Where PPSSPP and RetroArch are emulators that need game files from you, NYT Games ships with its puzzles already inside. The New York Times Company released it on November 16, 2016, and the latest version is 6.49.0. It needs Android 10 or newer and is free to download.
One app for a daily puzzle habit
Word and logic puzzles are usually scattered across separate apps and websites. NYT Games gathers them in one place, with a new puzzle each day for different skill levels. The set includes the Crossword, the Mini, the new Midi Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Sudoku, Strands, Pips, Tiles and Letter Boxed.
Google Play lists over 10 million installs and a 4.8 rating from about 150 thousand ratings. The content rating is Everyone.
How the Midi, Wordle and Connections work
The Midi Crossword sits between the Mini and the full Crossword in size, with approachable clues. The main Crossword gets harder as the week goes on, while the Mini keeps the same difficulty all week.
Wordle gives you six tries to find a five-letter word, and Wordle Bot reviews your guesses. Connections asks you to sort 16 terms into four categories. Spelling Bee uses seven letters, and longer word lists earn more points.
Sudoku comes in easy, medium and hard, and Pips offers three daily dominoes puzzles at the same levels.
Stats, leaderboards and the archive: check before installing
Badges cover Spelling Bee, Wordle and Connections. Stats track streaks, solved counts and average solve times. You can add friends to a leaderboard for Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee and the Mini.
The archive of over 10,000 past puzzles is for subscribers, so some content sits behind payment. The app contains in-app purchases, though it shows no ads. Tapping the light bulb opens hints and forum tips for Wordle, Connections and Spelling Bee.
NYT Games pros and cons
Pros
- Free to download and shows no ads
- Includes the official Wordle plus Connections, Spelling Bee and Strands
- Crossword difficulty rises through the week, with the Mini as a quick alternative
- Stats, badges and friend leaderboards track streaks and solve times
- Rated 4.8 on Google Play from about 150 thousand ratings
Cons
- The archive of over 10,000 past puzzles requires a subscription
- Contains in-app purchases
- Needs Android 10 or newer
Is NYT Games safe?
NYT Games comes from The New York Times Company, the publisher behind the Crossword, and is distributed through Google Play. It shows no ads and carries an Everyone content rating. It has in-app purchases, so check any subscription offer before you pay.
How to install NYT Games
- Press the Google Play button on this page.
- Check the listing in the Play Store and press Install.
- Open NYT Games when the install finishes. Updates arrive through Google Play.
