The New York Times Mini Crossword Is No Longer Free

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Starting from late August 2025, the daily mini crossword feature in The New York Times will no longer be free to play. This unexpected change has left some devoted fans disappointed, as they were not given prior notice and now have to pay a subscription fee to continue playing.

The Mini Crossword is a compact adaptation of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Created by Joel Fagliano, it debuted on August 21, 2014, in tandem with the NYT Crossword app. Unlike its archives, the daily Mini Crossword puzzles can be solved for free, while access to its past puzzles requires a subscription.

NYT Paywalls The Mini Crossword

As a devoted crossword enthusiast, I was taken aback when, just days after its 11th anniversary celebration, The Mini Crossword went behind a paywall in late August of 2025. It wasn’t until Monday, August 25, that the change was first noticed by users, leaving some to speculate if it might have been an accident. However, any hopes of a reversal were quickly quashed when an update to The Mini Crossword’s FAQ page made it clear that this cherished puzzle game is now exclusively available to subscribers of The New York Times.

The change has left longtime players feeling unsettled, as they regarded the short puzzle game as a regular part of their daily lives. Some expressed sadness, while others showed anger. A handful of New York Times subscribers even canceled their memberships in protest, voicing their decisions on social media. Yet, these instances seem to be relatively few, suggesting that this form of resistance has yet to gain widespread momentum. Upon testing the web version of Mini Crossword using a VPN, it was discovered that the new paywall applies universally.

The New York Times Will ‘Continue to Experiment’ With Game Paywalls

As a follower, I’ve learned that The Mini Crossword’s complimentary play period has come to an end, as confirmed by The New York Times in a recent statement to The Hill. The publisher mentioned they offer a variety of ten games in total, with most continuing to be free. However, a representative refrained from completely denying the potential expansion of paywalled NYT games, hinting that the company will persist in exploring what best serves both their subscribers and overall business strategy, which is primarily geared towards boosting subscription growth.

In summary, it’s evident that the strategy, particularly the introduction of paywalls for certain features like The Mini Crossword, has been effective. As reported by The New York Times, they gained approximately 250,000 new subscribers in Q2 2025, bringing their total number of paying members to 11.88 million. Out of these, 11.3 million are digital subscribers. This shift towards subscription-based revenue reflects a growing trend across digital media companies. However, some loyal fans express concerns as they believe the puzzle’s charm was its accessibility, serving as an initial, free introduction to The New York Times’ broader range of offerings.

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2025-08-30 23:03