Mini Mystery

How to play this free mini crossword

Select a white square or a clue, then type the answer in the highlighted Across or Down entry. Every crossing square belongs to two answers, so its letter must satisfy both. Black squares separate entries and are not filled. A completed grid counts as solved only when every playable square is correct.

1. Read an Across or Down clue and count its available squares.
2. Enter the answer with your keyboard or the game’s letter keys.
3. Use the crossing letters to narrow a harder clue.
4. Correct any mistakes, then review the completed result and explanations.

Controls for a small shared-letter grid

Tap a numbered clue or an open square. At a crossing, tap the selected square again, press Enter, or use Switch direction to change Across/Down. Arrow keys move through open squares and Backspace erases. Previous clue and Next clue move between entries. Large cells gives a bigger reading target when needed.

The Check controls test a Letter, Word or Grid; Auto-check gives ongoing error feedback. Reveal supplies a Letter or Word. Checks, Auto-check and reveals all mark the result as assisted.

A small example: one letter, two answers

For the clue “A wading bird, or a machine that lifts a beam,” CRANE fits five squares. In an original practice grid, its first C also starts the Down answer CIDER, an apple drink. Changing that C changes both entries. A word that sounds right for one clue still needs to agree with its crossings.

Some Mini Mystery clues use a second meaning. Read the whole clue before choosing the first familiar word. The mini crossword strategy guide walks through a complete original 5×5 example, including its Across and Down entries.

Daily play, Unlimited and relaxed practice

Daily uses the date in America/New_York to select a shared original grid. The daily date changes at midnight there. Choose Mini Crossword Unlimited when you want another grid or a focused practice session rather than waiting for tomorrow.

Unlimited has no daily play cap, using this site’s finite authored puzzle bank. Practice gives you space to learn the clues without chasing a timed result. Your game and preferences stay in this browser when local storage is available; they are not an account-based cloud save.

Check, reveal and your result

Check helps locate incorrect entered letters. Reveal supplies an answer rather than counting it as an unaided discovery. These tools are useful when learning, and assistance is reflected in the result. Filling every square with something is not enough: the completed letters must match the intended answers.

If the grid looks full but is not solved, inspect the selected entry, then its crossings. A single wrong shared letter can make two clues look impossible. There is no need to erase a whole correct area.

An independent Mystery Mini alternative

Mini Mystery has its own clues, answers, grid and interface. It does not unlock an NYT subscription or reproduce an official daily Mini. The official Bonus Puzzles help page describes Mystery Mini as a variation in the Mini’s presentation or clues; our implementation is an independent interpretation of compact crossword play.

For another format, try the gentler 11×11 Easy Crossword, themed Crossword Stories, or Color Trails’ adjacent-letter paths.

Mini crossword questions