Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
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 5×5 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
Blasts with unwanted messages
Orderly assortment
Its state mammal is the bison, and its state sport is rodeo
Shanghai-born N.B.A. Hall-of-Famer who stood at 7’6″
Emotionless, as a gaze
Another name for an earthquake
Down
Lead a Catholic ceremony
Hype up
Place for Popeye’s anchor tattoo
Ballots cast from home
Thesaurus listing
Alphabetically last of the “five W’s”
Silly joke
“Let me think …”
Hawaii’s Mauna ___
“Excusez-___!”
See Also
Explore more daily puzzles and NYT game solutions.
- Tomorrow’s NYT Mini Crossword: Clues and answers
- Yesterday’s NYT Mini Crossword: Clues and answers
- Today’s NYT Strands: Hints and answers
- Today’s NYT Connections: Hints and answers
- Today’s NYT Wordle: Hints and answers
- Visit our Brainy Center for WordSearch, Sudoku, and more…
Explore more of these tags
More Puzzles And Quizzes
-5
0