Mini crossword: free daily 5×5 crossword
A quick crossword you can finish in a few minutes. A new mini every day, plus an archive of extra puzzles.
How to play the Mini Crossword
- Tap a square to select it. Tap it again to switch between Across and Down. The current clue is shown above the keyboard.
- Type your answer. The cursor moves along the word automatically.
- Finish the grid to stop the clock. Use Check to show wrong letters, or Reveal for one square or the whole puzzle if you're stuck. Your time shows whether you used help.
How our minis are made
Each 5×5 grid is filled by our own software from a list of about 3,000 everyday words, then reviewed before it goes into the daily rotation. We remove brand names, obscure words, and anything that wouldn't feel fair at the breakfast table. Every clue is written specifically for Puzzlenest, not copied from a clue database, and we make sure no clue gives away another answer in the same grid. There are 55 minis so far, and we add a new batch each month.
Tips for solving faster
- Start with fill-in-the-blank clues. Clues like "___ upon a time..." or "Are we there ___?" are usually the quickest wins.
- Work the crossings. In a 5×5 grid every letter belongs to two words. If an across answer won't come, solve the downs that cross it.
- Watch the clue's form. A clue in the past tense ("Spoke") wants a past-tense answer ("said"). A plural clue wants a plural.
- Question marks mean wordplay. If a clue ends in "?", expect a pun.
- Short words repeat. Three-letter answers like ERA, ATE and ONE turn up often. Learning them is the fastest way to improve your time.
What's a good time?
Most players finish a mini in one to three minutes. Under a minute is excellent. Don't worry about the clock at first: solving without Check or Reveal is the real achievement, and your shared result says "with no help" when you do.
Daily mini and the archive
The daily mini changes at midnight on your device. The Archive button lets you play any mini at random. You can also replay a specific day, with that day's clues and answers listed, from the puzzle archive. New to crosswords? Read our beginner's guide to crossword clues.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a mini crossword take?
Most people finish in one to five minutes. Your time is shown above the grid.
When does the daily mini change?
At midnight in your own time zone.
Can I get help if I'm stuck?
Yes. Check shows wrong letters, and Reveal shows one square or the whole puzzle.
Who writes the clues?
Every clue is written specifically for Puzzlenest. We check that no clue gives away another answer in the same grid.
How many minis are there?
55 so far, with a new batch added each month.
Can I see old answers?
Yes. The puzzle archive lists each daily mini's clues and answers, hidden until you choose to show them.