I like that in 2025 NYT games work offline

I got a subscription to the New York Times Games at 9.99€ for 1 year. It’s amazing how in 2025 all the games run offline: once they’re loaded in your browser, you can even turn off your Wi-Fi connection. Everything keeps working without a single request to NYT’s servers.

The code is obfuscated, so while I’m sure someone could “crack” or analyze it, that’s not something Ìm interested in. I just enjoy the experience as-is.

The games are simple, well-designed, and addictive. I mostly use them to improve my English during short breaks, and it’s become a pleasant little ritual in my day.

Here’s a quick rundown of the games available:

1. Wordle
   The viral daily word puzzle where you have six tries to guess a five-letter word.
2. Spelling Bee
   You’re given 7 letters, one of which is required in every word you submit. The goal is to find as many words as possible using those letters. It’s great for learning unusual words and playing with roots and affixes.
3. The Mini Crossword and the classic Crossword
   The first is a compact, fast-to-finish crossword that usually takes under 2 minutes. Good practice for idioms, puns, and general cultural references. The “big one” a the classic crossword.
4. Connections
   You’re presented with a 4×4 grid of words and must group them into four sets of four related words. The trick is that categories can be subtle or misleading: think “types of pasta” or “things you tie.” It’s all about lateral thinking and associations.
5. Tiles
   You match tiles with shared symbols, colors, or shapes. It’s more aesthetic than linguistic, but a nice mental reset between tasks.
6. Letter Boxed
   You get a square made of 12 letters arranged around the sides. You must create words that use at least 3 letters, always moving from one side of the box to a different one.
7. Sudoku
   Classic logic puzzle in its digital form. Comes in different difficulty levels. Not language-based, but great for sharpening concentration and numerical reasoning.
8. Strands
   Strands is a smart word search with a hidden theme and a “spangram” to discover.
   

Each of these games brings something different, and the offline support makes them feel solid and reliable, like a pen and a little newspaper in your pocket.