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 their website and mobile apps. The bundle includes the daily Crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and Tiles games, plus the archive of past puzzles going back years. You also get access to the Mini Crossword, which is shorter than the main puzzle and released daily.

The subscription is separate from a New York Times news subscription. You can buy Games alone, or bundle it with a news subscription at a discounted rate. The Games-only subscription costs $40 per year or $4 per month if you pay monthly. If you already have a news subscription, you can add Games for $40 per year.

The games are the same ones available free on the Times website, but the subscription removes the limit on how many you can play each day. Without a subscription, you can play one puzzle of each type per day for free.

Key Takeaways

  • The Games subscription costs $40 per year or $4 per month and includes unlimited plays of all daily puzzles and access to the archive.
  • You can play one free puzzle of each type per day without a subscription, but a subscription removes that limit.
  • The subscription works on the New York Times website and on their official mobile apps for iOS and Android.
  • If you already subscribe to New York Times news, you can add Games for the same $40 annual price rather than paying full price twice.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings, and you will not be charged again after your current billing period ends.

How to start a Games subscription

Go to games.nytimes.com and look for the "Subscribe" button, usually in the upper right corner of the page. Click it and you will be taken to a sign-up page. If you do not already have a New York Times account, you will create one using an email address and password.

On the payment page, choose whether you want to pay monthly ($4) or annually ($40). Enter your payment method — the Times accepts major credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. After your payment processes, your subscription is active when ready and you can play unlimited games right away.

If you already have a New York Times account from a news subscription or a previous Games trial, sign in with that account instead of creating a new one. The Times will recognize your existing account and add the Games subscription to it.

Playing games on different devices

You can play your Games subscription on the web at games.nytimes.com using any browser on any computer. The experience is the same whether you use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge.

The New York Times also offers official mobile apps for iPhone and iPad (through the App Store) and for Android phones and tablets (through Google Play). read the app, sign in with the same email and password you used to set up your subscription, and your games will be available. The mobile apps let you play offline — you can start a puzzle without an internet connection and finish it later.

Your progress syncs across devices. If you start the daily Crossword on your phone, you can finish it on your computer and the puzzle will show as complete on both.

Managing your subscription and billing

To see your subscription status, billing date, and payment method, sign into your New York Times account and go to your account settings. Look for a section labeled "Subscriptions" or "Billing." You will see your Games subscription listed with the next billing date.

If you want to change your payment method, update your email address, or view past invoices, you can do all of that in the same account settings area. The Times will send you a reminder email a few days before your subscription renews.

If you cancel your subscription, you will keep access to your Games until the end of your current billing period. For example, if you pay monthly and cancel on the 15th of the month, you can still play unlimited games until the end of that month. After that date, you will return to the free tier (one puzzle per day).

Troubleshooting common problems

If you are signed in but still see the "Subscribe" button instead of your games, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then sign out and sign back in. If you are using the mobile app, try closing it completely and reopening it. If the problem persists, sign out of the app, delete it, and reinstall it from the App Store or Google Play.

If your payment was declined, check that your card has not expired and that you have enough available credit. The Times will also send you an email explaining why the payment failed. You can update your payment method in account settings and the Times will retry the charge automatically.

If you were charged twice in one billing cycle, contact New York Times customer service through your account settings. They can review your billing history and issue a refund if there was an error. Keep in mind that if you switched from monthly to annual billing (or vice versa), you may see two charges close together as the old subscription ends and the new one begins.

Bundling Games with a news subscription

If you already pay for a New York Times news subscription, you can add Games without paying the full $40 again. The add-on price is also $40 per year, but you only pay it once. Some promotional offers bundle both together at a discount — these vary by season and by whether you are a new or returning subscriber.

To add Games to an existing news subscription, sign into your account, go to your subscriptions page, and look for an option to add Games. You can also call New York Times customer service and they will add it for you. The Games subscription will renew on the same date as your news subscription, so you have one billing date instead of two.

If you have a news subscription through a third-party service like Apple News+ or a mobile carrier, Games may already be included. Check your account settings or contact that service's support to confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play New York Times games for free?

Yes. Without a subscription, you can play one puzzle of each game type per day for free. This includes the daily Crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and Tiles. The subscription removes the one-per-day limit so you can play as many as you want.

What happens to my games if I cancel?

Your saved progress on puzzles stays in your account. If you cancel and later resubscribe, your puzzle history and statistics will still be there. During the time you are not subscribed, you can only play one free puzzle per day, but your old data is not deleted.

Can I share my subscription with family members?

The New York Times Games subscription is tied to your individual account and is not meant to be shared. Each person who wants unlimited access needs their own subscription. Some families use a shared email account, but the Times's terms of service do not officially support account sharing.

Is there a free trial?

The New York Times occasionally offers free trial periods for Games, usually one week or one month. These are promoted on the Games website and through email if you have a New York Times account. Trial availability changes throughout the year, so check the subscribe page to see if one is currently running.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind?

Refund policies vary depending on how long you have had the subscription and your payment method. Contact New York Times customer service through your account settings to discuss your situation. They are generally willing to refund recent charges if you cancel within a short window of signing up.