How to Play NYT Wordle? Rules, Best Starting Words, and New Changes

The NYT Wordle game has gone from a fun thing to do during the pandemic to a worldwide competition. There are more than 3 million people who play Wordle every day, so the stakes for keeping a Wordle Streak have never been higher. If you want to be a word-guessing wizard, the first thing you need to do is learn how to play Wordle, whether you're a Gen-Z player looking for the best vibes online or a veteran.

You have six chances to guess a secret five-letter word in this simple but addictive game. The New York Times wanted to have 10 million digital subscribers by the end of 2025, so the game has changed with new features like WordleBot and archives that only subscribers can access.

What is the NYT Wordle Game?

Wordle is a web-based word puzzle hosted by The New York Times. Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, it was acquired by the NYT in 2022. The objective of the game is to identify a Word of the Day, a five-letter word, within six tries.

Every player across the globe attempts to solve the same word each day, making it a social experience. The game resets at midnight local time. 

According to official NYT data, most successful players find the answer in four guesses, which the community often refers to as par.

How to play NYT Wordle?

First, go to the official NYT Games website or app. Type in any five-letter English word and hit Enter. The game gives you feedback through colored tiles:

1. Green: The letter is correct and in the right spot.

2. Yellow: The letter is in the word, but in the wrong position.

3. Gray: The letter is not in the word at all.

Use these hints to make your next guess more specific. If you're playing on Hard Mode, you have to use any green or yellow letters that are revealed in all of your next guesses. This means you can't use throwaway words to look for new letters. 

Also Read - How to Play the NYT Crossplay Game? All about the New Multiplayer App and Rules

What are the Best 5 Letter Words for Wordle? 

Strategic players use starter words that cover the most letters. The NYT WordleBot says that the best 5-letter words are those that have a set of common vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and consonants that are used often (S, T, R, N, L).

Top-tier starting Wordle words include:

• ADIEU: Popular for clearing four vowels at once.

• STARE: A favorite among mathematicians for its common consonant placement.

• CRANE: Often cited by WordleBot as the mathematically optimal start.

• AUDIO: Excellent for quickly ruling out vowel-heavy words.

• RAISE: Combines common vowels with the most frequent consonants.

New Changes in NYT Wordle Games

The biggest shake-up in Wordle history arrived in early 2026. Previously, once a word was used as a daily answer, it was retired and never used again. However, the New York Times has officially announced that previously run words are now back in play. 

This means you can no longer assume a word isn't the answer just because it appeared a year ago. Additionally, the NYT has integrated a Wordle Archive for Games subscribers, allowing users to play over 1,000 past puzzles. These changes ensure the game can technically last forever without running out of five-letter words.

Also Read - NYT Game Launches Pips: Can This New Logic Game Rival the Wordle & Connections Mania?

Wordle is now in a new era of recycled answers, so players need to change how they play. Sweden is the best country in the world at solving problems right now, with an average of 3.72 guesses. Stay alert, pay attention to the gray tiles, and remember that your favorite old starter word could win today!