NYT Crossword

Asteroids and Space Invaders

Archive answer — September 4, 2026

54 Across

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Clue explained

“ATARIGAMES” is the published 10-letter fill for 54 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Friday, September 4, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

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Across

34 clues
  1. 1Result of a tense build-up?
  2. 11Hit a point of no return?
  3. 15Kick off
  4. 16"Outta my way!"
  5. 17ABC's realm
  6. 18Body part affected by heterochromia
  7. 19Fed
  8. 20___ Mai, Grammy-winning R&B singer
  9. 21Buff
  10. 22Drops
  11. 24Mars rover named in honor of a 19th-century activist
  12. 26Ludwig ___, post-W.W. II leader who led West Germany's economic recovery
  13. 28Cooking term whose name is composed of two synonyms for "criticize"
  14. 29Agcy. tracking popular baby names
  15. 30Agcy. concerned with declarations
  16. 32Parts of some high-speed rail systems
  17. 33Be exceptionally good, in modern slang
  18. 34Vaper's purchase
  19. 35What Esau got in exchange for selling his birthright to Jacob
  20. 38Disclaimer in a quote
  21. 39"Hang"
  22. 42Detaches from the frame, perhaps
  23. 44Grammatical case in 48-Across
  24. 46Longtime Pixar character who saiys "I might be old, but I still got a spring in my step!"
  25. 48See 44-Across
  26. 49Super, slangily
  27. 50Curve on a score
  28. 52Follower of hand or home
  29. 53Bit of filming
  30. 54Asteroids and Space InvadersATARIGAMES
  31. 56In the past
  32. 57System by which all speech is protected?
  33. 58Cravings
  34. 59Club runners

Down

32 clues
  1. 1Change sounds
  2. 2Captivates
  3. 3Actress Lyonne
  4. 4Neighbor of Sierra Leone
  5. 5In the past
  6. 6Use a fork for, in a way
  7. 7Some thesis defenses
  8. 8Trounce
  9. 9Singer dubbed the "Matriarch of the Blues"
  10. 10Gun before the green, say
  11. 11"Is it not?"
  12. 12Stellar visual effects
  13. 13Adjective that becomes its own synonym after its first letter is dropped
  14. 14Strands
  15. 21Precise and calculated
  16. 23First country to elect a female prime minister (1960)
  17. 25Tripping
  18. 27Sluggish
  19. 31One putting the pedal to the metal
  20. 33No-goodniks
  21. 35Toddler's walking aid
  22. 36Like someone using autoreply, perhaps
  23. 37Start to congeal
  24. 39Part of some gummies
  25. 40Clear
  26. 41Births
  27. 43Comfort
  28. 45Mesoamerican staple with a "hot" variety
  29. 47Mentors
  30. 51"Rude Boy" singer, to fans
  31. 54Ancient symbol of royalty
  32. 55Test not offered in high school, for short

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Result of a tense build-up?

    Answer: JENGATOWER

  2. 11. Hit a point of no return?

    Answer: ACED

  3. 15. Kick off

    Answer: INAUGURATE

  4. 16. "Outta my way!"

    Answer: MOVE

  5. 17. ABC's realm

    Answer: NATIONALTV

  6. 18. Body part affected by heterochromia

    Answer: IRIS

  7. 19. Fed

    Answer: GMAN

  8. 20. ___ Mai, Grammy-winning R&B singer

    Answer: ELLA

  9. 21. Buff

    Answer: SWOLE

  10. 22. Drops

    Answer: LOSES

  11. 24. Mars rover named in honor of a 19th-century activist

    Answer: SOJOURNER

  12. 26. Ludwig ___, post-W.W. II leader who led West Germany's economic recovery

    Answer: ERHARD

  13. 28. Cooking term whose name is composed of two synonyms for "criticize"

