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
The heart of summer?
The answer is EMS
Emotional request
The answer is PLEA
Word before aching or dancing
The answer is BELLY
Many fans of Premier League clubs
The answer is BRITS
Nacho topping that rhymes with 3-Down
The answer is QUESO
Down
Leading role on "The Last of Us"
The answer is ELLIE
Gooey diner sandwiches
The answer is MELTS
Authoritative approval
The answer is SAYSO
Country on one side of Lake Titicaca
The answer is PERU
Orange-and-brown chip flavor, for short
The answer is BBQ
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.