Zorse was a New York Times phrase-guessing game that combined two phrases into each puzzle. The Times announced a beta test on October 8, 2024, initially for players in Canada. The available evidence does not establish that Zorse can still be played today.
How Zorse’s puzzle mechanic worked
The New York Times described each Zorse puzzle as a “phrase guessing game where every puzzle is a mash-up of two phrases,” according to Semafor’s October 8, 2024 report. Players had to identify the two phrases behind the combined prompt. That makes Zorse distinct from a game based on guessing a single word, although the available reporting does not document its full rules, interface, scoring, or daily puzzle format.
Where and why the beta was tested
The beta was initially limited to players in Canada, Semafor reported. The New York Times said the test was intended to show how people engaged with the game and to gather feedback: “Similar to how The Times treats its other games when they’re in beta, we’re hoping to learn how players engage with Zorse and look forward to hearing their feedback.” The company did not identify an individual speaker. TechCrunch also reported the beta on October 8, 2024, summarizing the game as a phrase-guessing puzzle that merged two phrases.
Is Zorse still available?
There is no accessible official source confirming that Zorse is currently playable, nor one giving a verified date when its beta ended. A January 12, 2025 Reddit post quotes an apparent response from NYT Care saying the beta period had ended and the Times was refocusing resources. That is user-posted correspondence, not an independently accessible official announcement, so it does not confirm a precise end date or permanent retirement.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
The New York Times Games app help page describes the iOS and Android app and notes that non-subscribers have limited access to games, but it does not mention Zorse. It therefore cannot establish whether Zorse is included in the app today or what access rules applied during its original beta. Third-party sites using the Zorse name are not established by these sources as official versions of the Times game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was Zorse a physical game?
The cited reporting describes a digital beta, not a physical product. Hasbro’s 2022 announcement of Wordle: The Party Game concerns a separate physical version of Wordle; it is not Zorse merchandise or a way to play Zorse.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
