The Mini is a small daily crossword from The New York Times. Most grids are 5 by 5, and many players treat it as a speed challenge.
The basics
- Fill each white square so that every Across and Down answer is a real word or phrase that matches its clue.
- A clue's number tells you where its answer starts.
- The next day's puzzle appears at 10 p.m. Eastern on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern on weekends.
Tips for a faster time
- Skim every clue first. Fill whatever you know instantly, in either direction.
- Let crossings do the work. In a 5 by 5 grid, two or three letters usually make the rest obvious.
- Watch for fill-in-the-blank clues. They are often the fastest answers on the board.
- Notice tense and number. A clue in the past tense wants a past-tense answer, and a plural clue wants a plural answer.
- Learn common crossword words. Short words with friendly letters, like ERA, ORE and AREA, show up often.
Our daily Mini page lists every clue with its answer length, then the first letters, then each answer and the solved grid, so you can stop at whatever level you need.
Mini Crossword questions
What is the NYT Mini?
A small daily crossword from The New York Times, usually 5 by 5, that most people finish in a minute or two.
When does the new Mini come out?
The next day's Mini is released at 10 p.m. Eastern on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern on weekends. Our page for each date goes up once that date begins in Eastern time.
Is the Mini free?
The Mini can be played free on the New York Times website and app.
How do I get faster at the Mini?
Fill the short, obvious answers first, use the crossing letters to get the rest, and learn the common crossword words that show up again and again.
Is the Saturday Mini bigger?
Some days use a larger grid. Our page always shows every clue for that day, whatever the size.