Spelling Bee (NYT)
Find as many words as you can using seven letters, always including the center one. The NYT Spelling Bee is the addictive daily vocabulary puzzle.
About This Game
The New York Times Spelling Bee has become nearly as iconic as Wordle, and for good reason. Each day, you are given seven letters arranged in a honeycomb pattern, with one letter in the center. Your goal is to form as many words as possible using these letters — but every word must include the center letter, must be at least four letters long, and you can reuse letters as many times as you want.
The genius of Spelling Bee is its progression system. As you find words, you earn points and climb through ranks: Beginner, Good Start, Moving Up, Good, Solid, Nice, Great, Amazing, and finally Genius. Reaching Genius feels genuinely accomplishing each day. And for the truly dedicated, there is the elusive Pangram — a word that uses all seven letters — worth extra points and a satisfying little animation.
Like Wordle, the daily format creates a shared experience. You will find yourself texting friends "Did you get the Pangram?" and agonizing over that one missing word. The puzzle is free to access up to a point, with full access requiring an NYT Games subscription. For vocabulary lovers who want a daily brain workout that is more expansive than Wordle, Spelling Bee is the perfect complement.
How to Play
Open the daily puzzle
Visit the NYT Games section and open Spelling Bee. A new puzzle appears every day.
Study the seven letters
Look at the honeycomb layout. The center letter must appear in every word you create.
Form words
Type words using the available letters. Words must be at least 4 letters long. You can reuse letters within a word.
Climb the ranks
Each valid word earns points. Longer words and Pangrams (using all 7 letters) score more. Reach "Genius" rank to complete the puzzle.
Tips & Strategy
- Start by looking for the Pangram — it uses all seven letters and gives a big point boost.
- Think about common word endings (-ING, -TION, -NESS) that can be built from the available letters.
- Shuffle the letters regularly — seeing them in a new arrangement often reveals words you missed.
- Do not forget about less common but valid words — the dictionary includes many you might not think of initially.
- Come back to the puzzle later in the day with fresh eyes if you get stuck.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deeply satisfying progression from Beginner to Genius
- More open-ended than Wordle — no fixed number of guesses
- Daily format creates shared social experiences
- Excellent vocabulary builder that feels like a game, not homework
Cons
- Full access requires an NYT Games subscription ($5/month)
- Some accepted words feel obscure while common words are rejected
- No multiplayer or competitive mode
- Can be frustrating when stuck one word away from Genius
Game Details
- Players
- 1 player(recommended: 1)
- Duration
- 10-30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Price
- Freemium
- Platforms
- WebiOSAndroid
Screenshots
