A Definitive Ranking of Every New York Times Game

Wordle became very popular in 2022. Two years later, we still tune into the New York Times website to solve the puzzle every day. But did you know the publication has many other games, too?

the new york times apps

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Below, discover everything they have and our opinions on them in this definitive ranking.

8. Spelling Bee

When we first found Spelling Bee, we thought it would be one of our favorite games. However, the limited letters create too much of a roadblock that we cannot get past more than five words. It's like our minds go blank, which means we may as well not play the game past a certain point. If that center letter didn't exist, it would probably rank much higher on this list.

 

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7. Connections

Second to Wordle, Connections is probably the most popular game on the New York Times website. After all, it does sound exciting to search for ties between the different letters. Unfortunately, the publication is notorious for creating the most random categories possible—ones you'd never think of. If the game was more straightforward, we'd also like this one more.

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6. Strands

In theory, Strands should be very thrilling. We love the concept of a more intense word search game. As we mentioned earlier, the New York Times has a pattern of stretching its categories. So, when we play, we end up looking for any word we can find and use as many hints as possible, which takes most of the enjoyment out of it.

 

5. Sudoku

We've known how to play Sudoku for many years. While it's a lot of fun, we won't run to the New York Times website when it has more exclusive games. We'll stick with our trusted app!

sudoku app

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4. Letter Boxed

Letter Boxed surprisingly takes more brain power than you'd think, but unlike the other games, the possibilities seem grander (and more accessible) with this one versus Spelling Bee or Strands. Because of that, there's no rage quitting. Even though it may technically be easier, that satisfaction once you finally finish the box is still otherworldly.

 

Also read about: 12 Games You HAVE to Play If You Have a Playdate Gaming System

 

3. Tiles

When we first started creating this list, we had Tiles at the end of our ranking. At first, it didn't make sense. It was more like we were pressing buttons and hoping something would land. That was until we figured it out. Now, it's quickly become a mindless way to identify patterns. We'll admit we're not the best at it, but we're sure this newfound addiction will create an expert in us soon enough.

 

2. Vertex

As you can guess, we like the games that lean more into our artistic side. We'd rather deal with pictures than letters and numbers. Compared to Tiles, Vertex creates slightly more of a challenge. Plus, it's exciting to see what the image will become. Today, it was a strawberry, which made us even happier.

 

1. Wordle

Ah, yes. Classic Wordle. This five-letter word game started our addiction to the website's offerings. We mentioned earlier we didn't love working with letters, but Wordle is easy enough for anyone to enjoy. Compared to the other games, it's been the most effective at expanding our knowledge, too.

wordle on an iphone

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Searching for even more brain games? Click HERE to discover five exciting pop culture-themed puzzles to help you unplug.

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