NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 2 October 13, 2026 - Solved
Here's today's NYT Mini — 20 clues in total, and we've got hints plus answers for every one of them.
Popular Puzzles: December 04 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | March 16 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 10 |
About Today's Puzzle
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 13, 2026 |
| Grid Size | 5 x 5 squares |
| Total Clues | 20 clues |
| Across Clues | 10 clues |
| Down Clues | 10 clues |
| Average Solve Time | Under 1 minute |
Today's Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout
Standard Mini size again: 5 across, 5 down.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | |||||
| Row 2 | |||||
| Row 3 | |||||
| Row 4 | |||||
| Row 5 |
How to Solve This One Fast
- Read through all the clues before filling in a single square.
- Start with anything three letters or shorter.
- Crossing letters are your best friend for the trickier answers.
- Question mark clues (?) almost always mean wordplay, not a literal answer.
- Watch for the usual suspects: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT.
Quick Facts
- Total squares: 25 (5 × 5)
- Typical solve time: well under a minute for most regulars
- Good time to play: on a coffee break
- Difficulty: built to be approachable
Across Clues - 10 Total
These run left to right across the grid.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Across | 43. Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad" |
| 2 Across | 56. – |
| 3 Across | 5. Spongy wetlands |
| 4 Across | 21. Shindig for someone to announce whether they're having a boy or a girl |
| 5 Across | 36. Shindig for someone settling into a new home |
| 6 Across | 31. Go downhill fast |
| 7 Across | 17. Optional mission in a video game |
| 8 Across | 67. – |
| 9 Across | 14. Engrave |
| 10 Across | 63. Lunchroom |
Hints and Answers for Across Clues
Stuck on one? Hints and answers for each clue are below. A few other guides worth a look:
- June 10 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- September 06 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 09 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Across: "43. Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad""
Hints:
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
- First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'N'.
- It's a 4-letter word.
Answer:
Click to reveal
EGAN2 Across: "56. –"
Hints:
- Think of it this way — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you.
- Close enough in meaning: lavish.
- First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'R'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
SHOWER3 Across: "5. Spongy wetlands"
Hints:
- Close enough in meaning: bog.
- Count on 4 letters here.
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Answer:
Click to reveal
BOGS4 Across: "21. Shindig for someone to announce whether they're having a boy or a girl"
Hints:
- It's a 6-letter word.
- First letter's a 'G', last letter's a 'R'.
- 'sex' points in the same direction.
Answer:
Click to reveal
GENDER5 Across: "36. Shindig for someone settling into a new home"
Hints:
- You're looking for 5 letters.
- First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'E'.
- 'firm' points in the same direction.
Answer:
Click to reveal
HOUSE6 Across: "31. Go downhill fast"
Hints:
- Count on 3 letters here.
- Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'I'.
- Short form / acronym territory here.
Answer:
Click to reveal
SKI7 Across: "17. Optional mission in a video game"
Hints:
- Starts with 'S', ends with 'T'.
- Count on 9 letters here.
Answer:
Click to reveal
SIDEQUEST8 Across: "67. –"
Hints:
- Starts with 'P', ends with 'Y'.
- Close enough in meaning: company.
- Basically, an organization to gain political power.
Answer:
Click to reveal
PARTY9 Across: "14. Engrave"
Hints:
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
- You could also think of it as "engrave."
- In plain terms: make an etching of.
Answer:
Click to reveal
ETCH10 Across: "63. Lunchroom"
Hints:
- Pattern-wise it looks like: C_______A
- Starts with 'C', ends with 'A'.
- This one runs 9 letters long.
