Free Bonus Puzzles
Original word, logic & crossword games. No subscription.
Pick a puzzle
Play your daily. Then play some more.
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One Clue Word
Five clues. Five words.
PlayTriple Connections
Nine words. Three groups.
PlayColor Trails
Find the hidden theme.
PlayMini Mystery
A quick 5×5 crossword.
PlayEasy Crossword
Gentle clues. Room to think.
PlayCrossword Stories
One theme ties it together.
PlayFree alternatives to NYT Bonus Puzzles
Six independent games, with our own clues, boards and answers. Daily, Unlimited and Practice are free—no account needed.
Find your familiar game & compare
Start with a format you enjoy. Every game here has its own original content, plus free Daily, Unlimited and Practice modes. There is no account or subscription to unlock.
The official Starter Set is a one-time free sample; later official releases have their own subscription access rules. These independent games offer more ways to play, with our own clues and boards.
Compare official access and free alternatives ↗| Bonus format | Play our free alternative |
|---|---|
| Wordle in 1 | One Clue Word |
| Connections 3×3 | Triple Connections |
| Colorful Strands | Color Trails |
| Mystery Mini | Mini Mystery |
| Easy Mode Crossword | Easy Crossword |
| Special Crossword | Crossword Stories |
Practice & solving guides
Triple Connections
Find three words that belong together, then solve the whole grid.
Play unlimitedSolving guideColor Trails
Connect adjacent letters in any direction. Every letter belongs to the theme.
Play unlimitedSolving guideMini Mystery
Solve a short clue, then let its crossing letters help with the next.
Play unlimitedSolving guideEasy Crossword
Build confidence with clear definitions, checks and optional reveals.
Play unlimitedSolving guideCrossword Stories
Use the theme to unlock the long answers and connect the whole story.
Play unlimitedSolving guideQuestions? A few answers.
Are all six bonus puzzle games free?
Yes. All six original games and their Daily, Unlimited and Practice modes are free. You do not need to register or buy a subscription.
Are these the official NYT Bonus Puzzles?
These are independent original alternatives, with our own clues, boards and answers. They do not reproduce or unlock the official weekly sets. Our free vs. subscription guide explains the official one-time Starter Set and the differences between the games.
Is One Clue Word the same as Wordle in 1?
Our independent version has five rounds, one written clue per five-letter answer and unlimited guesses with letter-position feedback. It uses our own clues and interface. Read the game and rule differences.
How do the 3×3 connections work?
In Triple Connections, select three of nine words that share a category. Find all three groups before four mistakes. Practice removes the mistake limit. The grouping guide explains One away and gives a worked example.
Can I keep playing after the daily puzzle?
Yes. Open Unlimited in any game to start another session, or search the original puzzle library by theme. Unlimited has no daily play limit; a puzzle may repeat after you work through the finite authored library.
When do daily puzzles and new drops change?
Daily selections use the date in America/New_York and change at midnight there. They choose from our original library. New authored content is listed separately with its date and exact puzzle links on the weekly puzzle page; the eight curated selections rotate through existing puzzles.
Can I save progress or challenge a friend?
Progress stays in this browser when local storage is available. A completed result includes a link for a friend to play the same puzzle. Scores in links are self-reported. Clearing site data or using another browser starts a separate record.