Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

NYT Games vs Word Cookies!®

NYT Games 4.8★ · Free to download 85
Winner NYT Games
Word Cookies!® 4.6★ · Free + IAP 70

Choose NYT Games for a more polished and diverse puzzle experience.

Full reviews: NYT Games · Word Cookies!®

NYT Games offers a variety of puzzles and a more consistent user experience, while Word Cookies!® has faced criticism for recent changes that frustrate long-time players. Although both apps are free to download, NYT Games has a higher lifetime rating and generally more positive feedback.

Head to head

features edge: NYT GamesR2R5R20R67
NYT Games Users appreciate the variety of puzzles offered by NYT Games, including crosswords and word games, with many expressing enjoyment of the daily challenges R2R5R20.
Word Cookies!® Word Cookies!® users enjoy the word challenge but are frustrated by the removal of features like the daily spin wheel and the introduction of timers, which detracts from the experience R67.
ease of use edge: NYT GamesR5R8R20R69
NYT Games While some NYT Games users report issues with crashes and updates, many find the app generally user-friendly and engaging R5R8R20.
Word Cookies!® Word Cookies!® users express frustration with excessive clicks and ads, which complicate the experience and detract from gameplay R69.
reliability edge: NYT GamesR24R33R53R64
NYT Games NYT Games has faced recent complaints about crashes, but many users still find it reliable for daily puzzles R24R33R53.
Word Cookies!® Word Cookies!® users report significant issues with app functionality, including disappearing games and bugs after updates R64.
price/value edge: NYT GamesR12R37R53R69
NYT Games NYT Games offers a subscription model that some users find expensive, but many feel it provides good value for the variety of puzzles available R12R37R53.
Word Cookies!® Word Cookies!® is free with in-app purchases, but users are frustrated with the monetization strategies that detract from gameplay R69.
support edge: NYT GamesR36R44R53R76
NYT Games NYT Games users have mixed feelings about support, citing slow responses but also quick fixes for major issues R36R44R53.
Word Cookies!® Word Cookies!® users report poor support and unresolved issues, leading to frustration R76.
Pick NYT Games if

you want a diverse range of puzzles and a generally reliable app experience.

Pick Word Cookies!® if

you prefer a casual word game and are okay with navigating ads and in-app purchases.

Evidence note: NYT Games has a higher overall rating and more consistent positive feedback, while Word Cookies!® has faced substantial criticism for recent changes that impact user enjoyment.

Frequently asked

Is NYT Games free?
Yes, NYT Games is free to download, but it offers a subscription for additional features. Users have noted that the subscription can be expensive, with some suggesting a lower monthly fee would be more reasonable R12.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] NYT Games 5/5 · US Love it: I’ve had it for years.
  2. [R5] NYT Games 5/5 · US Consistent and good: Love the online NYT xw puzzles.
  3. [R20] NYT Games 5/5 · US Great: Appreciate that they keep adding new puzzles. It's a morning ritual
  4. [R67] Word Cookies!® 1/5 · US No fun: I’ve been doing Word Cookies for years. They’ve changed to format to a ridiculous “timer” format. HATE it! Why change a good thing to something so complicated?! Bye Word Cookies
  5. [R8] NYT Games 5/5 · US Simply The Best: Daily fun and challenge all in one
  6. [R69] Word Cookies!® 3/5 · US Too much nonsense: I have been playing this game for years. Today it took 21 clicks to actually get to the game. I’d love to opt out of all the nonsense that I have no interest in. Instead I’m picking fortune cookies and trading cards that I have no interest in. It’s gotten out of control.
  7. [R24] NYT Games 3/5 · US Updates are awful: What have they done to the app? It crashes regularly, you can’t ‘x’ out a crossword, it forces you to quit the app, and the last update that I hoped would fix all of the introduced bugs deleted your average crossword times. I understand wanting to force people to play more crosswords, but you’ve made it unusable in the process.
  8. [R33] NYT Games 3/5 · US Crashing more often than ever: The app wasn’t broken and didn’t need fixing. They updated it and now the app is constantly crashing on iPad and iPhone. Extremely irritating.
  9. [R53] NYT Games 4/5 · US Really good app: The previously reported crashing bug has been fixed. This is a really good app for folks who love puzzles. Subscription fee is a bit high, but otherwise no complaints.
  10. [R64] Word Cookies!® 1/5 · US I love word cookies: It’s a great app, but unfortunately my app just disappeared today. Now I have to start all over. Very disappointed.
  11. [R12] NYT Games 3/5 · US Love it but $$$: I love these games and would pay a buck or two a month for the rest. That subscription price is beyond insane for what amounts to a pile of flash games from the 2000s.
  12. [R37] NYT Games 2/5 · US shame: App runs slower than my grandma. NYT keeps paywalling games so only half are available.
  13. [R36] NYT Games 3/5 · US Crashes!: Used to be great, now crashes every 5 minutes! Wrote for support, but no response, very disappointing
  14. [R44] NYT Games 4/5 · US July 2026 Grateful for quick response: The app was continually crashing and an app update arrived in just a few days. Back to puzzling!
  15. [R76] Word Cookies!® 2/5 · US Wordie: Made it to a very high level only to be kicked out and had to restart from the beginning very disappointed

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store