If you’ve spent the last few years obsessively sharing your Wordle squares or hunting for the Spelling Bee Queen Bee, the New York Times has a new challenge that’s about to take over your screen.
What is NYT Crossplay?
NYT Crossplay is the New York Times’ first-ever synchronous, two-player word game. Think of it as a modernized, digital-first version of the classic tile-based games you grew up with. Players take turns forming words on a shared grid, building off one another to rack up the highest score.
What sets it apart is the live feel. You aren’t just playing against a static puzzle, you’re engaging in a real-time battle of wits, complete with in-game chat and a built-in AI coach to help you analyze your performance after the final tile is played.
Who Created the Crossplay Game?
The game was developed internally by the New York Times Games team, the same masterminds behind the viral success of Connections and Strands.
In an effort to expand their library into social gaming, the producers spent months designing a board that prevents the clogged feeling of traditional board games. According to the development team, every bonus square and tile value was meticulously optimized to ensure that the game remains fast-paced and rewarding for digital-native players.
Where to Play NYT Crossplay
Unlike some NYT games that live on the web, Crossplay is a mobile-exclusive experience. You can download the standalone Crossplay app for both iOS and Android.
While it started as a beta in New Zealand, the game is now available globally. You’ll need a free NYT Games account to save your stats and find your friends, but you can jump into a match against a random opponent or the computer right away.
How To Play Crossplay
The rules of Crossplay are easy to learn but difficult to master. Each player starts with a rack of 7 tiles and a shared 100-tile bag.
Special Features: Cross Bot and the Equal Turn Rule
Cross Bot: This is your post-game AI analyst. Once the match is over, Cross Bot shows you the highest-scoring moves you missed, helping you improve for the next round.
Equal Turn Rule: No more losing just because your opponent emptied their rack first. Crossplay ensures that both players get the exact same number of turns before the final score is calculated.
Understanding the Points
To win, you have to throw out your old Scrabble math. Crossplay uses a custom point system designed to balance the game. Here is the complete list of tile values and the number of total tiles for each letter:
0 Points: Blank (3 tiles)
1 Point: A (9), E (12), I (8), N (5), O (8), R (6), S (5), T (6)
2 Points: D (4), L (4), U (3)
3 Points: C (2), H (3), M (2), P (2)
4 Points: B (2), F (2), G (3), Y (2)
5 Points: W (2)
6 Points: K (1), V (2)
8 Points: X (1)
10 Points: J (1), Q (1), Z (1)
The 40-Point Bonus
If you use seven or more tiles in a single turn, you earn a 40-point bonus! This is added to your score after any board multipliers, making it the fastest way to pull off an underdog victory.
How To Win At NYT Crossplay: Tips & Tricks
Winning isn't just about knowing big words; it's about board management.
Hunt for Parallel Plays: Don't just build away from a word, build alongside it. Creating three or four tiny two-letter words in one move can often outscore one long word.
Respect the "S": There are only five "S" tiles in the entire game. Don't waste them on a 10-point play. Save them for "hooking" a high-scoring word onto an existing play.
V and W are your Best Friends: In Crossplay, V is worth six and W is worth five. These are much higher than in other games. Use them on Double or Triple Letter squares to skyrocket your score.
Watch the Bag: Use the in-app tile tracker to see which power letters (J, Q, Z) are still out there. If they haven't been played yet, play defensively so you don't leave a Triple Word square open for your opponent.
Top 9 High-Value 7-Letter Words for NYT Crossplay
Landing a seven-letter word is the ultimate power move in Crossplay because it triggers the 40-point Bingo bonus. If you can land one of these on a multiplier square, you're looking at a 70+ point turn.
VIVIDLY (22 Points + 40 Bonus) With two Vs (6 pts each) and a Y (4 pts), this is a monster play. It is relatively easy to build if you have the "LY" suffix on your rack.
KNAVERY (17 Points + 40 Bonus) This word utilizes the high-value K (6 pts), V (6 pts), and Y (4 pts). It’s an elite way to dump three high-value consonants in one move.
WAXWING (21 Points + 40 Bonus) A rare but devastating word. It uses the X (8 pts) and both Ws (5 pts each). If you see the opportunity for this, take it immediately.
JACKPOT (21 Points + 40 Bonus) The classic "power word." It uses the J (10 pts), K (6 pts), and P (3 pts).
QUIZZED (25 Points + 40 Bonus) Using the Q (10 pts) and Z (10 pts) in a single 7-letter word is the "holy grail" of Crossplay. But, since there is only one Z tile, you will need a blank to make this work.
SKYWARD (18 Points + 40 Bonus) This is a great word for using your K (6 pts), Y (4 pts), and W (5 pts) simultaneously.
VULCANI (14 Points + 40 Bonus) A great "hook" word. It uses the V (6 pts) and high-frequency vowels to help you clear a clunky rack.
WHISKEY (20 Points + 40 Bonus) Using W (5 pts), H (3 pts), K (6 pts), and Y (4 pts), this is one of the most efficient ways to score big without needing a 10-point tile.
BOXWOOD (20 Points + 40 Bonus) This word is fantastic for clearing both Ws (5 pts each) and the X (8 pts) in a single turn.
Quick Strategy for Finding "Bingos"
Look for Suffixes: Keep an eye out for -ING, -ERS, -EST, and -ELY. If you have these on your rack, you only need to find a three or four-letter word to land that 40-point bonus.
Save Your Blanks: While it’s tempting to use a blank tile for a quick 20-point play, saving them to complete a 7-letter word is almost always the better long-term strategy.
Use the Solver: If you have a full rack and can't see the path to a 40-point bonus, plug your letters into our NYT Crossplay Word Finder and look for the seven-letter results at the top of the list.
How is Crossplay Different from Scrabble & Words With Friends?
While they look similar, Crossplay is a different beast entirely.
Stricter Dictionary: Crossplay uses a curated version of the NWL23 dictionary. It’s more editorial, meaning many of the slang or garbage words allowed in Words With Friends won't work here.
Rebalanced Tiles: By making common letters like K and V worth more, the NYT team has ensured that you don't need a Q or Z to win the game.
Modern Board Layout: The bonus squares are distributed differently to encourage more open boards and fewer deadlocked games.
No Power-Ups: Unlike Scrabble GO or WWF, there are no hindsight or swap-without-losing-a-turn power-ups. It is a pure test of skill.
Ready to start your first match? Before you lay down your next word, make sure you're getting the most points possible! Use our NYT Crossplay Word Finder to unscramble your rack and find the winning play every time.
WordFinder’s NYT Games Helpers
If you love playing Crossplay, we’ve got you covered with great tips for lots of other awesome New York Times Games. For Wordle players, we have Wordle hints to help and a comprehensive list of past Wordle answers. Let us help you flex your gaming muscles with hints for NYT Strands, NYT Connections, NYT Letter Boxed, and Spelling Bee too. And don’t forget the classics: we have tools for the NYT Crossword and the NYT Mini to keep your streak alive. We love NYT games as much as you do!
