// ABOUT
Daily Mini: free to play in your browser
The Daily Mini is a small 5 × 5 crossword you can finish over a coffee. Read the across and down clues, fill in the grid, and the puzzle is solved when every letter is right.
There is a new mini every day, the same one for everyone, and your daily streak is saved on your device. Want more? Random Mini pulls any puzzle from the archive of hundreds, so you can keep going as long as you like.
How to play
- Choose Today’s Mini or Random Mini.
- Tap or click a square, then type a letter. The highlighted row or column is the clue you’re answering.
- Tap the same square again, or press Space, to switch between across and down.
- Use the arrows next to the clue, or Tab, to jump to the next clue.
- Press CHECK to mark any wrong letters in red, or REVEAL WORD if you’re really stuck.
- Fill every square correctly to finish. Your time and streak are saved.
Game modes
- Today’s Mini
- One puzzle a day, the same for everyone. Solve it on consecutive days to build a streak.
- Random Mini
- Any puzzle from the archive, picked at random. Great for a second (or tenth) go.
Tips
- Start with the clue you’re surest of, then use its letters to crack the crossing words.
- Short answers often come in pairs: a three-letter across usually helps two or three downs.
- Plurals and past tenses are common, so an S or ED at the end is a good guess.
- Revealing a word still lets you finish, but your best time only counts if you solve it without help.
Questions
Is there a new crossword every day?
Yes. Today’s Mini changes at midnight on your device, and it’s the same puzzle for everyone that day.
How does the streak work?
Solve the daily mini on consecutive days and your streak goes up by one each time. Miss a day and it starts again from one.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Hold your phone upright and a keyboard appears under the grid. It also works with a computer keyboard or a controller.
