The Mini is the New York Times crossword for people who have five minutes, not fifty. It follows the same clue conventions as the full crossword in a much smaller grid, which makes it the best place to learn how crossword clues work. This guide covers the rules, how to read clues and how to get faster. For today’s grid, see today’s NYT Mini Crossword answers.
What is the NYT Mini Crossword?
The Mini is a small daily crossword from NYT Games, created by Joel Fagliano and first published in 2014. The grid is usually 5×5, with a larger grid on Saturdays. A timer runs while you solve, so many players treat it as a daily race against their own best time or their friends.
How to play the NYT Mini
- Each white square takes one letter. Black squares separate the answers.
- Every answer has a clue. Across answers read left to right, and Down answers read top to bottom.
- Tap a square to select it. Tap again to switch between Across and Down.
- Every letter is part of both an Across and a Down answer, so each answer you fill in gives letters for the answers that cross it.
- The puzzle is complete when every square is filled correctly. The timer then stops.
How to read Mini Crossword clues
- The answer matches the clue’s form. A plural clue has a plural answer, and a past-tense clue has a past-tense answer.
- Fill-in-the-blank clues are the easiest. A clue such as “___ and cheese” usually has only one sensible answer.
- An abbreviation in the clue signals an abbreviation in the answer.
- A question mark means wordplay. The clue is a pun or a trick, so do not read it literally.
- “e.g.” or “for one” means the clue gives an example. The answer is the category it belongs to.
Tips to solve the Mini faster
- Read all the Across clues once. Fill in only the ones you know at once, then move to the Down clues with those letters in place.
- Start with fill-in-the-blank clues. They give you the first letters most quickly.
- Use the crossings. In a 5×5 grid, two or three correct answers usually reveal most of the rest.
- Guess common endings. If the clue is plural, try S in the last square. Past tense often ends in ED.
- Do not stall on one clue. Move on and let the crossing answers fill it in for you.
- Learn the repeat words. Short words with common letters, such as ERA, AREA, OREO and ALOE, appear again and again.
When does the Mini come out?
A new Mini is released at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern Time on weekends, which is the evening before the date printed on the puzzle.
More NYT puzzle help
- Today’s nyt mini crossword answers, updated every day
- How to play NYT Pips
- How to play NYT Letter Boxed
- How to play NYT Spelling Bee
- How to play NYT Connections
- How to play Wordle
- How to play NYT Strands
- All of today’s NYT puzzle hints and answers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How big is the NYT Mini Crossword?
The grid is usually 5×5 squares. The Saturday Mini is larger.
What time does the NYT Mini come out?
At 10 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern Time on weekends, the evening before the puzzle date.
What does a question mark mean in a crossword clue?
It means the clue uses wordplay, such as a pun, and should not be read literally.
