Emcee (Mind Loft)
A five by five mini crossword with fair, everyday clues.
Every day: One 5x5 mini crossword a day, the same grid for every player, with numbered Across and Down clues and a leaderboard on checks and time. New puzzle: Midnight US Eastern Time.

Emcee is a free daily mini crossword from Mind Loft. The name sounds out M.C., and that is what it is: a five by five grid with numbered Across and Down clues, everyday words and a timer that stops when the grid is right.
About Emcee (Mind Loft)
Emcee is the short crossword in Mind Loft's word set. Each day's grid is five squares by five, with a handful of numbered Across and Down clues such as Bamboo eater or Key beside the space bar. The words are everyday words and the clues play fair, so most grids are done in a minute or two, and the challenge is speed and accuracy.
You type to fill; space flips between Across and Down, tab jumps to the next clue and enter checks a full grid. When every square is filled, press Check grid: wrong squares turn red, and each failed check counts against you. The leaderboard ranks by fewest checks and then fastest time, and there is a hint button for when you are stuck.
A new grid goes up at midnight Eastern every day, and Sundays use a bigger 7x7 pinwheel. For a longer solve, Mind Loft's Encore is a 9x9 daily crossword.
How to play Emcee (Mind Loft)
- Open Emcee and press Start; the timer begins.
- Read a clue in the Across or Down list and type the answer into the grid.
- Press space to switch direction and tab to jump to the next clue.
- When the grid is full, press Check grid; fix any red squares and check again.
Screenshots

Tips
- Fill the short Down answers first; they give you the first letters of every Across row.
- Only check when you are confident, since each failed check counts on the leaderboard.
- Typing without the mouse, using space and tab, saves seconds.
Questions
What time does Emcee reset?
A new Emcee puzzle goes up every day at midnight US Eastern Time, the same for every player. Sundays go bigger with a 7x7 pinwheel grid.
Is Emcee free?
Yes. Emcee plays in the browser on Mind Loft with no app and no account. Signing up with a display name (no password) puts your result on the daily leaderboard; an email is optional.
Can I play earlier Emcee puzzles?
Yes. Mind Loft keeps an archive of past Emcee boards together with each day's standings.
How is Emcee ranked?
By fewest failed checks, then by fastest time.
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