What is The Mini Crossword?
The Mini Crossword is the New York Times's daily compact crossword, introduced in 2014. Each puzzle is dated and carries the constructor's and editor's names in its header. It follows the same editorial standards as the full-size crossword but in a much smaller grid. Access requires a subscription; without an account, the grid is replaced by a paywall message.
How to play The Mini Crossword
- Open the dated puzzle from the NYT Games page.
- Sign in with an active Games subscription. The play area will not load without an account.
- Tap a clue number to highlight its word and activate the corresponding cells.
- Enter letters with the on-screen or physical keyboard. Tap the pencil icon to switch between permanent black entries and temporary gray pencil marks.
- Tap Check to verify a letter or the entire grid. Checked letters turn blue.
- Finish the grid by entering all the correct answers. The timer stops automatically.
Modes and archive access
The Daily Mini releases each puzzle according to The Times’ publication schedule. Subscribers can play it when it goes live.
The Archive lets Games subscribers play past Mini puzzles on the website or in the NYT Games app. The full back catalog is available to paying users.
Use the Pen and Pencil toggle to mark uncertain answers in gray while keeping confirmed entries in black. Switch modes with the pencil icon in the toolbar.
Strategy for faster solves
Begin with clues you know immediately. Then use crossing letters to narrow down uncertain answers; one confirmed letter can help resolve several entries.
Use Reserve Check when you need confirmation, rather than relying on it to solve the puzzle. Checked letters turn blue, changing the feedback and making the grid harder to read.
When an answer feels uncertain, work on its crossing clues instead of forcing it into the grid. Crossings can confirm or rule out candidate words more reliably than a guess.
Use Pencil mode for tentative fills. Gray text separates trial entries from committed answers, so you can see which parts of the grid still need checking.
Unlike some crossword sites that offer limited free access, The Mini requires a full subscription before any cell becomes editable. The page displays a subscription prompt in place of the grid, with no demo or trial mode available. This makes The Mini exclusively a paid product within the Times's games bundle.