As part of a growing ecosystem of free word games from the Times, including Wordle, Connections, and Strands, the Mini continues to be a favourite brain teaser.
For players working on the April 12, 2025 edition, help is at hand.
Whether you’re stuck on a single clue or want to confirm your answers, here’s a full breakdown of today’s puzzle—with hints first, followed by complete solutions for both across and down entries.
Across Hints: Small Puzzle, Big Challenge
The clues for Saturday’s across entries offer a classic mix of wordplay and cultural references, as mentioned in a report by Parade magazine:
- 1 Across: “Do, re, mi, fa, ___, la …” — Think musical notes; starts with S.
- 4 Across: “Still up in the air, for short” — Ends with D.
- 7 Across: “With 14-Across, ‘?????’” — Begins with T.
- 9 Across: “___ Grande” — A well-known river; ends with O.
- 10 Across: “Bone connecting the elbow and wrist” — Begins with U.
- 11 Across: “Things issued by the D.M.V.” — Ends with S.
- 12 Across: “Elaborate hairstyle” — Starts with C.
- 13 Across: “Part of the eye that contains the iris” — Ends with A.
- 14 Across: See 7-Across — Begins with C.
- 15 Across: “Sure, whatever you say …” — Casual tone; ends with Y.
- 16 Across: “24 cans of beer” — Starts with C.
Down Hints: Wordplay Runs Deep
Today’s vertical clues test your general knowledge and your wit:
- 1 Down: “Plaster wall coating” — Ends with O.
- 2 Down: “Hey, check it out!” — Starts with O.
- 3 Down: “Weather phenomenon that translates to ‘the girl’” — Ends with A.
- 4 Down: “It’s full of questions” — Starts with T.
- 5 Down: “White House family during the 2020s” — Ends with S.
- 6 Down: “Medicinal amount” — Begins with D.
- 8 Down: “Chewy candy” — Ends with Y.
- 13 Down: “Sch. that plays home football games at the L.A. Coliseum” — Begins with U.
Across Answers: Solutions Revealed
For those ready to confirm their solutions or catch up, here are the correct entries for the NYT Mini on April 12, 2025:
- 1 Across: SOL
- 4 Across: TBD
- 7 Across: THATS
- 9 Across: RIO
- 10 Across: ULNA
- 11 Across: IDS
- 12 Across: COIF
- 13 Across: UVEA
- 14 Across: CONFUSING
- 15 Across: OKAY
- 16 Across: CASE
Down Answers: How Your Grid Should Look
Completing the vertical clues:
- 1 Down: STUCCO
- 2 Down: OHLOOK
- 3 Down: LANINA
- 4 Down: TRIVIA
- 5 Down: BIDENS
- 6 Down: DOSAGE
- 8 Down: TAFFY
- 13 Down: USC
FAQs
Is the NYT mini no longer free?
Unlike the full-sized version, the NYT Mini crossword is available to play for free on the New York Times website or through the NYT Games app
Does the NYT Mini get harder throughout the week?
Clues are designed to match the puzzle’s level of difficulty, which gradually increases throughout the week. Monday puzzles are the easiest, with the difficulty peaking on Saturday.
