Morgan Gibson, Staff Writer
March 8, 2024
In recent months, New York Times (NYT) games have taken the Nobles community by storm. Though back in the day, CoolMathGames were all the rage, NYT games have woven their way into the lives of many on campus. Teddy Epker (Class II) said, “I did them a bit last year but I really started doing them seriously this year.”
The most popular examples of these games include Wordle, Spelling Bee, The Crossword (both mini and large), and Connections.
If you approach a random individual at Nobles and inquire about their participation in the cult that is NYT gameplay, 9 times out of 10 they will inform you that they are indeed a member. Some on campus, such as Lara Sahagun (Class III) and Aydin Alsan (Class II), go as far as to race each other in the Mini Crossword on a daily basis. Sahagun said, “For people of our level it’s a very quick activity.” Both Sahagun and Alsan take this matter very seriously and train diligently before undertaking the crossword of the day. “I do old ones dating back to 2018 as warmups for the one today,” Sahagun said.
The routine resulting from participating in NYT games on a daily basis is a strong draw for many. Co-Director of the Putnam Library Talya Sokoll said, “I think they’re relaxing. It’s fun, it’s a nice ritual to do them everyday.” Sokoll, like many, uses NYT games as a way to connect with others, sending her Wordle results of the day to her brother, risking their delicate sibling bond in the process.
Additionally, many students use NYT games to keep their minds occupied during class while still staying mentally active, even if not related to class material. “It’s a great way to disconnect in class [and a] great way to keep my brain awake,” Meghan Loeber (Class I) said. When asked what time of day was best to play NYT games, Epker said, “Monday-Friday between 8:25 a.m.-3:00 p.m. is really the best time you can get in my opinion.” Describing the games further, Epker said, “[The games are] a great way to not pay attention in class but still look like you’re doing work.” On the subject of playing games in class, Kate Osakwe (Class IV) said, “Grind has to continue every single day. Even in class, the grind doesn’t stop #lettheworkshow.”
It looks like Epker’s tactics are working to some extent, as History Faculty Hannah Puckett said, “I honestly don’t know the extent to which distractions are due to NYT word games versus other games and distractions. I can tell when students are distracted, but I don’t always know what the distraction is.”
In an attempt to adapt to the times, some teachers, such as History Faculty Nahyon Lee, are avid NYT game enjoyers themselves and include the activities as a part of their classes. “We play connections or spelling bee sometimes for “soft start,” Lee said. Despite a recent incident involving The Nobleman’s Editor-in-Chief, AP Euro, and the NYT crossword, Puckett is still a proponent of these games. “They stimulate your brain in small ways for short periods of time. I feel much better playing a NYT game than scrolling on Instagram or something like that,” she said. English Faculty Margaret Draper explained “I love the NYT games. They are my favorite thing on my phone.”
Whether you want to flex your Spelling Bee skills on your private Snapchat story or show off your vocabulary prowess to your friends, the New York Times Games might just be the thing for you.
(Photo & Graphic Credit: Avery Winder)
