For countless fans of wordplay, the daily ritual of tackling The New York Times’ crossword puzzles is as essential as that first cup of morning coffee. While the iconic full-sized crossword has long been a staple for puzzle enthusiasts, it’s The Mini Crossword—a compact, speedy challenge—that’s capturing hearts and minds in 2025. Over the weekend of September 13 and 14, players were treated to a pair of Mini Crosswords that showcased the game’s charm, accessibility, and knack for weaving pop culture with clever wordplay. Meanwhile, Sunday’s main puzzle paid tribute to a legendary cartoon rivalry, proving that even the grandest grids can be playful works of art.
According to Mashable, The Mini is “a bite-sized version of The New York Times’ revered daily crossword.” Unlike the classic grid, The Mini is designed for quick completion, with just a handful of clues. This format has fostered a competitive spirit among players, who often race against the clock to best their personal records. But don’t let its size fool you—The Mini can still stump even the most seasoned solvers, especially when an unexpected clue disrupts the flow.
Saturday, September 13, 2025, brought a Mini Crossword that, as CNET put it, was “the longest Mini of the week.” Some clues were straightforward, but others, like 7-Across, left even experienced players scratching their heads. The clues and their solutions offered a snapshot of contemporary language and culture: “Give away a secret” (BLAB), “A, B, C or D, but not E” (GRADE), “Rhimes who created Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal” (SHONDA), and “Many posts by Instagram influencers, informally” (SPONCON). Other answers included LISTEN, ACTED, and MESS for the Across entries, while the Down clues featured literary and pop culture nods: “Literary sisters behind Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights” (BRONTES), “Poked with a knight’s weapon” (LANCED), “Extra feature” (ADDON), “Edamame or chickpea” (BEAN), “Abruptly stops texting” (GHOSTS), “Valuable substance in the Dune universe” (SPICE), and “Word after grand, body or poetry” (SLAM).
These clues, according to both Mashable and CNET, reflect the Mini’s knack for blending classic knowledge with modern references. The inclusion of “SPONCON” and “SHONDA” speaks to the puzzle’s awareness of digital culture and entertainment, while “BRONTES” and “SPICE” nod to literary and sci-fi universes. As Mashable notes, “when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating!”—but it’s that very challenge that keeps solvers coming back.
Sunday’s Mini, released September 14, 2025, followed the tradition of daily resets at 10 p.m.—a detail highlighted by Parade—and brought a slightly easier set of clues. As CNET remarked, “the Across clues were simple enough you might not even need to solve the Down clues.” The Across entries included: “Tailgate attendee” (FAN), “Sin City” (VEGAS), “Seine city” (PARIS), “Fashion designer Madden” (STEVE), and “You get what I’m saying?” (SEE). The Down clues, meanwhile, were: “Major accomplishments” (FEATS), “Side (with)” (AGREE), “Likely to buy an obvious lie” (NAIVE), “Elected officials who ride in Air Force Two: Abbr.” (VPS), and “Opposite of NNW” (SSE).
Parade provided helpful hints for each clue, making the puzzle accessible for newcomers and seasoned solvers alike. For example, “Tailgate attendee” was hinted as ending with “N,” while “Sin City” ended with “S,” and “Seine city” started with “P.” This gentle guidance, paired with the straightforward answers, made Sunday’s Mini a welcoming entry point for those looking to join the daily crossword ritual.
But the weekend’s crossword excitement didn’t end with the Mini. Sunday’s main puzzle, as described in The New York Times’ own commentary, was a tour de force of theme and design. Constructed by Daniel Grinberg of Philadelphia, the puzzle paid tribute to the classic cartoon rivalry between Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. The grid itself featured unusual arrangements of black squares that, when viewed as a whole, created visual art—a silhouette of Wile E. Coyote with an anvil poised above.
The theme entries were intricately interwoven, with clues referencing each other and building toward the reveal at 110-Across: “Devious character who’s the subject of this puzzle” (WILE E COYOTE). Other thematic answers included “Target of 110-Across” (ROADRUNNER), “Signature sound of 91-Across” (BEEP BEEP), “Supplier of 110-Across” (ACME CORPORATION), and “1949 short that marked the first appearance of 91- and 110-Across” (FAST AND FURRY-OUS). The puzzle’s artistry was further highlighted by 63-Down, “Avoid, as a falling anvil” (DODGE), whose placement in the grid connected the visual representation of the anvil and Wile E. Coyote’s ears.
As the NYT puzzle commentary explained, “Those are some of the most basic examples of the theme’s trivia, although many solvers probably know 26-Across, the [Supplier of 110-Across], or the ACME CORPORATION (which became indispensable to the cartoon’s plots by providing products that reliably, spectacularly malfunctioned).” The grid’s visual storytelling and the interconnected clues offered solvers a unique, playful experience—one that celebrated both crossword construction and the enduring legacy of classic animation.
For constructor Daniel Grinberg, this puzzle marked several firsts: his initial foray into grid art, asymmetry, and a tribute to a single subject. In his own words, “With every crossword, I try to throw in a new twist in the hopes of entertaining both myself and the solvers.” He drew inspiration from previous NYT puzzles and aimed to create something both challenging and whimsical, resulting in a double pangram and the debut of entries like MET OPERA, AB-ROLLER, FEAST DAY, and SPEAK-SING.
The enduring appeal of The New York Times’ crossword offerings—whether the bite-sized Mini or the sprawling Sunday grid—lies in their ability to connect generations through shared language, pop culture, and the joy of problem-solving. As the weekend’s puzzles demonstrated, there’s always room for innovation, nostalgia, and a touch of mischief in the world of crosswords. For solvers young and old, the daily challenge is more than a pastime; it’s a celebration of words, wit, and the simple pleasure of a puzzle well-solved.
