Free Daily Mini Crossword
A bite-sized crossword you can finish over a cup of coffee. Every day brings a new small grid with clues we wrote ourselves, and past puzzles stay open in the archive.
How to play Free Daily Mini Crossword
- Fill every white square with a letter so each row and column answer matches its clue.
- Across answers read left to right; Down answers read top to bottom. Numbers in the squares show where each answer starts.
- Tap a square to select it. Tap the same square again to switch between Across and Down.
- The bar above the grid shows the current clue. Use its arrows, or tap any clue in the lists, to jump around.
- Stuck? Use Check to mark wrong letters, or Reveal to fill in a square, a word or the whole grid. Revealed letters are marked, and the finish screen notes any help you used.
- The puzzle is solved when every square is correct. Your time stops automatically.
Controls
- Tap / click a square to select it; tap again to change direction.
- Letters: type on your keyboard or use the on-screen keys.
- Backspace erases and steps back; arrow keys move around the grid.
- Tab or Enter jumps to the next clue; Shift+Tab goes back.
Tips
- Start with the clues you are sure of; the crossing letters make the others easier.
- Short answers are often common words, so try them early.
- A clue in the past tense or plural usually means the answer is too.
FAQ
Is there a new puzzle every day?
Yes. A new mini puzzle appears each day at local midnight, and recent puzzles can be replayed from the archive menu.
Does using Check or Reveal count against me?
You can still finish the puzzle, but the result is marked as assisted so you know it was not a clean solve.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. Letters, time and help used are saved in this browser, so you can close the page and pick up later.