additions and may not have been part of the subscription when you started, but they are included now.
How to manage your subscription and cancel
Log into your New York Times account on any device and go to your account settings. Look for "Subscriptions" or "Manage Subscriptions." You will see your Games subscription listed with the next billing date and your payment method. From there, you can update your payment information, change your billing frequency, or cancel.
If you cancel, your access ends on the date your current billing period ends. You will not be charged again, and you can resubscribe anytime. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of that month's payment cycle.
Solving puzzles across devices and saving progress
Your puzzle progress syncs automatically across all your devices as long as you are logged into the same New York Times account. If you start the Crossword on your phone, you can pick it up on your computer and your answers will be there. The same applies to all other puzzles.
You can also check your statistics — how many puzzles you have solved, your solve streaks, and your average solve time — through the Games app or website. These stats update in real time across devices.
Troubleshooting common issues
If you are not seeing your subscription after paying, try logging out of the app or website and logging back in. Sometimes the system needs a moment to sync. If you are still locked out after 10 minutes, check your email for a receipt from the New York Times to confirm the payment went through.
If you were charged but do not see a subscription, contact New York Times customer service through your account settings. They can see your payment history and either restore your access or refund the charge. If you are having trouble canceling, the same support team can process a cancellation request for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my subscription with family members?
The subscription is tied to your individual New York Times account. Family members would need their own subscriptions. The New York Times does offer a family plan for news subscriptions that can include Games, which allows multiple people to use separate accounts under one billing arrangement. Check the bundle options when you subscribe.
What happens to my puzzle history if I cancel?
Your solve history and statistics are saved to your New York Times account. If you resubscribe later, your history will still be there. However, you will not be able to access new puzzles or the archive while your subscription is inactive.
Do I need a New York Times news subscription to buy Games?
No. Games is a separate subscription you can buy on its own. You do not need a news subscription. However, if you have both, you can bundle them for a lower combined price.
Can I use the Games subscription on the main New York Times app?
Yes, if you have a news subscription. The Games section appears in the main New York Times app for news subscribers. If you only have a Games subscription, you will use the standalone Games app or the Games website instead.
Is there a student discount for Games?
Student discounts are available for New York Times news subscriptions, but Games pricing does not typically have a separate student rate. Check the New York Times website for current offers, as promotions change seasonally.