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
George Carlin, for the first episode of "Saturday Night Live"
The answer is HOST
Sulky-looking
The answer is POUTY
Request for a high-five
The answer is UPTOP
Subway system
The answer is METRO
Opponent of Cuomo and Mamdani in the N.Y.C. mayoral race
The answer is ADAMS
Down
Crossed one's fingers
The answer is HOPED
"Straight ___ Compton"
The answer is OUTTA
Bad time to head outside with a tall metal rod
The answer is STORM
What autocorrect corrects
The answer is TYPOS
Sneaker named for a big cat
The answer is PUMA
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.