NYT Games’ mobile title Crossplay has surpassed one million downloads, marking an early milestone for The New York Times’ expansion into multiplayer gaming. Released on January 20, 2026, the free-to-play word game represents a shift for NYT Games, which has traditionally focused on single-player puzzle experiences such as crosswords and daily logic challenges.
The launch follows strong engagement across the NYT Games platform. The company reported that more than 11 billion puzzles were solved in 2025, demonstrating a large, active user base that provided the foundation for experimenting with real-time, competitive formats. Crossplay is the publisher’s first dedicated two-player game and signals a broader move into social gameplay.
How Crossplay’s Gameplay Works
Crossplay is built around turn-based, head-to-head word matches. Two players share a board and take turns forming words using a limited pool of tiles. Scoring is influenced by letter rarity and tile placement, encouraging strategic decisions rather than purely fast play.
A match ends when all available tiles have been used. At that point, the player with the highest score wins. The game supports matches with friends, skill-based matchmaking for random opponents, and practice modes against AI with adjustable difficulty. This structure allows Crossplay to support both casual sessions and longer competitive play.
By focusing on familiar mechanics with modern matchmaking systems, NYT Games positions Crossplay as an accessible entry point for players who may already engage with daily NYT puzzles but want a more social experience.
Entering a Competitive Word Game Market
Crossplay enters a market dominated by established mobile word games. Zynga’s Words With Friends and Scopely’s Scrabble Go remain major competitors in the multiplayer word genre, combining long-term player bases with live-service monetization models.
According to AppMagic estimates, Words With Friends generated around $43 million in gross revenue and reached 3.5 million downloads in 2025. Scrabble Go recorded approximately $14.2 million in revenue alongside 8.1 million installs during the same period. These figures show the scale and consistency of demand for competitive word games on mobile.
Crossplay’s early download milestone places NYT Games in direct comparison with these long-running titles, even if its commercial performance has not yet been disclosed.
What the Milestone Signals for NYT Games
Reaching one million downloads shortly after launch suggests that NYT Games’ audience is responding to its first multiplayer offering. The company’s strength in puzzle design and its existing subscriber ecosystem give Crossplay an advantage in discoverability and retention compared to new entrants.
Strategically, Crossplay reflects a broader effort by NYT Games to diversify beyond solo, daily formats and into experiences that support repeat sessions, social interaction, and competitive play. If adoption continues, the title could shape how NYT Games approaches future releases, potentially blending its puzzle heritage with more traditional mobile game systems.
For now, Crossplay serves as a test case for how far NYT Games can expand within the multiplayer space while still appealing to its established puzzle-focused audience.
Source: PocketGamer
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Crossplay by NYT Games?
Crossplay is a mobile multiplayer word game from NYT Games where two players build words on a shared board in turn-based matches to score points.
When did Crossplay launch?
Crossplay launched on January 20, 2026, as a free-to-play mobile title.
How many downloads has Crossplay reached?
NYT Games confirmed that Crossplay has surpassed one million downloads on mobile platforms.
How does Crossplay gameplay work?
Players take turns forming words using tiles on a shared board. Points depend on letter value and placement, and the match ends once all tiles are used.
Who are Crossplay’s main competitors?
Crossplay competes with established word games such as Zynga’s Words With Friends and Scopely’s Scrabble Go.
Why is Crossplay important for NYT Games?
Crossplay marks NYT Games’ move from single-player puzzles into real-time competitive multiplayer gaming, expanding its product strategy and audience engagement.
