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
Doubtful
The answer is IFFY
Neanderthals made the first one from birch bark tar approximately 200,000 years ago
The answer is GLUE
Fire-starting rock
The answer is FLINT
Word that can fill the blanks of "So ___!" and "Go ___!"
The answer is LONG
Meditation practitioner
The answer is YOGI
Down
Brand of cooler
The answer is IGLOO
Short-lived relationship
The answer is FLING
Mushrooms and such
The answer is FUNGI
"Even so ..."
The answer is YET
Outer layer of a tent
The answer is FLY
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.