The NYT Mini Crossword for today—Saturday, May 31, 2025—is live and packed with clever clues and fun wordplay. Created by the editors at The New York Times, this daily 5×5 puzzle continues to engage millions of players looking for a quick yet satisfying brain teaser. If you’re stuck or want to check your answers, we’ve got you covered with the official NYT Mini Crossword answers for today.
How to play the NYT Mini Crossword
The New York Times Mini Crossword is a compact version of the traditional NYT Crossword. Unlike the full-sized grid, the Mini has only five rows and five columns—making it fast and approachable, even for beginners. It’s updated daily and available on both the NYT Games app and the official New York Times Crossword site. The goal remains the same: solve all the across and down clues as quickly as possible. Most puzzles can be completed in under 2 minutes by experienced solvers.
NYT Mini Crossword answers for Saturday, May 31, 2025
Here are the fully verified and solved clues and answers for the NYT Mini Crossword today:
Across clues and answers – This one and that one: BOTH, Ballet-inspired fitness class: BARRE, Mississippi ___ (rich chocolate dessert): MUDPIE, Sea creature with the scientific name Monodon monoceros (“one tooth, one horn”): NARWHAL, Like some soccer shots: ONGOAL, Strict in tone: STERN, Place for a “For Sale” sign: YARD
Down clues and answers – $#!&, e.g.: BADWORD, Harry Potter, Annie or Bruce Wayne: ORPHAN, ___ and error: TRIAL, Dog trainer’s “Walk next to me!”: HEEL, Hot dog alternative: BURGER, Relative of a stingray: MANTA, All up in one’s business: NOSY
Tips to solve the NYT Mini Crossword faster
Want to improve your Mini Crossword time or accuracy? Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues—they’re usually the easiest. Use crossing words to confirm or guess tricky answers. Focus on short words and common letter patterns. Some puzzles follow subtle themes, so pay attention to that. Lastly, practice daily—experience is key to solving the Mini faster and with more accuracy.
Why the NYT Mini Crossword is trending in 2025
The NYT Mini Crossword is trending across the United States in 2025, especially among mobile-first players and TikTok solvers. Daily crossword solving streaks are going viral on social media. With its fast playstyle, minimal time investment, and brain-boosting benefits, it has become the go-to daily puzzle for both Gen Z and seasoned solvers. Its popularity continues to soar across gaming platforms and education apps.
