Crossplay is a new app by The New York Times that lets you play word games without ads or distractions. It’s here for fun with friends!
You might think an app like this already exists, but you’d be wrong. Until now, many games were filled with distracting ads. However, The New York Times Games just launched a new multiplayer app called Crossplay, available on iOS and Android.
Crossplay is similar to Scrabble, although it has some small changes in the rules and how the game plays. If you love Scrabble but don’t memorize words for tournaments, you might find these changes go unnoticed. Like other word games, Crossplay lets you invite friends or match with other players at your skill level. For those who subscribe, there are no ads at all! Even free players will see fewer ads compared to other games.
One cool feature of Crossplay is called CrossBot. This helps players see if they could have made better moves during the game. It shows your best moves and areas to improve.
The New York Times has offered crossword puzzles since 1942 but really expanded its gaming in 2022 after acquiring Wordle. Interestingly, users spent more time on the Games app than the News app by the end of 2023!
The head of Games at The New York Times, Jonathan Knight, believes many people want a way to play games without all the extra distractions. He mentions how games like Spelling Bee and Wordle give quick enjoyment that fits easily into daily life.
Knight aims to keep things simple with Crossplay. He wants people to enjoy games with friends and family while fitting it into their busy days.