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 5×5 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
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
Across
Person who likes things totally authentic, or not at all
ChatGPT’s company
Chance for one’s kids to watch shows, perhaps
Not in the closet
Video game with falling pieces
Dance fad of the mid-2010s that was paired with the “Whip”
Wrestle
Down
Collection of poker bets
Likes : Facebook :: ___ : Reddit
Tax filings
The “A,” “O” or “C” of A.O.C.
___ Altman, C.E.O. of 7-Across
Item of attire that might have a Windsor knot
Explosive compound, for short
Water, in French
Notice
Looking for quick crosswords to sharpen your mind? Check out our NYT Mini Crossword hub for daily grids, hints, and answers.
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.
Follow Us
