Five years of daily five-letter guesses deserve a celebration. New York Times Games is marking Wordle’s fifth birthday by handing fans the V.I.P. treatment, short for Very Important Player, with a summer program that turns morning puzzle rituals into live concert access. Players can solve bonus puzzles from famous solvers, snag tickets to shows nationwide, and earn fresh badges along the way.
The music ties run deep here. Starting this month, New York Times Games teams with touring musicians who genuinely love the game, kicking off with five concerts from Nat & Alex Wolff, Young the Giant, Priscilla Block, and Passion Pit, all artists who’ve been solving alongside fans for the past five years. Each one releases a unique bonus Wordle puzzle through the Create Your Wordle Puzzle feature, and select solvers score V.I.P. tickets, artist merch, and more.
The artists make their devotion clear. Nat Wolff credits the game with saving long-distance friendships through races to solve first, while Young the Giant’s Sameer calls the app his most-used by far, an anchoring ritual across more than 250 puzzles and a life defined by constant change. Priscilla Block loves anything that sparks a little competition, and Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos points to memory as a through-line on his new record, noting how the daily exercise carries extra meaning with a parent living with dementia.
There are badges to chase too. Players can earn the 5-for-5 Challenge badge by solving five daily puzzles from June 15 to 19, and the 5th Birthday badge by solving the puzzle on June 19. Wordle remains free to play in the New York Times Games app on iOS and Android, plus mobile web and desktop.
V.I.P. Concert Dates:
Nat & Alex Wolff (Puzzle): 6/13 at Seattle Center in Seattle — Submit HERE.
Young the Giant (Puzzle): 6/19 at Pier 17 in New York — Submit HERE.
Priscilla Block (Puzzle): 7/30 at L27 Rooftop Lounge in Nashville — Submit HERE.
Passion Pit (Puzzle): 8/18 & 8/19 at The Bellwether in Los Angeles — Submit HERE.