New York Times Games released a brand new game for 2026 called Crossplay. The exciting new game serves as its first 2-player game, allowing fellow puzzle enthusiasts to go word to word in either real time competition setting or in a more casual game playing setting. Crossplay is available now for download on both IOS and Android operating systems. Download the app here to start playing, and find more information on how to play – here.
To add to the excitement, Crossplay gives players the opportunity to go up against Grammy nominated songwriters such as country singer/songwriter BRELAND, singer/songwriter/actor Leslie Odom Jr., and songwriter Amy Allen. By tying talented wordsmiths into the mix, Crossplay not only feels like a natural fit but also raises the stakes for competition. Think you’ve got what it takes to compete with the pros? Submit a completed Crossplay gameboard here from Jan. 21 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern to Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Select players will be chosen to go word to word. More information and rules can be found here: Official Rules.
Taking it a step further, BRELAND and Leslie Odom Jr. will be making surprise appearances this winter, showcasing their word skills and challenging local wordsmiths in Nashville and New York.
“I have been loving Crossplay and I’m excited for New York Times Games fans to experience it alongside me!” BRELAND shares. “As a songwriter, I like to explore all the different sounds and words in my music. Nashville is home to music lovers who live and breathe every word, which is why I’m excited to play them in-person as well as fans from across the country.”
“We created Crossplay as a natural extension of the New York Times Games portfolio, and an ambitious expansion of it.” Jonathan Knight, head of Games at The New York Times explains. “Our players already come to us every day for smart, original word games, and Crossplay builds on that foundation by introducing real-time competition and social play in a way that shares the joy of classic word games, but is designed to be unique. Crossplay expands how people engage with our other beloved games, while staying true to the quality, care and trust they expect from The New York Times. Crossplay was built to be focused, intuitive and genuinely enjoyable from the moment you open it. We’ve also built features like Cross Bot, which offers strategic insights to help players improve, and smart matchmaking that helps connect you with real people, adding depth while keeping the focus on the joy of the game.”
Download Crossplay here and start testing your word skills today!