From Free to Paid: The NYT Mini Crossword

The Mini’s abrupt paywalling has sparked an outcry among its dedicated audience. Fans vented frustration on social media sites such as X (previously Twitter) and Reddit (on the subreddit r/crosswords), saying the decision completely ruined their daily routine. For many, the Mini Crossword was a quick, beloved part of each day, often paired with other free New York Times games like Wordle, Spelling Bee, or the new Connections game.

Players and pundits are now speculating on what prompted the Times to suddenly monetize the Mini. The puzzle’s popularity is undeniable. In 2023, the Mini Crossword was played over one billion times, yet it had remained free since its 2014 launch, intended initially to lure newbies toward the main crossword. In recent years, however, NYT Games has become a booming business. As of 2024, the Times’ suite of puzzles, from crosswords to Wordle, attracts over 10 million daily players, and more than one million of them are paying Games subscribers. Top Times executives have made it clear that games are now a key pillar of their subscription strategy, driving both revenue and user engagement. One staffer even joked internally that the New York Times is effectively a gaming company that also happens to offer news. Given this context, it is not a stretch to see the Mini’s paywall as the paper capitalizing on a product with a huge, devoted following and nudging more of those free users to become subscribers.

Until this week, the Mini Crossword stood out as the only NYT crossword game that was completely free to play. The main daily Crossword, by contrast, has always been the flagship puzzle reserved for paying subscribers. With the Mini now joining the Crossword behind the paywall, these two crosswords become the only NYT games fully locked to non-subscribers. Other NYT games like Wordle and Connections remain free for now, while Spelling Bee offers a limited free mode before requiring a subscription. The sudden move has some puzzle enthusiasts nervous that this could be the start of a larger trend. It is safe to assume that it’s only a matter of time before all games are behind the paywall.

For the New York Times, the decision is also about funneling users into its subscription offerings. To continue enjoying the Mini and the full crossword each day, solvers now have to sign up for an NYT subscription that includes Games access. The Times sells a standalone NYT Games plan, priced at roughly $5 per month or $40 per year, which grants unlimited access to the daily Crossword, the Mini, Spelling Bee, and the paper’s other puzzles and archives. Many readers opt for an All-Access digital bundle, which includes the Games along with NYT news, Cooking recipes, and more, often at an introductory discount. The company clearly views the Games as a major value-add. According to the NYT’s head of games, a subscriber who engages with both the news and games is far more likely to keep their subscription long-term than one who only reads news. In other words, the Mini Crossword is not just a cute diversion; it has become a significant piece of the Times’ subscriber retention strategy.

Naturally, not everyone will be willing to pay just to get their Mini Crossword fix. The good news for puzzle lovers is that there are plenty of alternatives out there offering a similar bite-sized crossword experience for free. Other newspapers have their own daily minis: the Los Angeles Times runs a free mini crossword on its website, as does the Washington Post, which even offers a weekly mini meta puzzle challenge. USA Today has a popular “Two Minute Mini” crossword online each day, and there are independent sites like MiniCrossword.io hosting community-made mini puzzles that anyone can play without a subscription. These alternatives replicate the quick, fun challenge of the NYT Mini and can seamlessly replace it in one’s daily routine.

For now, many longtime Mini fans are feeling a mix of disappointment and resignation. A common sentiment is that nothing good lasts forever. Some admitted that the Times was generous in keeping their games free for so long and that it is within their rights to ask for payment. Still, it is a bittersweet moment for the Mini’s devoted solvers. The little 5×5 crossword that became a worldwide habit is no longer freely accessible, marking the end of an era for casual puzzle-goers.

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