For nearly a decade, the New York Times Mini Crossword has been a daily ritual for thousands of players. It was quick, easy, and best of all, free. But on August 27th, the Times put the Mini Crossword behind bars. The Mini was a way for non-subscribers to play a piece of the original crossword that only subscribers could access.

The New York Times Mini Crossword was first released to the public as a free game on August 21st, 2014. Recently, however, the Times made the controversial decision to make the game exclusive to subscribers only. In its place? A new domino game called Pips.

Pips is no replacement for what the Mini once was. The Times’ decision is a gamble. On one hand, the paywall did precisely what the Times wanted: more subscriptions. On the other hand, it sparked backlash. People canceled their subscriptions in protest of the Times’ decision, and many vented on social media. “I didn’t want to pay for 10 or 20 minutes of crossword, so why would I want to pay for 90 seconds of crossword?” one Reddit user wrote.

By removing the Mini, the Times risks its community shrinking rather than expanding its subscriptions. Sure, new subscribers might sign up now, but how many will stick around when new, free alternatives make themselves known? The Washington Post, for example, has seen a surge in players on its own crossword puzzle—same situation with the Seattle Times, L.A. Times, and multiple others.

We understand what the NYT was trying to achieve, but honestly, we think it’s going to backfire for them in the long run. Over time, people will find free alternatives to the Times’ Mini.

If you’re looking for a free alternative, the HHS Broadcaster added its own Mini-Crossword puzzle that comes out daily.