So, you’ve finally decided to join the cult. You see the green and yellow squares on your feed, or maybe you overheard someone at the coffee shop bragging about a "tough Monday," and now you want in. It’s understandable. There’s something strangely addictive about the New York Times Games suite. But honestly? If you just dive in headfirst without a plan, you’re going to get humbled fast. It’s not just about knowing words; it’s about learning how the NYT editors think.
When you start to do NYT puzzles, you aren’t just playing a game. You're entering an ecosystem that has its own language, its own rhythm, and its own weirdly specific rules.
The Monday Trap and Why You Should Care
Most people think they should just jump into the Crossword on whatever day it happens to be. Do not do that. Seriously. Unless it’s a Monday or Tuesday, you’re probably going to stare at a blank white grid for forty minutes and feel like an idiot.
The NYT Crossword scales in difficulty throughout the week. Monday is the "easy" day. The clues are literal. If the clue is "Barking animal," the answer is DOG. By the time you hit Saturday, that same three-letter slot might have a clue like "Bit of a Boxer?" and the answer is PUP. It’s a pun. It’s a trick. It’s annoying, and it’s why people love it.
If you want to actually enjoy this, start with the Monday archives. Build that muscle memory. You'll start to notice "crosswordese"—those words that appear constantly because they have a lot of vowels. EPEE, OREO, ETUI, ALOE. These are the building blocks of the grid. If you don't know them, you're stuck.
Wordle is the Gateway Drug
Let’s be real. Wordle is why most people even consider a subscription. It’s five letters, six tries, and a whole lot of social pressure. But even Wordle has a strategy that most beginners ignore.
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Don't just guess "ADIEU" every morning because some TikToker told you to. Sure, it clears out the vowels, but vowels are rarely the problem. It’s the consonants. You need to know where the R, S, T, and L are.
Try a starter word like "CRANE" or "STARE." The NYT actually analyzed millions of games and found that "CRANE" is mathematically one of the most efficient openers. But if you’re feeling spicy, just pick a word based on your mood. It’s a game, not a math exam. Just remember that the NYT removed some "obscure" words after they bought the game from Josh Wardle in 2022 to make it more accessible. If you’re guessing a word and it feels like something out of an 18th-century botany textbook, it’s probably not the answer.
Connections: The Game That Will Make You Scream
If the Crossword is about knowledge and Wordle is about logic, Connections is about how your brain handles chaos. This is the one that usually trips up people who start to do NYT daily routines.
Wyna Liu, the editor of Connections, is famously devious. She loves "red herrings." You’ll see four words that all look like they belong to the "Types of Cheese" category, but only three of them actually do. The fourth one belongs to "Things That Have Holes," along with "Golf Course" and "Donut."
The trick here? Do not click anything for at least two minutes. Look at all sixteen words. Find the overlaps. If you see five words that fit a category, you know you haven’t found the right category yet.
The Mini: The 30-Second Rush
If you’re short on time, the Mini Crossword is the best part of the app. It’s a 5x5 grid. It’s fast. Joel Fagliano, who creates most of them, has a very distinct, modern voice. You’ll see references to memes, current pop stars, and tech slang that you’d never find in the "big" Sunday puzzle.
It’s the perfect way to start to do NYT puzzles without the commitment. Plus, there’s a leaderboard. There is nothing quite as satisfying—or as humbling—as seeing that your best friend finished it in 12 seconds while you took 45.
Strands: The New Kid on the Block
The newest addition to the stable is Strands. It’s basically a word search on steroids. You have to find words that fit a theme, and every single letter in the grid must be used.
It’s still in its "beta-feeling" phase, but it’s gaining traction. The "Spangram" is the key—a word that touches two opposite sides of the grid and describes the entire theme. It’s a great way to wake up your brain without the high stakes of the Crossword.
Tips for Staying Consistent
Getting good at these games isn't about being a genius. It's about pattern recognition. Here is how you actually get better:
- Use the "Check" feature. In the Crossword, there is no shame in using "Check Square" or "Check Word" when you're starting out. It’s better to learn the answer and move on than to stare at a wall and quit.
- Read the "Wordplay" blog. The NYT actually publishes a daily column explaining the logic behind the day's puzzles. It’s like a post-game show for nerds. It helps you understand the puns you missed.
- Don't Google the answer, Google the clue. If you’re stuck on a trivia fact, looking it up isn't cheating—it's learning. If you just look up the answer, you won't remember it. If you read the Wikipedia page for the "Queen of Carthage" (DIDO, a frequent guest in puzzles), you'll actually retain it.
- Change your perspective. Literally. If you can’t find a word in Connections, put your phone down and come back ten minutes later. Your brain continues to process the patterns in the background.
The Reality of the NYT Subscription
You can play Wordle for free. You can usually play the Mini for free. But if you want the archive and the big grid, you’re looking at a subscription.
Is it worth it?
If you find yourself spending 20 minutes a day on these games, yeah, it probably is. It's cheaper than a latte and keeps your brain from rotting while you're on the subway. But don't feel pressured to do every single game every single day. The "streak" is a powerful psychological tool, but once you lose a 100-day streak (and you will, eventually, because life happens), it can be soul-crushing.
Play for the "aha!" moment, not the number on the screen.
Practical Steps to Master the Grid
- Download the dedicated app. Don't play in the browser. The app interface is much smoother, especially for the Crossword.
- Start with Mondays and Tuesdays only. Ignore Wednesday through Sunday for at least a month. You need to learn the "rules" of the grid before you try to tackle the hard stuff.
- Find a "Wordle Buddy." Sharing your scores with one specific person makes it a social ritual rather than a chore.
- Learn the common abbreviations. If a clue ends in an abbreviation (e.g., "Company on the NYSE: Abbr."), the answer will also be an abbreviation (ORGN). This is the golden rule of crosswords.
- Trust your gut on Connections. If a category feels "too easy," it's probably a trap. Look for the "Purple" category first—that's usually the one based on wordplay or fill-in-the-blanks rather than direct definitions.