Mini Crossword: Free 5x5 Crossword Puzzles to Play Online
14 original 5x5 puzzles · Works on mobile & desktop · No download
Play a free mini crossword online: a small 5×5 crossword puzzle you can usually finish in a few minutes. There are 14 original puzzles with short, everyday words and plain clues, so it suits beginners, students and anyone who wants a quick word break. If you like hunting for words in a grid, try our free word search puzzles too.
Mini Crossword is free to play on PlayQuestHQ with no download and no sign-up. It works on phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
Across
Down
Tap a square and type. Tap the same square again, or a clue, to switch between Across and Down. Fill every square correctly to solve the puzzle.
How to Play Mini Crossword
- Tap or click a white square. The clue for that word shows above the grid.
- Type a letter. The cursor moves to the next square in the word.
- Tap the same square again, or tap a clue, to switch between Across and Down.
- Stuck? Use Check to mark wrong letters, or Reveal letter for one free letter.
- Fill every square correctly to solve it, then press Next puzzle.
Controls
Click a square and type with your keyboard. Arrow keys move around the grid, Tab jumps to the next clue and Backspace deletes a letter.
Tap a square and use the on-screen keyboard under the grid. Tap the same square again to switch between Across and Down.
Tips to Win
- Start with the 3 letter words. They are the quickest to solve and give you letters for the longer ones.
- Look at the crossing words. One sure letter often makes the other answer obvious.
- Clues with "or" in them mean the answer fits both meanings.
- Try every puzzle without Reveal first, then use Check before you give up.
How a Mini Crossword Works
A mini crossword is a small version of a normal crossword. Every white square belongs to one Across word and one Down word, so each letter you place helps with two clues at once. The numbers in the grid match the numbers in the Across and Down lists.
Easy Crossword Clues for Beginners
Our clues are written in plain English with no tricky wordplay. Most are short definitions, like "Thick mist" for FOG. A few have two meanings joined with "or", such as "Fishing tool, or tennis divider". That makes these puzzles a good first step before larger crosswords.
Mini Crossword at a Glance
A mini crossword is a 5x5 crossword with 10 clues that most people finish in a few minutes. This page holds 14 original puzzles with plain clues, a timer and hints, and they are all ready to play at any time.
| Grid | 5x5 squares, with a few black squares |
| Clues | 10 in every puzzle, 5 Across and 5 Down |
| Answers | Short words of 3, 4 or 5 letters |
| Puzzles | 14 originals, with no daily waiting |
| Help | Check, Reveal letter and Reveal puzzle |
| Phones | An on-screen keyboard sits under the grid |
| Cost | Free, with no download and no sign-up |
How to Solve a Mini Crossword: A Simple Method
The quickest way to solve a mini crossword is to work in passes: answer the clues you know at once, then let the crossing letters unlock the rest. Follow these steps and most puzzles open up within a minute or two.
- Make a fast first pass. Read all 10 clues and fill in only the answers you are sure of.
- Work the crossings. Every letter you place also belongs to a word in the other direction, so read those clues again with their new letters.
- Read the pattern. A half filled word often gives itself away, so think of common words that fit the letters showing.
- Use help last. Press Check to mark wrong letters in red, and save Reveal letter for a square that will not move.
Mini Crossword vs Full Crossword: What Is the Difference?
A mini crossword is the same game as a full crossword, with interlocking Across and Down words, shrunk from a 15x15 grid to a 5x5 grid. A mini takes only a fraction of the time of a full crossword, which is why it suits a short break.
| Grid | 5x5 | 15x15 |
| Clues | 10 | Dozens |
| Answers | 3 to 5 letters | Often much longer |
| Words | Short, everyday words | A wide mix, with names and trivia |
| Clue style here | Plain English, no tricky wordplay | Wordplay is common |
If a full crossword feels too big to start, a mini gives you the same crossing-letter puzzle in a size you can finish.
Good to Know
Is this the New York Times mini crossword?
No. These are original mini crosswords written for PlayQuestHQ, and they are not made by, linked to or endorsed by the New York Times, the LA Times, USA Today or any other newspaper. We do not publish answers to their puzzles either, so every puzzle here is ours from clue to grid.
How big is a mini crossword?
Each mini crossword on this page is a 5x5 grid with a few black squares. Every puzzle has 10 clues, 5 Across and 5 Down, and the answers are 3, 4 or 5 letters long.
Can I get a hint?
Yes. Press Check to mark any wrong letters in red, Reveal letter to fill in the square you are on, or Reveal puzzle to show the whole answer. The three help buttons sit under the grid whenever you need them.
How long does a mini crossword take?
Most players finish a mini crossword on this page in a few minutes. A timer runs while you solve, and your best time for each puzzle is saved in your browser, so you can replay a puzzle and try to beat it.
Is there a new mini crossword every day?
No, there is no daily puzzle here: all 14 mini crosswords are ready to play whenever you like, day or night. Move between them with Previous and Next, press Clear to play a finished puzzle again, and try to beat your own best time on each one.
Is my Mini Crossword progress saved?
Your letters, the puzzle you are on and your best time for each puzzle are saved in your own browser on this device, so you can close the page and finish later.