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
Salsa, hummus, queso, etc.
The answer is DIPS
U.S. state capital that rhymes with 9-Across (not 7-Across!)
The answer is PIERRE
What broadcasters are on
The answer is THEAIR
"Yes and no ..."
The answer is SORTOF
Societal equal
The answer is PEER
Down
John ___ (tractor company)
The answer is DEERE
Boiling mad
The answer is IRATE
"Sorry, I have a ___ commitment"
The answer is PRIOR
Laborer in medieval times
The answer is SERF
A touchdown is worth six: Abbr.
The answer is PTS
Breakfast chain typically open 24 hours a day
The answer is IHOP
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.