When walking around Brebeuf, you might spot students or teachers immersed in their computers, staring at their screens with determined faces. You might expect to see them working on an essay or trying to figure out a math problem. But often, they are actually honed in on a New York Times game. 

Over the past few years, New York Times games have become increasingly more popular and are a daily ritual for many. Whether it’s The Mini Crossword, The Wordle, Connections, or Strands, almost everyone has their favorite game and competes every day to complete at least one of these challenging games. 

But why are these games so popular all of a sudden? And why are people so invested?

Sally Griswold ’25 is a big fan of The Mini Crossword. “Every night I wait for 10pm to get the notification that the new crossword has come out. It is really satisfying to work through the puzzle and complete it.” 

When asked why she likes it so much, Griswold says, “It helps me learn new things. Sometimes, I realize I know things that I didn’t even know I knew. It also helps me with vocabulary and spelling.” 

Leah Berg ‘25 has a similar addiction to the puzzles. Berg expressed that her favorite game was Connections due to its “challenging nature which engages logical thinking and creative problem-solving.” 

Berg tries to get the games done in the morning whenever she has a chance, such as in the car before school when she is waiting for her sister. She then proceeds to work on them throughout the day whenever she gets a free moment. 

In fact, Berg feels so passionately about the New York Times games that she based her college essay around the puzzles. In the essay, she discussed how completing each game every day symbolized her determination and perseverance in life. Berg also explained how she felt each game depicted a different facet of her personality. 

Meredith Hershberger ’25 enjoys the Wordle the most. She says she usually plays late at night before she goes to bed. Hershberger describes how she enjoys how the Wordle has become an everyday routine as it helps to increase her vocabulary and makes her think. 

An appealing aspect of the New York Times games is that only one new version of each game is released a day. This keeps the games exciting as it is almost impossible to burn out of the games.

Griswold, Berg, and Hershberger are just 3 of the hundreds of Brebeuf students who challenge themselves to the New York Times games everyday. While these games are fun and stimulating, they also are educational, making completing them a great way for students to spend their time.