Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings a 7x7 expansion packed with pop culture callbacks, tech references, and a dash of wordplay. Whether you're racing the clock or just enjoying a quick brain break, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 7x7
Total Clues: 15 (7 Across, 8 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 4D. The "A," "O" or "C" of A.O.C., a trivia pop quiz hiding in plain sight.
Gimme Clue: 10A. Video game with falling pieces, if you've touched a screen since 1984, you know this one.
Theme Spotted: Tech meets pop culture, ChatGPT's parent company, a dance craze, and a classic video game all in one grid.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Person who likes things totally authentic, or not at all
Hint: Someone who insists on the real deal. Six letters, starts with P.
7. ChatGPT's company
Hint: The San Francisco AI giant behind the chatbot that took the world by storm. Six letters.
8. Chance for one's kids to watch shows, perhaps
Hint: Parents, you know this one. That precious window of screen time. Six letters, two words.
9. Not in the closet
Hint: Open about it. Three letters.
10. Video game with falling pieces
Hint: Blocks, lines, and that iconic Russian soundtrack. Six letters.
13. Dance fad of the mid-2010s that was paired with the "Whip"
Hint: You probably did this at a middle school dance. Also a song by Silentó. Six letters.
14. Wrestle
Hint: To grapple or struggle. Six letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1. Collection of poker bets
Hint: All the chips in the middle of the table. Three letters.
2. Likes : Facebook :: ___ : Reddit
Hint: The Reddit equivalent of a Facebook thumbs-up. Seven letters.
3. Tax filings
Hint: What you send to the IRS every April. Seven letters.
4. The "A," "O" or "C" of A.O.C.
Hint: Think about the congresswoman's initials, each letter stands for something. Seven letters.
5. ___ Altman, C.E.O. of 7-Across
Hint: The face of OpenAI. Three letters.
6. Item of attire that might have a Windsor knot
Hint: Formal neckwear. Three letters.
10. Explosive compound, for short
Hint: Three letters that go boom.
11. Water, in French
Hint: What you'd ask for in Paris. Three letters.
12. Notice
Hint: To perceive or observe. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Person who likes things totally authentic, or not at all
Answer: PURIST
7. ChatGPT's company
Answer: OPENAI
8. Chance for one's kids to watch shows, perhaps
Answer: TVTIME
9. Not in the closet
Answer: OUT
10. Video game with falling pieces
Answer: TETRIS
13. Dance fad of the mid-2010s that was paired with the "Whip"
Answer: NAENAE
14. Wrestle
Answer: TUSSLE
Down Answers
1. Collection of poker bets
Answer: POT
2. Likes : Facebook :: ___ : Reddit
Answer: UPVOTES
3. Tax filings
Answer: RETURNS
4. The "A," "O" or "C" of A.O.C.
Answer: INITIAL
5. ___ Altman, C.E.O. of 7-Across
Answer: SAM
6. Item of attire that might have a Windsor knot
Answer: TIE
10. Explosive compound, for short
Answer: TNT
11. Water, in French
Answer: EAU
12. Notice
Answer: SEE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 4D. The "A," "O" or "C" of A.O.C. for INITIAL. This one's a crafty bit of misdirection, solvers might reach for a political term or a name, but the answer is hiding in plain sight: each letter of A.O.C. is literally an initial.
Wordplay Winner: 2D. Likes : Facebook :: ___ : Reddit for UPVOTES. The analogy structure is clean, and it rewards platform literacy, if you know Reddit, you know the upvote is the currency of approval.
Quick Fill: 10A. Video game with falling pieces for TETRIS. Universal knowledge. If you've ever owned a Game Boy, stood in an arcade, or breathed air in the last 40 years, this one fills itself.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Play the cross-references. Clue 5D (___ Altman, C.E.O. of 7-Across) explicitly points to 7A (OPENAI). That's a free confirmation loop, solve one, get the other. Always watch for clues that reference other grid entries.
Short fillers are your friend. This grid has five three-letter answers (OUT, POT, TIE, TNT, EAU, SEE). When you see a short clue, guess aggressively, common crossword fill like EAU, TNT, and TIE are staples that rarely change. Lock them in and use the letters to crack the longer entries.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops at 6 p.m. EST today, Sunday's puzzle arrives earlier than usual. How did today's grid treat you? Between the OpenAI reference, the Nae Nae flashback, and that clever A.O.C. wordplay, there was plenty to keep your brain firing. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
