NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 5 Revealed

The New York Times Mini Crossword for January 5, 2025, has been solved, with players tackling clues ranging from pop culture references to historical trivia. The Mini Crossword, a condensed version of the classic NYT puzzle, continues to attract word game enthusiasts with its quick and engaging format.

Monday’s puzzle featured a mix of straightforward and challenging clues. Among the answers were ‘PUSH’ for ‘___ notification (alert on a phone screen),’ ‘SANTA’ for ‘Stocking stuffer?,’ and ‘NITRO’ for ‘Gas used to infuse some beer and coffee, for short.’ The puzzle also included geographical references, such as ‘PARIS’ for ‘Home of the Notre-Dame cathedral’ and ‘HANOI’ for ‘World capital whose name means ‘between two rivers’ in Vietnamese.’

Kris Holt, a writer covering video games and word games, shared insights into solving the puzzle. ‘It took me 1:23 to complete today’s NYT Mini,’ Holt said. ‘I struggled with some clues, like ‘NITRO,’ but eventually pieced it together.’ Holt also noted the challenge of interpreting ‘SON’ as ‘Child with a Roman numeral after his name, maybe,’ which refers to naming conventions for descendants sharing ancestors’ names.

The NYT Mini Crossword is free to play daily on the NYT Games app or website, though access to archived puzzles requires a subscription. The puzzle’s compact five-by-five grid makes it an ideal quick challenge for players on the go.

For those seeking additional word game challenges, the NYT Games collection also includes Wordle, Strands, and Connections. Gael Cooper, a CNET editor and pop-culture expert, highlighted the accessibility of the Mini Crossword. ‘Today’s puzzle was one of the easier ones of late,’ Cooper said. ‘It’s a great way to start the day with a bit of mental exercise.’

As the popularity of word games continues to grow, the NYT Mini Crossword remains a favorite for its blend of simplicity and clever clues. Players can look forward to daily puzzles and occasional larger grids, especially on weekends.