Mini Crossword (CNA)
Rate itA tiny crossword from Singapore's CNA, new every day and done in minutes.
on channelnewsasia.com
Mini Crossword is the quick daily crossword on CNA Games, the puzzle page of the Singapore news channel. A small grid of short across and down clues, solved against a running clock, with help from Check, Reveal or a friend if you get stuck. It is free on the website and in the CNA app.
About Mini Crossword (CNA)
CNA's Mini Crossword is a short daily crossword made for a coffee break. It sits on CNA Games beside Buzzword, Guess Word, Mini Sudoku and Word Search, with an advertisement slot above the board. The grid is supplied by Auspac Media, a puzzle syndicate, and runs on PuzzleMe from Amuse Labs; the puzzle itself is titled Daily Mini. On 6 and 19 October 2026 it was a four by four grid with four across and four down clues, plain definitions such as Talk up, Stubborn beast or Mineral springs.
You can solve the clues in any order. A timer runs at the top of the board, and the Assist menu (the bulb on CNA's own guide) lets you check a square or a word, reveal it, or invite a friend to help on the same grid.
When the grid is full CNA shows your time and the answers, and points you to tomorrow's puzzle. The CNA app for iPhone and Android carries the same games with a winning streak, achievement badges and an archive of earlier grids.
It suits players of the NYT Mini and other short daily crosswords who want one more small grid, with clues in general English rather than local references.
How to play Mini Crossword (CNA)
- Open Mini Crossword on CNA Games; today's grid loads with the first clue selected.
- Click a square or a clue in the Across or Down list to choose an answer.
- Type the answer; the cursor moves along the word.
- Use the crossing letters to work out the clues you could not get at first.
- If you are stuck, open Assist to check or reveal a square or word, or ask a friend to join.
Screenshots
Tips
- Start with the shortest, plainest clues and let the crossings fill the rest.
- In a four by four grid every square sits in two words, so one sure answer opens up four others.
- Leave Reveal for last if you care about your time and a clean solve.
Questions
Is CNA's Mini Crossword free?
Yes. It is free on the CNA website, with ads on the page, and in the CNA app.
How big is the grid?
Small: the puzzles for 6 and 19 October 2026 were four squares by four, with eight clues.
Who makes it?
CNA publishes it; the grid is credited to Auspac Media and the game runs on Amuse Labs' PuzzleMe.
Can I get help?
Yes. The Assist menu lets you check or reveal a square or a word, and you can ask a friend to help on the same grid.
Ratings and reviews
Games like Mini Crossword (CNA)
The Mini Crossword
The New York Times Mini, the best-known small daily crossword, a size up at five by five
Mini Crossword (Hindustan Times)
An Asian newspaper's daily mini, with an archive of earlier grids
LA Times Mini Crossword
A five by five daily crossword with plain clues, a size up from CNA's
Mini Crossword (The Sydney Morning Herald)
A small dated crossword from Australian papers in the same region
Daily Mini Crossword
An ad-free daily mini crossword for a quick solve with no banner above the grid
Mini Sudoku (CNA)
CNA's other small daily grid on the same games page, numbers instead of clues
Mini Crossword (The Indian Express)
A small dated crossword from The Indian Express, ten clues on a 5x5 grid.
Chicago Mini Crossword (Chicago Sun-Times)
A five-by-five Chicago-flavoured mini crossword, new every day.