A mini crossword is a tiny 5×5 grid you can finish over a coffee. Everyday Games makes a fresh one every time you play, free and with no sign-up, and when you want more there are 7×7, 10×10, 15×15 and 20×20 grids too.
How to play the mini
Open Crossword and pick 5×5 at the top of the puzzle.
Tap a square to choose it; tap it again to switch between Across and Down. The clue bar above the grid shows the clue you’re on.
Type the answer: the cursor moves along the word as you go.
Fill every square correctly to solve it. Your best time for each size is kept.
Pick a theme
Every puzzle can lean toward a theme: movies and TV, music, sports, video games or everyday words, or a mix of all of them. Pick one when you start a new puzzle.
Tips for solving minis fast
Start with the clue you’re surest of, then use its letters to crack the words that cross it.
In a 5×5, every letter is in two words. If an Across answer won’t come, try the Down clues through it.
Short answers repeat a lot in crosswords: vowel-heavy words like AREA, ERA and IDEA turn up often.
Stuck? Check shows which letters are wrong, and Reveal fills in a letter, a word or the whole grid. Hints are counted, so try without them first.
A new crossword every day
Once the minis feel quick, try the daily crossword: one 10×10 puzzle a day, the same for everyone, with a streak for every day in a row you solve it.