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
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
The "S" of H.S.: Abbr.
King with a golden touch
New Delhi or New York
Segment of a train
Pig's nose
Place for an intuitive feeling
Down
Author's event
Public health agcy.
Barbershop offering
___ Tirith, capital of Gondor in the "Lord of the Rings" books
Short-tailed weasel
Place to order drinks
"___ out!" (umpire's shout)
Raggedy ___ doll
Landmark Supreme Court case overturned by Dobbs
Guitarist Reed
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.