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
De Armas of "Knives Out"
The answer is ANA
Jack ___, five-time "S.N.L." host
The answer is BLACK
Class pets that thump their feet to warn of approaching kindergarteners
The answer is GERBILS
Big name in hair loss prevention
The answer is ROGAINE
Jack ___, six-time "S.N.L." musical guest
The answer is WHITE
Attempt
The answer is TRY
Down
"Okay then ..."
The answer is ALRIGHT
Catch, as a criminal
The answer is NAB
Notable feature of lemon and grapefruit juice
The answer is ACIDITY
Underneath
The answer is BELOW
Actor Kevin of "Dave"
The answer is KLINE
Long-nosed fish
The answer is GAR
Understand
The answer is SEE
Boxer Muhammad or Laila
The answer is ALI
Reach 0% battery
The answer is DIE
Make public, as a grievance
The answer is AIR
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.