The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

In today's puzzle, there are nine theme words to find (including the spangram). Hint: The first one can be found in the top-half of the board. Here are the first two letters for each word: Today's spangram answer on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, is WHALES.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles. Today's Mini Crossword wasn't terribly hard,

The New York Times crossword puzzle can be tough! If you're stuck, we're here to help with a list of today's clues and answers.The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

The NYT Mini is a smaller, quicker, more digestible, bite-sized version of the larger and more challenging NYT Crossword, and unlike its larger sibling, it’s free-to-play without a subscription to The New York Times. You can play it on the web or the app, though you’ll need the app to tackle the archive.

Strands is a daily word puzzle game you can play on the New York Times Games site, and this one will challenge anyone who tries it.

The New York Times introduced its latest puzzle, NYT Strands, which builds on the success of games like Wordle. This daily challenge requires players to uncover theme-related words and a unique Spangram within a grid.