NYT Mini Crossword

What NYT Mini Crossword is

The NYT Mini Crossword is a compact word puzzle that asks you to fill a small grid with intersecting words. Each row and column carries a clue, and your goal is to place the correct letters so every across and down entry reads properly. It is part of the New York Times Games lineup and is available on the web as well as on iOS and Android apps. A new puzzle is released daily, so there is always a fresh challenge. You can play for free without signing up, while unlimited access requires a subscription. The grid is intentionally small, but the clues can still be clever, so expect to think carefully even in a short session.

How to play

Open the current day's mini grid and read the clues listed for each row and column. Your goal is to fill every square with the correct letter so that all across and down words are valid answers to their clues. Work through the clues one by one, entering letters into the grid as you go. Because the words intersect, solving one entry will give you letters for another, which can help you confirm or correct your guesses. If you make a mistake, you can check your answers and adjust the letters until the whole grid is complete. The puzzle is finished when every row and column contains a correct word. Since a new puzzle is released daily, you can come back each day for a fresh set of clues and a new grid to solve.

Tips

1. Start with the shortest clues or the ones you are most confident about; filling in a few certain letters will give you anchors for the rest of the grid.
2. When you are stuck, look at the intersecting entries you have already filled. The letters you have can narrow down the possible answers for the other clue.