New NYT Games Feature Will Let Fans Play Wordle Against Celebs Laufey, Lola Tung, Chris Perfetti, Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan (EXCLUSIVE)

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Last month, the New York Times Games app introduced a new leaderboard function enabling users to assess their performance relative to friends. Recently, creators of popular games such as Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, and Mini Crossword have rolled out an opportunity for players to measure their scores against some of the most dedicated celebrity puzzle solvers from The New York Times Games.

Only the first 100 individuals who join this unique opportunity will have a chance to interact with an exceptional lineup of celebrities, such as jazz singer Laufey, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” actress Lola Tung, Bravo personalities Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan, and the talented Chris Perfetti from “Abbott Elementary.”

(This version is intended to provide a more conversational tone while keeping the original message intact.)

Starting May 8 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, as shared by NYT Games, I’ll have the opportunity to add popular puzzle solvers, or celebrities, to my leaderboard on a first-come, first-served basis. This special feature will be accessible through direct links available on the NYT Games blog and the celebrities’ own Instagram Stories. Their scores within the app will be visible until May 11.

Given my busy routine, I’m constantly moving. I find solace and maintain connections with my friends, even when we’re miles apart, by engaging in games from The New York Times, such as Wordle and Mini Crossword, much like Lola Tung. We exchange scores or hints, making it a cherished tradition and providing us with daily conversation starters. So, I was thrilled when I learned that The New York Times Games was introducing a leaderboard to its app. This development excites me as it offers an opportunity to involve more friends (and followers) in our little game world. It’s an enjoyable way to keep the bond strong regardless of time zones.

The “multi-game leaderboard” was initially introduced on April 22, and according to Ian Hipschman, senior product manager at NYT Games, the team has been quite pleased with the level of interaction on the “Friends tab,” without disclosing exact figures.

Hipschman commented that there’s a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the feature that allows users to view their scores alongside their friends on a leaderboard. Users are actively discussing it on social media, tweeting about it, and even writing reviews and messages to the developers. This positive response is heartening, and one aspect that seems to be capturing everyone’s attention is the customization option, where users can personalize their profiles and showcase themselves through the illustrations we’ve provided.

According to Hipschman, one challenge in setting up a leaderboard for multiple games was the difference in their launch dates: while Mini Crossword started in 2014, Connections, World, and Spelling Bee joined the New York Times Games family later on.

Hipschman mentioned that you can review your past game scores, however, the calendar is not tailored to specific games. Instead, it manages the entire leaderboard. As a result, you might encounter situations where you’re trying to check a Mini score from 2018, but then swipe to Connections, which didn’t exist in 2018. This created a complex issue for our product team.

The way the NYT Games team took a creative approach to solving that logistical problem.

In creating these lively collections of illustrations for Connections and Wordle, it appears as though a group of dinosaurs and a falling comet respectively. Hipschman explained. To indicate that these games were not yet in existence, we designed them like a growing plant for Wordle, saying ‘Connections wasn’t born!’ and ‘Wordle hadn’t bloomed yet!’. We then guide users back to the initial launch dates of these games.

According to Hipschman, such touches greatly enhance the unique tone of our products in The New York Times Games collection, including Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, and Mini Crossword.

Hipschman stated that our product’s identity, which is evident in its design and the puzzles created by Wyna Liu, for example, comes across clearly to users through her Connections puzzles. This identity is also reflected in our social media posts and marketing. However, we haven’t fully utilized this product identity in building our digital products. This project presented us with a chance to change that.

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2025-05-01 16:17