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
Quick punches
The answer is JABS
Animal with unique stripes, similar to human fingerprints
The answer is ZEBRA
The People's ___ (The Rock's signature wrestling move)
The answer is ELBOW
Pumps the brakes, say
The answer is SLOWS
Many "Bluey" viewers
The answer is TOTS
Down
Treat once advertised as "America’s Most Famous Dessert"
The answer is JELLO
Head of a monastery
The answer is ABBOT
Furrowed facial features
The answer is BROWS
Lumber mill tools
The answer is SAWS
Grated citrus peel
The answer is ZEST
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.