The NYT Mini Crossword packs a full crossword into a tiny 5×5 grid — solvable in under two minutes, free every day, with a timer to chase your personal best. Here’s how to play and how to get faster.
How the Mini Crossword Works
The Mini is a five-by-five grid with clues split into Across and Down, just like the big crossword. Tap a square to select it (tap again to switch direction), then type your answer letter by letter. Black squares mark where answers end. Solve the whole grid correctly and celebratory music plays — that’s how you know you’ve nailed it.
There’s no penalty for wrong letters, so guessing is always worth it. If you’re truly stuck, the Reveal and Check tools can expose a letter, a word, or verify your grid.
When the Mini Drops
A new Mini arrives every day: weekdays and Saturdays it’s available at 10 p.m. EST the night before, and the Sunday puzzle drops earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday. You can play on the New York Times website, the NYT Games app, or the Play tab of the NYT News app. Past puzzles are available to Games and All Access subscribers.
5 Tips to Solve the Mini Faster
1. Start with the gimmes. Fill every clue you’re sure about first — crossings solve the rest.
2. Trust the crossings. In a 5×5, every letter crosses another answer. One confident crossing pair can unlock a whole corner.
3. Think short and common. Mini answers skew toward everyday words and classic crosswordese (ERIE, EPEE, OLEO). Obscure answers are rare.
4. Use Pencil mode for guesses. Toggle between Pen (confident) and Pencil (tentative) to track which letters you’re sure of.
5. Race the timer. Your solve time is tracked — regulars chase personal bests and compete with friends on the Mini leaderboard. Speed comes from pattern recognition, which builds fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NYT Mini Crossword free?
Yes — the daily Mini is free to play for everyone. Only the archive of past puzzles requires a Games or All Access subscription.
How big is the Mini Crossword grid?
5×5 squares — small enough to finish in a coffee break, tricky enough to catch you off guard.
Does the Mini have a streak like Wordle?
No streak feature, but your solve times are tracked so you can compete against yourself and friends.
What time does the Mini Crossword come out?
10 p.m. EST the night before for weekday and Saturday puzzles; 6 p.m. EST Saturday for the Sunday puzzle.
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