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How the daily Mini Crossword works
Every day brings one small 5×5 crossword, the same grid for every player worldwide. Each white square belongs to one Across word and one Down word, so every answer you get gives you letters for the words that cross it. Most solvers finish in one to three minutes.
- 1The yellow square is where your next letter goes; the blue band is the word you are on.
- 2Tap the yellow square again, or the clue bar, to switch between Across and Down.
- 3Check slashes wrong letters in red. Reveal fills in a letter, word or the grid and flags it.
On a computer you can type straight away: arrow keys move, Space switches direction, and Tab or Enter jumps to the next clue.
Tips for a faster solve
- Start with the gimmes. Fill-in-the-blank clues and short three-letter words are usually the quickest way in.
- Work the crossings. One sure Across answer gives you a letter in up to five Down words.
- Watch the tense and number. A clue in the past tense wants a past-tense answer; a plural clue wants a plural.
- A question mark means wordplay. Expect a pun or a second meaning.
Related daily and word games
- Mini Crossword archive: play past grids
- Daily Wordle-style game: guess a 5-letter word
- Daily Connections-style game: find four groups
- Daily Spelling Bee: make words from 7 letters
- Crossword maker: build and print your own
- Free printable puzzle PDFs: instant downloads
Frequently asked questions
Is the daily Mini Crossword really free?
Yes. PuzzlePage's Mini Crossword is free to play every day in any browser, with no subscription, no app and no account. A new 5×5 puzzle goes live at 00:00 UTC.
How do I play the Mini Crossword?
Tap a square to select it and tap it again to switch between Across and Down. Type with the on-screen keyboard or your own keyboard. The clue bar shows the clue for the highlighted word, and the arrows move to the previous or next clue. Fill every square correctly to finish.
What do Check and Reveal do?
Check marks wrong letters with a red slash and locks the right ones. Reveal fills in the correct letter, word or whole grid and leaves a small corner flag on each revealed square. Checks and reveals are counted in your share line. Revealing the whole puzzle ends the game without a solve, so it does not extend your streak.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
No. The timer starts with your first move and pauses whenever the page is hidden, so your time reflects time spent solving. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can come back later today.
Can I play past Mini Crosswords?
Yes. The Mini Crossword archive lists every recent day. Each date has its own grid to play and a spoiler-safe list of every answer.
Is this the New York Times Mini?
No. PuzzlePage writes its own free daily mini crossword with its own grids and clues. It is not affiliated with The New York Times.
PuzzlePage's Mini Crossword is an independent, free daily crossword with its own grids and clues. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times.