What is a midi crossword?
A midi crossword sits between a Mini and a full daily. A mid-sized grid, a few minutes to solve, with room for a real theme. This one is free, no account.
The middle ground between mini and full-size
A midi typically sits at 9×9 to 11×11 squares. That's about four times the area of a 5×5 mini, but a fraction of the 15×15 weekday or 21×21 Sunday grids that define traditional crosswords. Independent constructors and small publishers have used the "midi" label for years. It hit the mainstream in March 2026, when the New York Times added its own midi to the daily lineup.
Why the format exists
Most solvers don't have thirty quiet minutes for a Sunday, but a one-minute mini can feel over before it starts. The midi answers that gap. It fits a light theme, a couple of longer marquee answers, and a handful of clever crossings, while still wrapping up inside a commute or a coffee. Most solvers land between three and five minutes once the size feels familiar.
What to expect when solving
Midi clues sit halfway between the punch of a mini and the heavier wordplay of a full crossword. Expect a mix: definitions, fill-in-the-blanks, an occasional cryptic-leaning twist, and one or two theme entries connected by a hidden link. Because answers can run longer than five letters, a single crossing rarely gives a word away. The fun lives in the intersections.
Midi crossword vs. mini at a glance
The mini is a warm-up: 5×5, usually themeless, under two minutes once the clues click. The midi keeps that approachable feel but adds depth — space for misdirection, for a theme to play out across multiple answers, and for the kind of "aha" moment you usually only get in a bigger grid.
Where to play one
Most midis these days live behind a subscription or an app. This site posts a new one at midnight UTC, free in your browser. The archive stays open whenever you want to catch up on a missed day.