In the digital age, people are constantly consuming short-form content and endlessly scrolling. Attention spans and meaningful connections are diminishing. However, many are turning to the New York Times Games as a form of entertainment. Not only do these games provide a lot of stimulation, they also foster connec- tions between players and help combat these dwindling attention spans.
Take Connections, for example. Gregory Campeau, English teach-er and frequent player, highlights “Connections” as one of his favor- ite New York Times games. “I en- joy the conceptual part of it,” said Campeau“It’s a word game, but it’s also a categoriza- tion game.”
Players have to group words based on their meaning into specific categories, and connection often plays on the double meaning of certain words to trick you into putting them in the wrong catego- ry. The game has four categories, all ranging from easy to hard based on the colors of the category. The nuance behind the game requires sustained thought, something that is increasingly rare in the age of TikTok and short-form social media.
Following “Connections,” Campeau adds that “Spelling Bee” is his next favorite. “It’s very stimulating to brainstorm as many words as I can from those letters,” said Campeau. He said he finds the game a relaxing but mentally engaging exercise, and he often plays it throughout the day because he cannot think of all the words at once. His experience shows how these games can lead people to have bursts of mindful concentration throughout the day and can thus provide an antidote to mindless scrolling.
Interestingly, Campeau says he integrates some of these games into his classroom as warm-ups. “I started playing Spelling Bee as a way to engage students before diving into lessons,” he said. This is a clever strategy that pulls students away from their phones and encourages them to engage with language.
People also play New York Times games with their friends at school and bond over playing the game. Campeau says he finds himself playing these games throughout the day and with his friends, seeing which words they have found. These types of interactions with others can help prevent people from being lonely and scrolling on their phones alone, as New York Times games inherently promote collaboration.
In a time when mindless scrolling is rampant, Campeau believes that games like these offer a better alternative. “Getting a mobile app with word games is a nice alternative to doom-scrolling,” he said, emphasizing that these games can keep students engaged and may be a productive distraction.
As New York Times games’ popularity increases, both teachers and students find playing them to be a meaningful pastime. If you’re looking to enhance your vocabulary or challenge your mind, these games may give you the means to do so.