When The New York Times moved its popular Mini Crossword puzzle behind a paywall this week, many casual players were left frustrated
On Wednesday morning, The New York Times (NYT) made a shocking change to put its popular game, The Mini Crossword, behind a paywall. This move was a part of a larger effort to offer more premium and exclusive content to subscribers. However, this change has left many players – especially daily players of The Mini Crossword – feeling frustrated and cut off from their daily routines.
As the paywall crept in, The NYT also introduced new games such as Pips, but players like Matt Fondiler and Christopher Laxamana are feeling blindsided by the change because there was no prior notice.
Laxamana started playing The Mini Crossword about a year ago as a quick escape from his everyday life. He used the game as a way to bond with family and friends, sharing times and scores each day, but he was disappointed to find that the game was now behind a paywall.
“They moved my beloved Mini Crossword behind a paywall without any notice. I have a four-letter word for the NYT,” said Laxamana. He hasn’t played the Mini since the change and has tried to give the new NYT game, Pips, a chance, but is still finding himself missing the Mini. “Pips is fine, but it’s no Mini.”
For Fondiler, who has been a player of the NYT games for several years, the Mini Crossword is more than just a game to him – it’s a small accomplishment that mirrors his creative process. “I actually have always thought of the crossword puzzles as a metaphor for doing any sort of creative endeavor… It’s almost like an ego boost because you did accomplish something, even if that something is just a stupid web game.”
But with this new paywall in place, Fondiler, too, has pulled away from the puzzle. “I am definitely not paying for my stupid games,” he said. Instead of paying for access to the Mini, Fondiler said he would much rather turn to free alternative options. “I will happily do the L.A. Times crossword or any of the other newspapers that offer a mini crossword on their app.”
Both daily players expressed their disappointment to the NYT in the way the paywall was implemented.
Laxamana notes that while he hasn’t let the paywall affect his overall experience with NYT, as he still plays the other games the app has to offer, like `Wordle or Connections. He is now less likely to still be with the platform. “I’ll probably bellyache about it for another day or so before I either forget about it, subscribe, or get swooped up by another company dropping a free Mini Crossword.”
Fondiler shares similar frustrations, saying that the paywall could push casual users like himself away from the NYT app as a whole. “I would imagine that most people are like me and just looking for something to pass the time a little bit more, not to have another recurring bill.”
Both daily players agree that a free crossword option will likely emerge to cater to the disgruntled fans of the Mini Crossword. And if the NYT doesn’t adjust its strategy, both Laxamana and Fondiler say more players will just move on to another free alternative for the game.
“A good free puzzle needs to present itself into the mainstream soon… I’m not putting all my eggs in the Pips basket. Unless the eggs have dots that add up to 17,” said Laxamana.
Melissa Houston
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