Games v6.49.0
Does NYT Games work on iPhone Duo?
Mostly. NYT Games fills most of iPhone Duo's inner display but still leaves some unused space around the app.
At a glance
- Inner display (7.6″)
- Partly adapted
- Outer display (5.4″)
- Works normally
- Built with
- Not read yet
- We read each app's build SDK after it updates
- iPad version
- Yes
- Layout already handles big screens
- Latest version
- v6.49.0
- Nov 3, 2026
- Duo in release notes
- Not yet
About NYT Games
NYT Games is made by The New York Times Company and first came out on the App Store in March 2009. It's #54 on today's US App Store top charts. It has 299,777 ratings on the US App Store, averaging 4.8 stars. Version 6.49.0 came out on Nov 3, 2026 and needs iOS 18.0 or later. It's free to download. Among the 238 games we track on the US App Store, 34 already fill the inner display, 9 are partly adapted and 187 still show black bars. By number of ratings, NYT Games is #66 of them.
From its App Store listing:
New York Times Games is the essential app for anyone who loves word, logic and number games. Guess the Wordle, solve the Crossword or build words in Spelling Bee. Free to download, the app offers new puzzles daily for every skill level. App Features and Games: NEW: THE MIDI CROSSWORD - Crush this clever midsize word puzzle. - Just-right size between the Mini and the Crossword. - Enjoy approachable…
On the inner display
Built with the iOS 27 SDK, the app extends across most of the inner display, but some areas stay empty. It's usable, just not polished.
In Split View
iPhone Duo is the first iPhone that can show two apps side by side, and every app takes part — including NYT Games. Open it on the inner display, then add a second app next to it. You can save the pair and come back to it later.
Duo-specific features
None confirmed yet. Duo-specific features include side toolbars, layouts that react to the fold, and content on the outer display while the app is open inside.
Evidence & history
App build,
Version 6.48.0 is built with the iOS 27.0 SDK
Apple gives apps built with the iOS 27.0 SDK more of the inner display, with some space left over.
- : Not confirmed yet → Partly adapted — built with the iOS 27.0 SDK
Latest release notes
Version 6.49.0 · Nov 3, 2026
This version contains improvements to keep you solving smoothly! Have feedback? Email us. nytgames@nytimes.com
Questions
Does NYT Games work on iPhone Duo?
Mostly. NYT Games fills most of iPhone Duo's inner display but still leaves some unused space around the app.
Does NYT Games work on the outer display?
Yes. iPhone Duo's 5.4-inch outer display behaves like a regular iPhone screen, so every iPhone app works there as usual.
Can I use NYT Games in Split View on iPhone Duo?
Yes. On iPhone Duo every app can be placed side by side with another app on the inner display — developers don't need to opt in. How comfortable it feels at half width depends on the app's layout.
Why does NYT Games have black bars on iPhone Duo?
Apps built with the iOS 26 SDK or earlier run in a phone-sized window on the inner display, and iOS 27 builds can still leave some space empty. The bars disappear once the developer rebuilds the app with the iOS 27.1 SDK — you only need to update the app.
When will NYT Games fill iPhone Duo's inner display?
When its developer releases an update built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later. We read the SDK of every new version of NYT Games within about a day of its release and update this page.
What can I do about the black bars until then?
Use NYT Games on the outer display, where it works like on any iPhone, or put it in Split View next to another app on the inner display so less of the screen goes unused.