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
See-through
The answer is CLEAR
"Anybody home?"
The answer is HELLO
Winged horse of Greek myth
The answer is PEGASUS
Salamander known for its regenerative abilities (and adorable appearance)
The answer is AXOLOTL
Down
Party snack made with cereal and pretzels
The answer is CHEXMIX
Gift with many interlocking pieces
The answer is LEGOSET
Airline whose name comes from the Book of Hosea
The answer is ELAL
Election loser
The answer is ALSORAN
Stand-up comic's act
The answer is ROUTINE
Command that uses the "V" key
The answer is PASTE
Pulling their arms might win you money
The answer is SLOTS
Texting format, for short
The answer is SMS
Birthplace of bossa nova
The answer is RIO
Even score
The answer is TIE
Insect seen in Dalí's "The Persistence of Memory"
The answer is ANT
Directory abbr.
The answer is EXT
Metroid console, for short
The answer is NES
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.