    Answer: PANROAST

  14. 29. Agcy. tracking popular baby names

    Answer: SSA

  15. 30. Agcy. concerned with declarations

    Answer: IRS

  16. 32. Parts of some high-speed rail systems

    Answer: MAGNETS

  17. 33. Be exceptionally good, in modern slang

    Answer: SLAP

  18. 34. Vaper's purchase

    Answer: ECIG

  19. 35. What Esau got in exchange for selling his birthright to Jacob

    Answer: POTTAGE

  20. 38. Disclaimer in a quote

    Answer: SIC

  21. 39. "Hang"

    Answer: VEG

  22. 42. Detaches from the frame, perhaps

    Answer: UNHINGES

  23. 44. Grammatical case in 48-Across

    Answer: DATIVE

  24. 46. Longtime Pixar character who saiys "I might be old, but I still got a spring in my step!"

    Answer: SLINKYDOG

  25. 48. See 44-Across

    Answer: LATIN

  26. 49. Super, slangily

    Answer: HECKA

  27. 50. Curve on a score

    Answer: SLUR

  28. 52. Follower of hand or home

    Answer: MADE

  29. 53. Bit of filming

    Answer: TAKE

  30. 54. Asteroids and Space Invaders

    Answer: ATARIGAMES

  31. 56. In the past

    Answer: OVER

  32. 57. System by which all speech is protected?

    Answer: SECURELINE

  33. 58. Cravings

    Answer: YENS

  34. 59. Club runners

    Answer: PRESIDENTS

Down

  1. 1. Change sounds

    Answer: JINGLES

  2. 2. Captivates

    Answer: ENAMORS

  3. 3. Actress Lyonne

    Answer: NATASHA

  4. 4. Neighbor of Sierra Leone

    Answer: GUINEA

  5. 6. Use a fork for, in a way

    Answer: TUNE

  6. 7. Some thesis defenses

    Answer: ORALS

  7. 8. Trounce

    Answer: WALLOP

  8. 9. Singer dubbed the "Matriarch of the Blues"

    Answer: ETTAJAMES

  9. 10. Gun before the green, say

    Answer: REV

  10. 11. "Is it not?"

    Answer: AMIWRONG

  11. 12. Stellar visual effects

    Answer: CORONAE

  12. 13. Adjective that becomes its own synonym after its first letter is dropped

    Answer: EVILEST

  13. 14. Strands

    Answer: DESERTS

  14. 21. Precise and calculated

    Answer: SURGICAL

  15. 23. First country to elect a female prime minister (1960)

    Answer: SRILANKA

  16. 25. Tripping

    Answer: ONACID

  17. 27. Sluggish

    Answer: DRAGGY

  18. 31. One putting the pedal to the metal

    Answer: SPEEDSTER

  19. 33. No-goodniks

    Answer: STINKERS

  20. 35. Toddler's walking aid

    Answer: PUSHTOY

  21. 36. Like someone using autoreply, perhaps

    Answer: ONLEAVE

  22. 37. Start to congeal

    Answer: THICKEN

  23. 39. Part of some gummies

    Answer: VITAMIN

  24. 40. Clear

    Answer: EVIDENT

  25. 41. Births

    Answer: GENESES

  26. 43. Comfort

    Answer: SOLACE

  27. 45. Mesoamerican staple with a "hot" variety

    Answer: TAMALE

  28. 47. Mentors

    Answer: GURUS

  29. 51. "Rude Boy" singer, to fans

    Answer: RIRI

  30. 54. Ancient symbol of royalty

    Answer: ASP

  31. 55. Test not offered in high school, for short

    Answer: GED

The answer to “Asteroids and Space Invaders” in the NYT Crossword is ATARIGAMES — a 10-letter word. It appears in our available data for September 4, 2026 at 54-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Asteroids and Space Invaders” answer

ATARIGAMES(10 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does ATARIGAMES fit?

ATARIGAMES is the published 10-letter answer at 54-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Asteroids and Space Invaders” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Asteroids and Space Invaders”?

The answer is ATARIGAMES.

How many letters are in the answer?

10 letters: ATARIGAMES.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for September 4, 2026 at 54-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the NYT answers page for September 4, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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