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
Ink-squirting creature
The answer is SQUID
Handbag
The answer is PURSE
Wolverine's alias in "X-Men"
The answer is LOGAN
Enjoyed dinner at home, say
The answer is ATEIN
Stuffed animal named after the 26th president of the United States
The answer is TEDDY
Down
Sound of a cupcake hitting the floor, frosting-first
The answer is SPLAT
Common feature of a news article
The answer is QUOTE
Tried to convince
The answer is URGED
"Since you didn't hear me the first time ..."
The answer is ISAID
Name in a breakfast restaurant chain
The answer is DENNY
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.