The Boston Globe Launches New, Digital Word Game "Align"

Puzzle developed uniquely for Globe readers to build player engagement  

BOSTON, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Globe is proud to announce the launch of Align, a new digital word game available on Globe.com/games.

Align is a unique spelling puzzle offered daily that challenges players to rearrange letter tiles within a 5x5 grid, aiming to create a valid word in each row and column. Players can focus on speed, efficiency, or both, adding a layer of strategy to the gameplay.

"We challenge our team to think outside the box to provide our subscribers with digital offerings that are interactive, entertaining, and offer a respite from the usual news cycle," said Michelle Micone, senior vice president of innovation and strategic initiatives at Boston Globe Media. "A recent Digital News Report from Reuters showed that 21 percent of adults in the U.S. who subscribe to news are motivated to do so because of games and puzzles, and based on the increased plays we have seen, we suspect our audience feels similarly. Globe subscribers have told us our games help them stay sharp, and we are proud to provide our audiences with the content they value by investing in and developing new, unique games."

Align, the first game designed exclusively for Globe readers, was co-created by Brendan Emmett Quigley and Ben Gottlieb. Quigley is a prominent puzzle writer and crossword constructor whose work has appeared in major US and UK media outlets since 1996. He has been contributing to the Globe's Sunday crossword since 2015 and has published nearly 200 puzzles in the New York Times. Ben Gottlieb has been developing mobile software for over 30 years, and his games have been featured in the Apple AppStore.

"Align is an original game, but it contains elements of other classic puzzles like the crossword or jigsaw. Anyone who is a word game player or a fan of logic puzzles will immediately be able to connect with Align," said Daniel King, director of games at Boston Globe Media.

King joined Boston Globe Media in 2024 with expertise in serious games, immersive advertising, and the intersection of digital and analog games, offering a unique perspective on interactive entertainment. Now, he crafts engaging and playful experiences for Globe audiences and is spearheading the launch of Align.

Boston Globe Media offers a suite of games — Mini Crossword, Word Flower, Wordrow, Sudoku and KenKen — as a complement to its award-winning journalism. Align is free to play, with new challenges posted daily. Globe subscribers gain exclusive access to an Align puzzle archive along with an exclusive daily crossword, including the beloved Sunday puzzle from Globe Magazine.

Play Align for free. Unlock the full games library and more on Globe.com/games. 

Contact: Carla Kath, Director of Communications, [email protected]  

About Boston Globe Media:
Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC is a locally owned, award-winning media company serving Boston and New England for over 153 years. Its cornerstone is The Boston Globe, a 27-time Pulitzer Prize-winning news source and one of the most successful metro news organizations in the United States. The Globe is headquartered in Boston with regional bureaus in Washington, D.C., Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The Globe has been successfully growing its direct subscriber base, today boasting the highest total number of subscribers the organization has had since 2008. The Globe hosts events that connect community members to its journalism and provides a range of digital and home-delivered advertising solutions that reach more consumers than any other New England media brand. Boston Globe Media's portfolio includes The Boston Globe, Globe.com, Boston.com, STAT, The B-Side, Globe Publishing Services, Globe Events, Studio/B, and Boston magazine.

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SOURCE The Boston Globe