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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Yes. The New York Times still lists the daily Wordle puzzle as free to play without a Games subscription, according to its Games help page checked for this article. When the Times announced its purchase on January 31, 2022, it promised Wordle would be free to new and existing players at the time it moved to the Times—not that it would remain free forever.
What “free initially” meant
The Times’ January 31, 2022 announcement said that “at the time it moves to The New York Times, Wordle will be free to play for new and existing players, and no changes will be made to its gameplay,” according to The Washington Post’s report on the announcement. The wording described access during the transition and did not make a permanent guarantee about future pricing.
The Times did not disclose a precise purchase price. The Washington Post reported that the Times described it as “in the low-seven figures.” That is a broad description, not an exact dollar amount.
Is Wordle still free?
Yes. The NYT Games help page currently lists Wordle among the daily games available without a Games subscription. The page’s listing reflects the policy when it was checked; access terms can change.
#1 Best Overall
Some related features have different access rules. The help page says full Wordle Bot features require an eligible Games or All Access subscription. Signing in allows progress, statistics and streaks to be saved across devices. Without an account, progress is stored locally and may be lost.
How Wordle works—and how it grew
Software engineer Josh Wardle created Wordle for his partner, Palak Shah, who enjoyed word puzzles. Players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word. After each guess, the game indicates which letters appear in the answer and whether they are in the correct positions. The Washington Post’s January 2022 account says Wardle made the game public in October 2021.
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The audience grew quickly, though the early figures are snapshots taken on different dates rather than a uniform measurement series. The New York Times reported 90 players on November 1, 2021, and more than 300,000 on January 3, 2022; by the acquisition announcement, the game had millions of daily players, according to the Post’s account. Wardle said, “The game has gotten bigger than I ever imagined.”
Wordle remained a major part of NYT Games: the Associated Press reported in January 2026 that it was played 4.2 billion times during 2025. That is a total play count, not a count of unique players.
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The online puzzle and the tabletop game are different products
Hasbro and NYT Games announced a licensed physical adaptation in July 2022. Hasbro’s Wordle: The Party Game product page describes a repeatable tabletop game for two to four players ages 14 and up, with reusable dry-erase materials. It is a separate product, not a subscription or access pass for the daily online puzzle.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
| Option | Format and play | Access model |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Wordle | Online, one daily five-letter puzzle; typically played solo | Currently listed by NYT Games as free without a Games subscription |
| Wordle: The Party Game | Physical tabletop adaptation for 2–4 players, ages 14 and up; repeatable rounds | Physical product purchase; current price and stock are not stated on the cited product description |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
