Recently, it seems almost all of my friends and classmates are playing all of the New York Times Games. So, why are these games slowly gaining popularity in 2025?
The original trend in Wordle, a game where you have to guess a 5 letter word in 6 tries, began in 2021, during the middle of the COVID pandemic. Many people who couldn’t see each other in person began competing over text, seeing how quickly they could solve the puzzle.
Yet during COVID the main trend in the Times Games was only in Wordle. A few of my older family members competed in other games like the “Spelling Bee” yet it was never a trend in my age group. Yet, since the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025 it seems like the popularity of all of the games has changed.
There are now many other NYT Games in which my friends and classmates play. Listed below are a few of the most popular ones I see on a daily basis.
“Connections”- There are 16 words, all of which have to fit into 4 different categories from a random pattern. This game is sometimes super challenging, yet sometimes it is a breeze.
“Strands”- This game is very similar to a word search, however it has a twist. There is not a list of clues that correspond to the words, instead there is one overarching prompt, and you have to find the words from that.
So why are these games now gaining popularity?
Well, these simple yet challenging games can be done collaborative or on your own. They are super easy to find as they are just online on the NYT website. Many of my friends either work together or help each other out with simple hints. Sometimes these games, along with the regular New York Times Crossword feature pop culture references, which are always super fun to discover. Plus, being able to brag if you beat your friends is a bonus. While I personally don’t do the games every single day, I know so many people who have months and months of streaks.
Whether you are looking for an easy way to relax for a few minutes, or want to challenge your mind, the New York Times Games are there.
