🧩 A Multiplayer Game from NYTimes?

Dear Reader, 

You’re reading the monthly newsletter from Amuse Labs, covering the world of puzzles, publishing, and updates to PuzzleMe™, the most advanced digital platform for smart games. 

NYTimes Introduces Two-Player Game “Crossplay”

The New York Times Games team has entered the world of social gaming with the launch of “Crossplay,” a Scrabble-like two-player word game. This new game aims to transform the traditionally solitary experience of word puzzles into a competitive social activity, allowing friends and family to compete online over a shared grid.

Crossplay, which is available as a separate app from the NYT games, represents the Times’ first foray into multiplayer games. “We wanted people to be able to just get in and play the game with friends and family, and then get on with your day,” Jonathan Knight, Head of Games at NYT, told Techcrunch. Notably, the game also includes anonymous pairing, allowing players to compete online against strangers.

The Globe and Mail Revamps Its Online Games Hub

The Globe and Mail, Canada’s newspaper of record, has officially launched its revamped Diversions section with a host of PuzzleMe games. Most notably, the Globe launched “Headliner,” using PuzzleMe’s Decipher the Quote format to challenge players to decode recent headlines published by the paper. Headliner is a great way to get solvers to engage with the news in a light and playful manner. It’s also the perfect example of how formats like Decipher can enable publishers to blend their own content in their games.

The Globe is also now publishing two exclusive Canadian crosswords on Saturdays – a cryptic crossword by Fraser Simpson (who also writes their giant crosswords) and another grid by ace constructor and editor Will Nediger. The update also includes Wordfinder, the Globe’s take on Word Search. All these games are free to play.

US Weekly Promotes Netflix Show with Puzzles

US Weekly is taking gamified engagement to the next level by publishing interactive puzzles to promote the brand-new season of Star Search, a reality talent show, on Netflix. The puzzles, hosted on the PuzzleMe platform, challenge fans to solve jigsaws, crosswords and quizzes inspired by the talent competition.

This collaboration is a great example of how publishers can offer sponsors gamified marketing experiences that capture attention. By inviting readers to test their skills with a Star Search twist, US Weekly found a refreshing and creative way to promote the upcoming Netflix show.

From the Crossworld

PuzzleMe Spotlight

A selection of updates from PuzzleMe, the most advanced digital platform for word and logic games

1. A New Creator for Decipher The Quote

We are excited to announce a significant update to our Decipher the Quote format. Previously, creating these puzzles required a more technical CSV upload, but we have now launched an intuitive, dedicated creator interface on PuzzleMe. This makes it incredibly easy for anyone to build their own “decode the secret message” games in seconds.

The Decipher format has seen massive success with partners like Morning Brew and The Globe and Mail, and we hope this new tool encourages more creators to experiment with it. Whether you are sharing a motivational quote for your team or a headline-driven puzzle for your readers, the new creator simplifies the process from start to finish.

2. New Difficulty Levels for Jigsaws

We’ve introduced a new way to tailor the jigsaw experience to every kind of player. You can now add up to three difficulty levels to your jigsaw puzzles by offering different piece counts for the same image. When multiple levels are enabled, players will see a difficulty dropdown in the top-right corner of the player to choose their preferred challenge.

The platform automatically calculates the best dimensions to keep pieces approximately square, creating an engaging experience whether a user chooses 24, 54, or 96 pieces. This feature is currently available only on PuzzleMe Plus or higher tiers.

3. Customizable Messaging Screens

For our enterprise customers, we can offer flexible design options for the start and end screens using custom CSS. The start screen is the first thing a player sees, making it an important touchpoint for branding and instructions. You can move beyond standard templates to create a unique entry experience that aligns perfectly with your brand. Similarly, the end screen can offer the perfect reward and message to the user, along with calls to subsequent action.

Excellent examples of this feature in action can be seen in the bespoke screens created for People Magazine and Crossword Club. These custom designs provide a premium, integrated feel that elevates the entire gaming experience for the end-user.

About Us

Amuse Labs is the creator of PuzzleMe™, the leading digital platform for Smart Games. It is a B2B SaaS company trusted globally by brands and publishers, powering Crosswords, Sudokus, Jigsaws, Quizzes, Word Searches and more. Explore opportunities to partner by sending a note or applying if you’d like to work with us!