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
- Weekdays + Saturdays: Available at 10 p.m. EST the night before.
- Sundays: Drops earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
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
- Timer: See how quickly you can complete the puzzle.
- Reveal and Check tools: If you’re stuck, reveal a letter, word, or check your answers.
- Keyboard shortcuts: Use arrow keys, spacebar, tab, and more (on desktop).
- Pen and Pencil Mode: Toggle between confident solves and tentative guesses.
Across
In alphabetical order, the five letters each worth at least five points in Scrabble
The answer is JKQXZ
Largest airport in the Midwest
The answer is OHARE
The Devil
The answer is SATAN
"Every Kiss Begins With ___" (longtime jewelry slogan)
The answer is KAY
Busy org. on April 15th
The answer is IRS
Down
___ A. Bank (menswear retailer)
The answer is JOS
Yellowish-brown pants material
The answer is KHAKI
Tiny neighbor of Saudi Arabia
The answer is QATAR
Pictures of fractures, perhaps
The answer is XRAYS
In a chill state of mind
The answer is ZEN
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.