The New York Times Mini Crossword may be small, but it’s designed to catch you off guard.
Unlike its full-sized cousin, the Mini forces you to think quickly. It packs a sharp mental workout into a compact 5x5 grid, ideal for short breaks.
A tiny puzzle doesn't mean it’s always easy.
When you’re stuck on a clue, our daily
hints and answers will help keep the momentum going.
Where to Play
You can play the Mini Crossword on the
New York Times website, the NYT Games app, or within the Play tab of the main News app.
Past puzzles are available to Games and All Access subscribers.
When the Puzzle Drops
How It Works
Fill the grid by solving Across and Down clues. You’ll know you’ve solved it correctly when music plays and a congratulatory message appears.
There’s no streak feature like Wordle, but you can track your solve time and compete with friends on the Mini leaderboard.
Game Features and Shortcuts
Across
Person who likes things totally authentic, or not at all
The answer is PURIST
ChatGPT's company
The answer is OPENAI
Chance for one's kids to watch shows, perhaps
The answer is TVTIME
Not in the closet
The answer is OUT
Video game with falling pieces
The answer is TETRIS
Dance fad of the mid-2010s that was paired with the "Whip"
The answer is NAENAE
Wrestle
The answer is TUSSLE
Down
Collection of poker bets
The answer is POT
Likes : Facebook :: ___ : Reddit
The answer is UPVOTES
Tax filings
The answer is RETURNS
The "A," "O" or "C" of A.O.C.
The answer is INITIAL
___ Altman, C.E.O. of 7-Across
The answer is SAM
Item of attire that might have a Windsor knot
The answer is TIE
Explosive compound, for short
The answer is TNT
Water, in French
The answer is EAU
Notice
The answer is SEE
Looking for quick crosswords to sharpen your mind? Check out our
NYT Mini Crossword hub for daily grids, hints, and answers.
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.
