Urvi Singhvi

When I am tired, done with all my other random iPhone games and having absolutely nothing to do, I go for The New York Times but not for the news. Instead, for the plethora of games that catch my attention, from Connections to Wordle to the Mini Crossword.

We all have that one app we open when the boredom crisis reaches a different level of extreme. When I am tired, done with all my other random iPhone games and having absolutely nothing to do, I go for The New York Times but not for the news. Instead, for the plethora of games that catch my attention, from Connections to Wordle to the Mini Crossword. After dabbling in each and developing my favorites, I present my top five games from the app. 

5. Spelling Bee

In fifth place is Spelling Bee, mainly because I’ve already taken enough vocabulary tests in English. On the days where I feel especially inspired, Spelling Bee gives me a chance to either challenge myself or stare cluelessly at the hexagon-encased letters, which is what normally happens. Still, for the spellers who want to test their knowledge and ability to connect the letters into words, the Bee’s design provides an easy interface that allows users to shuffle around letters if you find yourself momentarily stuck. For me, the Bee is too similar to other word challenges like Wordscapes, so I tend to gravitate more towards the other unique NYT games. Before trying out the Bee for the first time, remember that the center letter, whose hexagon is filled with yellow, must be included in every word. Try and get that pangram by using all the letters! 

4. Sudoku

I still remember the first time I played NYT’s Sudoku. It was a lazy summer day, and I had already played through all the other games on the website. Suddenly, Sudoku piqued my interest with its challenging brain puzzles. With options for easy, medium and hard, Sudoku lets all users, including first timers like me, experience the fun. The only factor that keeps me from clicking on this game everyday is that it’s missing the unique element that exists with other NYT games, like the format of Connections or the distinct style of Wordle. Still, this game remains reliable for the days when you crave a stimulating and intensive task.

3. Wordle

Wordle: the game that kept everyone alive during the pandemic. Though I would not call myself a hardcore Wordle-r, I have had my streak of getting the word of the day within three, even two tries. Players enter their preferred five-letter starting word (mine is still adieu), crossing their fingers that most if not all the boxes on the grid will flip green and not the dreaded gray or yellow. My strategy is to always start with my trusty word, then depending on the amount of boxes flipped green, choose another word with those same correct letters. If I somehow manage to get only gray, I tend to try a word containing common letters, like “short” (s, r and t are all included). Even though frustration occasionally gets the better of me with Wordle, I still enjoy the thrill of competing with friends and family to see who guesses the word first. Who knows what adventure each day’s word holds? Maybe you’ll learn a new word, or even better, find yourself a new start. 

2. Connections

A recent addition to the Games section of New York Times, Connections tests players on their abilities to make, well, connections. Players must group 16 words into fours based on a shared trait between them. Despite only recently being introduced to the app in June 2023, Connections quickly gained a cult following, yours truly included. Though I can’t pinpoint exactly what makes the game so addicting, a possible reason may be the thrill you get from submitting your guesses, hoping that you made the right decision. Compared to other games like Sudoku, Connections works a different part of your brain, and unlike the spelling bee, your success does not depend on your vocabulary knowledge. Playing Connections on the way to school with my mom has now become a family tradition.

1. The Mini Crossword

Coming in first place is a classic: The Mini Crossword. For people like me with the attention span of a four-year-old, the Mini Crossword is the perfect way to test your knowledge of random facts, ranging from culinary utensils to recent pop culture events to classic synonyms and antonyms. Sometimes all I want is to stick to the basics, and maybe once in a while race a fellow Crossword enthusiast to see who completes the puzzle first. Additionally, the Mini Crossword is free with the basic subscription for users, whereas the Spelling Bee requires a specific NYT Games subscription to play. The main NYT crossword can be intimidating, so whether you aspire to be a crossword connoisseur or simply want to pretend like you really need to send that fake email out, I recommend the Mini Crossword as an approachable start.