EXCLUSIVE: The New York Times is kicking off 2026 by releasing a new two-player game called Crossplay, a brainteaser designed for friendly competition and social connection. The game features players taking turns building words off one another to earn points. It's another chance for players to show off their puzzle prowess in friendly competition and get their names on the NYT's leaderboard. Crossplay will officially roll out in the U.S. in January. Players can pre-register for the Crossplay app