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
With 13-Across, narrow gap between the underside of a house and the ground
The answer is CRAWL
See 11-Across
The answer is SPACE
Down
Rock's ___ Leppard
The answer is DEF
Morning moisture
The answer is DEW
"Game of Thrones" or Homer's "Odyssey"
The answer is EPICSAGA
Good sportsmanship
The answer is FAIRPLAY
Cry a river
The answer is SOB
White mountain toppers
The answer is SNOWCAPS
Unrestrained, as a dog at a park
The answer is OFFLEASH
Sandwich that might be served "triple-decker"
The answer is BLT
Clean Air Act org.
The answer is EPA
Org. that pays the Bills?
The answer is NFL
Nintendo console with motion sensors
The answer is WII
___-quoted (frequently said)
The answer is OFT
Common battery type
The answer is AA
Young lady
The answer is GAL
Chat___
The answer is GPT
Ooh and ___
The answer is AAH
It's for horses, in a classic joke punchline
The answer is HAY
Sports org. for Scottie Scheffler
The answer is PGA
"Hey, just an F.Y.I. …," informally
The answer is PSA
When doubled, nickname for singer Swift
The answer is TAY
Socially timid
The answer is SHY
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.