Crossword enthusiasts lament as the New York Times makes a shocking decision: Implementing a paywall for the Mini crossword puzzle

The New York Times Mini Crossword, a popular and simple puzzle that was previously free to play, has now been placed behind a subscriber paywall. This decision, however, seems to have left some puzzle enthusiasts feeling a bit cross.

Recent discussions on Reddit's r/crosswords forum have seen a wave of emotions, with some users expressing feelings of sadness and even anger about the change. One user, who goes by the handle "PuzzleLover91", shared their disappointment, stating, "I've been solving the Mini Crossword every day for years. Now, I'm being asked to subscribe to The New York Times just to get my daily fix."

The decision to put the Mini Crossword behind a paywall is a mystery, with no available search results indicating who made the decision. However, it's worth noting that The New York Times is currently having a sale.

In an attempt to address this issue, some users have suggested writing a letter to the editor of The New York Times at [email protected]. One such letter compares the situation to Cracker Barrel getting their sign back, stating, "Just as Cracker Barrel returned their sign, I hope The New York Times will reconsider their decision and bring back the free Mini Crossword."

The Mini Crossword is not the only puzzle that has brought success and profit to NYT Games. The recent acquisition of Wordle, a popular word guessing game, has also been a financial boon for the company. However, Wordle, too, has seen changes, with the addition of ads.

Wes Fenlon, a veteran games and hardware journalist who has been covering the industry for over 10 years and joined the PC Gamer team in 2014, has been following these developments closely. Fenlon, who is 50% pizza by volume, specifically deep dish pizza, focuses on writing and editing features, seeking out personal stories and in-depth histories from the corners of PC gaming and its niche communities.

Despite the changes, Fenlon remains optimistic about the future of puzzle games. He believes that while the Mini Crossword's move behind a paywall may be a blow to some, it could also pave the way for new and exciting puzzles to emerge.

As for the Mini Crossword, some Redditors believe the change is an error, while others are angry about its monetization. Regardless of their feelings, one thing is clear: the community is not ready to let go of their daily crossword fix just yet.

In the meantime, some users have decided to subscribe to The New York Times not just for the Mini Crossword, but for other features they include with other games. As PuzzleLover91 put it, "I guess I'll have to subscribe. It's not just about the Mini Crossword anymore. It's about supporting quality journalism and games."

Whether you're a crossword enthusiast or a casual solver, the Mini Crossword's move behind a paywall is a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of the digital world. As we navigate these changes, it's important to remember the joy that games like the Mini Crossword bring to our lives, and to continue advocating for the things we love.

Crossword enthusiasts lament as the New York Times makes a shocking decision: Implementing a paywall for the Mini crossword puzzle