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
Perch for a family photo
The answer is SHELF
Burnett with a variety show from 1967 to 1978
The answer is CAROL
Plant that yields mezcal
The answer is AGAVE
Deceptive ploys
The answer is RUSES
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
The answer is YEESH
Down
How a leap of faith might feel
The answer is SCARY
Dutch seat of government, with "The"
The answer is HAGUE
What many pencils can do that magic markers can't
The answer is ERASE
Holds dear
The answer is LOVES
___ and blood (kin)
The answer is FLESH
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.