Mini Crossword (Hindustan Times)

A small dated crossword from the Hindustan Times, new every morning in India, with an archive of earlier grids.

Every day: A new dated 5x5 mini crossword each day, the same grid and clues for every player, with past days kept in an archive. New puzzle: Midnight India time (IST).

Mini Crossword on Hindustan TimesHT Games hub

The Hindustan Times Mini Crossword for 2 October 2026: an empty 5x5 grid with across and down clues

Mini Crossword is a 5x5 crossword published every day on the Hindustan Times games page. Each grid carries its date and the setter's name, and earlier days stay playable in a list below today's puzzle.

About Mini Crossword (Hindustan Times)

Mini Crossword is the small daily crossword of the Hindustan Times, the Indian newspaper. It sits on the paper's HT Games page next to Word Flower, Word Row and Superbrain Teasers, and the page pitches it as something you can finish in under two minutes.

The grids are set by Sowmya Ramkumar and run in the PuzzleMe player from Amuse Labs. Each puzzle is titled with its date, and a new one goes up at midnight India time, so every reader gets the same grid that day.

A day's puzzle is a 5x5 grid with a handful of across and down clues. The clues mix plain definitions with Indian references, such as Bollywood films and state politics, and some clues come with a picture instead of words. A timer runs while you solve, and the Assist menu can check or reveal letters if you get stuck.

It suits anyone who wants a short word break with an Indian flavour. Because the past grids stay listed under Play previous game, you can catch up on days you missed.

How to play Mini Crossword (Hindustan Times)

  1. Open the Mini Crossword page and pick today's date (or an earlier one from the list).
  2. Click a cell in the grid to choose where to start; the matching clue is shown above the grid.
  3. Type a letter into each cell of the answer.
  4. Click the same cell again or pick a clue in the list to switch between across and down.
  5. Fill every cell correctly to finish; your time is shown at the top.

Screenshots

The Mini Crossword page on Hindustan Times with a list of dated puzzles

Tips

  • Start with the clues that refer to Indian films, places or people if you know them, as they often give long answers.
  • Use the Assist menu to check a single word before revealing letters.
  • If you miss a day, the earlier grids stay available under Play previous game.

Questions

How often is there a new Mini Crossword?

Once a day. Each grid is titled with its date and appears at midnight India time.

Who sets the puzzles?

The recent grids are credited to Sowmya Ramkumar.

Can I play older puzzles?

Yes. The page lists earlier days under Play previous game, and you can open any of them.

Is it free?

Yes, it is free to play on the website, which carries ads.

More daily crosswords