You’re sitting in class, bored, until you remember the New York Times Games exist. That’s right, these easily-accessible games experienced a surge in popularity for their engaging gameplay and daily puzzles. They offer a collection of nine mini games, ranging from brain teasers to word games, each with its own charm. You can always count on these top five games from the New York Times to cure your boredom!

#5: “Sudoku”

This classic number game is cathartic in its gameplay, the repetitive yet rewarding process of deducing missing numbers from each box of the 9×9 grid satisfying as a casual puzzle. The three difficulties—easy, medium and hard—allow players a choice in brainpower usage and for refreshing variety. However, its straightforward mechanism makes it difficult to compete with the more challenging and unique word games ranked ahead. 

#4: “Connections”

Since its introduction in the summer of 2023, “Connections” has provided a challenging but fun daily escape. It involves categorizing 16 words into four categories, with varying difficulties for each. Although regarded as difficult and subject to critique because of its confusing solutions, it still stands as one of the well-known games offered by The New York Times. Its popularity has even led to the addition of the ConnectionsBot, which tells you how you scored against other players, providing further satisfaction following a win. 

#3: “The Mini”

The New York Times’ “The Mini” is a smaller and quicker version of their classic crossword puzzle, making it the perfect brain teaser to wake up. “The Mini” typically follows a 5×5 grid, with each column and row accompanied by a clue to test your knowledge. Not sure about your answer? No problem! Feel free to check your progress or even reveal a word through the click of a button. “The Mini” can be completed quickly, making it a rewarding game to play anywhere, anytime.

#2: “Strands”

“Strands” was more recently introduced by the New York Times in March of 2024, but has quickly become a favorite. Its success can be attributed to satisfying gameplay that involves finding words belonging to the daily category, such as “Get your mind out of the gutter,” “What’s the buzz” and “Out of this world.” Overall, it is similar to a word search. From an aesthetically pleasing layout and color palette to its often easier difficulty, “Strands” has stolen our hearts. 

#1: “Wordle”

“Wordle” is a quick, beloved game that is convenient to play, making it the most popular New York Times game. With its six guesses for a five-letter word, it can provide a playful break from school or work. Known for its consistency and ease, “Wordle” is definitely a fan favorite equipped with its own WordleBot, which lets you know how you scored against other players and includes factors like the amount of guesses and skill. Given its ease and fun, we had to place it first.