The Daily Dot
"Hurt and betrayed": Fans share their fury online as New York Times paywalls fr…
"In today's dystopian news horror..."
1k
201k
3k
2M
NYT Mini Crossword Paywall Sparks Outcry Among Loyal Players
New York, NY – The New York Times Company has recently implemented a paywall for its popular Mini Crossword puzzle, a move that has ignited a wave of frustration among its dedicated user base. The decision, which went into effect on August 27, 2025, now requires a subscription to access the daily game, previously available for free.One user, known as m00bie on social media, captured the sentiment of many in a viral video uploaded from an airplane. Visibly upset and covering her mouth in disbelief, she captioned the video, "the day they put a paywall on the nyt mini crossword," expressing her dismay at the change. Her video quickly garnered over 1.5 million views and thousands of comments, reflecting the broad impact of the paywall.Social media platforms have become a hub for user reactions. Comments ranged from outright anger, such as "I HATE CAPITALISM" and "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO this is worse than 9/11," to more practical concerns. One user lamented, "Literally what is the point of mini crossword if it’s behind a paywall, if I wanted to pay to play crossword every day I’d do the full thing." Another expressed personal loss, stating, "NOOO MY SAILY SCHOOL RITUAL OF WORDLE, THE MINI, STRANDS AND CONMECTIONS IS DOWN TO 3 😭😭."While some users suggested alternatives, like checking local libraries for free access or noting that the game remains free in Canada, the overwhelming response indicates a significant disruption to daily routines for many. The New York Times has yet to issue a public statement regarding the user backlash, but the incident underscores the strong emotional connection users have with seemingly small, daily digital rituals.
