puzzlerzone
What The Mini Crossword is
The Mini Crossword is a daily word puzzle that fits in a 5x5 grid. Everyone gets the same clues and grid each day, so it's a fair challenge for all players. The goal is to fill every square with the correct letter. It runs in your browser with no download, and the black-square pattern changes daily to keep things fresh.
How to play
Start with an empty grid. Tap or click a square and type a letter. Use space or tap to switch between across and down directions. Arrow keys move you within the current word, and Tab jumps to the next clue. If you need help, the check menu marks wrong letters, and you can reveal individual squares or entire words.
Tips
- Avoid reveals if you want the flawless bonus. A perfect solve adds 30 points to your base score.
- Speed matters. Finishing under 30 seconds adds 90 points, under a minute adds 60, and under two minutes adds 30.
Common questions
Do I need an account to play?
No, the current day's puzzle is free to play without an account. To access the archive, a free account lets you play the last 7 days, and a Plus subscription unlocks all past puzzles.
How is the score calculated?
Base score is 100. You get +30 for a flawless solve, +1 per day of streak, and speed bonuses of +90, +60, or +30 depending on your time. Revealing a square costs -10, revealing a word costs -25, and the score never goes below 0.