Mini - Free Daily Mini Crossword Puzzle
A five-by-five crossword, sized for a coffee break.
Play today's MiniWhat is Mini?
Mini is a daily 5x5 crossword: ten short answers, clean fill, and clues written to be solvable rather than punishing. It's built for the gap between things - the queue, the bus, the first coffee - and most people finish in a minute or two.
The grid is small enough that every letter matters. A single crossing you're sure about will often unlock two more answers, which is what makes a mini feel quick even when the clues aren't obvious. If you get truly stuck, Check will confirm the letters you've placed, at a small cost to your score.
Like the rest of the card, it's free, needs no account, and refreshes at midnight with a brand new grid and clues.
How to play
- 1Tap any square to start filling in an answer; tap again to switch between across and down.
- 2Type letters to fill the grid - the cursor advances automatically.
- 3Use the clue bar to move between entries, or press enter to jump to the next unfilled one.
- 4Hit Check to verify the letters you've placed if you get stuck.
- 5The puzzle completes itself the moment every square is correct.
How scoring works
The Mini scores from a solve base plus a speed bonus, minus a penalty for each Check you use. A clean solve inside par earns the full 1,000. Revealing the grid pays partial credit for the letters you had right, always below a genuine solve.
Tips and strategy
Fill the short answers first
Three-letter entries have far fewer possibilities than five-letter ones. Lock those in and the crossings will hand you most of the longer answers for free.
Use the crossings, not the clue
When a clue leaves you blank, ignore it and solve the words that cross it. Two or three confirmed letters usually make the answer obvious without ever parsing the clue.
Watch for plural and tense hints
A clue phrased in the plural almost always wants an S at the end, and a past-tense clue usually wants ED. In a 5x5, that single letter can crack the whole corner.
Solve clean if you're chasing points
Each Check costs you points, so it's worth sitting with a tough crossing for a few extra seconds before reaching for it. Speed matters, but a clean solve matters more.
Mini: frequently asked
- Is the Mini crossword free?
- Yes. The Mini is free to play in your browser with no download and no account required.
- How big is the grid?
- Five by five, with around ten answers across and down. Most players finish in a minute or two.
- Is there a new mini crossword every day?
- Yes, a brand new grid and clue set every day at midnight, alongside the other three games.
- What does the Check button do?
- Check confirms whether the letters you've filled in are correct. It's there when you're stuck, but each use costs you some points.
The rest of the card
Mini is one of four daily games on WhoHadMore. Every game you finish adds to a single daily score and the day's leaderboard.