Free to Fee: NYT Games Require Subscription

For years, the New York Times offered free access to some of its most popular games, including the Mini Crossword, Tiles, and Letter Boxed. However, on August 27, 2025, NYT began requiring a paid subscription of about $50 per year for an individual Games subscription, or around $10 per month for a family plan that grants access to multiple users. This sudden change has caused chaos among users as they bring up the issue of how their small daily joys now come with a price tag. 

The online response to this change has been overwhelmingly negative, with many fans expressing their dissatisfaction on social media platforms. One user’s post on Twitter reads, “Finding out the NYT mini crossword is now behind a paywall has done irreparable damage to my spirit.” Many users have expressed similar opinions across other platforms, mourning the loss of their favorite games. Social platforms have become divided on the topic: some argue about whether the subscription is worth it, and many have decided to move on from the games they once loved.

Why did they make this big change? The NYT placed its popular games behind a paywall to increase its profit through subscriptions and support the creation of more advanced puzzles. While this makes sense from a business perspective, it has upset many players who feel that they’ve been unfairly stripped of their free games. Even from the company’s standpoint, this move may be backfiring, with many subscribers standing in solidarity with the unsubscribed. Some players have begun to cancel their subscriptions in protest, as one shared with The Daily Dot: “I am boycotting the NYT Games app bc they paywalled the Mini Crossword. I feel hurt and betrayed. My morning routine is ruined now. I’m giving up my Wordle streak for this protest so you know it’s serious.” Others have stopped playing the games altogether, arguing that they are not worth the monthly payment. 

From a business perspective, this backlash could hurt the NYT in the long run. Protests online and cancellations show that the NYT may have underestimated how much people valued free access. Specifically, younger players are typically less willing to pay and are more likely to voice their anger online, which could damage the brand’s reputation. The NYT’s sudden change has also raised concerns about the future of other popular games. Fans fear that the NYT may eventually do the same with Wordle, Connections, and Strands, forcing players to pay or give up their streak. Players worry that this shift undermines the sense of community that made them popular as they become less accessible. As subscriptions become the norm, users must decide whether these games are worth the cost.

For the NYT, the challenge now is balancing profit with goodwill. The games became popular because they were easy to access and share, bringing in people who might not otherwise interact with the Times. Restricting that access risks cutting off the very audience that helped them grow. Keeping basic versions free while charging for extra features like streak protection or bonus puzzles could offer a compromise that helps reach revenue goals and keep people happy. In the long run, how the NYT handles this controversy could shape its reputation as an entertainment platform. If this continues, the company may lose players and weaken its influence in the game space. But if it listens to the protests and changes, it has the chance to rebuild trust and show that it values both profit and player loyalty.

With all that being said, you might think that all hope is lost for your favorite online games. But BISV students, do not fear! Both The Quill and The Inkwell will now feature mini puzzles, crosswords, and other small activities, giving readers a chance to enjoy the challenges on campus for free!

Sources:

Frankel, Jillian. “’The New York Times’ Places Mini Crossword Behind Its Paywall After a Decade of Free Gameplay.” People.com, 28 August 2025, https://people.com/the-new-york-times-moves-mini-crossword-behind-paywall-11799869? Accessed 4 September 2025https://www.reuters.com/business/new-york-times-subscriptions-boosted-by-bundling-news-lifestyle-content-2025-08-06/.

Houston, Melissa, and C. Pinkerson. “NYT Mini Crossword Moved Behind Paywall, Fans Frustrated.” Los Angeles Magazine, 29 August 2025, https://lamag.com/gaming/the-new-york-times-mini-crossword-goes-behind-a-paywall-and-players-are-not-happy/? Accessed 4 September 2025.

Singh, Jaspreet, et al. “New York Times subscriptions boosted by bundling of news and lifestyle content.” Reuters, 6 August 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/new-york-times-subscriptions-boosted-by-bundling-news-lifestyle-content-2025-08-06/. Accessed 8 September 2025.