Answer:
Click to reveal
CAFETERIADown Clues - 10 Total
These run top to bottom in the grid.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 21. Boss, in Britain |
| 2 Down | 54. "Take me ___" |
| 3 Down | 3. High-def flat screen, for short |
| 4 Down | 41. Those going along with others' unhealthy habits |
| 5 Down | 24. Major Iraqi port city |
| 6 Down | 53. Second-largest city in Northern Ireland |
| 7 Down | 39. "'Tis entirely likely" |
| 8 Down | 47. Negative connector |
| 9 Down | 44. Item worn with a hazmat suit |
| 10 Down | 11. Longtime Yankee slugger, familiarly |
Hints and Answers for Down Clues
Same deal here — hints then answers. You might also like:
- June 10 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 16 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 10
1 Down: "21. Boss, in Britain"
Hints:
- It's a 3-letter word.
- First letter's a 'G', last letter's a 'V'.
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Answer:
Click to reveal
GUV2 Down: "54. "Take me ___""
Hints:
- Starts with 'A', ends with 'M'.
- Count on 5 letters here.
- Pattern-wise it looks like: A___M
Answer:
Click to reveal
ASIAM3 Down: "3. High-def flat screen, for short"
Hints:
- First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'V'.
- If that helps, the shape is: L___V
- Count on 5 letters here.
Answer:
Click to reveal
LCDTV4 Down: "41. Those going along with others' unhealthy habits"
Hints:
- This one runs 8 letters long.
- First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'S'.
- If that helps, the shape is: E______S
Answer:
Click to reveal
ENABLERS5 Down: "24. Major Iraqi port city"
Hints:
- 'Basia' points in the same direction.
- Pattern-wise it looks like: B___A
- You're looking for 5 letters.
Answer:
Click to reveal
BASRA6 Down: "53. Second-largest city in Northern Ireland"
Hints:
- Count on 5 letters here.
- Pattern-wise it looks like: D___Y
- Starts with 'D', ends with 'Y'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
DERRY7 Down: "39. "'Tis entirely likely""
Hints:
- First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'Y'.
- This one runs 8 letters long.
Answer:
Click to reveal
IDARESAY8 Down: "47. Negative connector"
Hints:
- Count on 3 letters here.
- First letter's a 'N', last letter's a 'R'.
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Answer:
Click to reveal
NOR9 Down: "44. Item worn with a hazmat suit"
Hints:
- Starts with 'G', ends with 'K'.
- Blank it out and you get: G_____K
- Count on 7 letters here.
Answer:
Click to reveal
GASMASK10 Down: "11. Longtime Yankee slugger, familiarly"
Hints:
- This one runs 4 letters long.
- First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'D'.
- Pattern-wise it looks like: A__D
Answer:
Click to reveal
ARODHow to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster
Some habits that speed things up over time:
Step-by-Step Strategy
- Read it all first: Go through every clue once before writing anything down — it primes your brain even on the ones you skip.
- Grab the short ones: Two and three letter answers (things like "IT" or "ON") are usually the easiest place to start.
- Use the crossings: Once a couple of words are in, the crossing letters do a lot of the work for you on the harder ones.
- Watch for question marks: A "?" at the end of a clue almost always signals a pun rather than a literal answer.
- Keep the regulars in mind: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE — these turn up often enough that it's worth remembering them.
Letter Tips That Really Help
- E is the most common letter in English, so it's worth guessing early.
- Words ending in S are usually plurals.
- Blanks ("___") in a clue mean the answer fits exactly into those spaces.
- An abbreviation in the clue is a signal the answer's abbreviated too.
Time Goals to Aim For
| Your Time | Skill Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 seconds | Expert | You've clearly got the puzzle's patterns down. |
| 30-60 seconds | Advanced | Solid pace — you're solving quickly. |
| 1-2 minutes | Good | Right where most regular solvers land. |
| Over 2 minutes | Learning | Totally fine — speed comes with reps. |
Puzzle Numbers and Facts
| Total Clues: | 20 |
| Grid Size: | 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down |
| Total Squares: | 25 |
| Average Time: | 1 minute 10 seconds |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Common Questions About Trivia Week 2
When does the Trivia Week 2 Mini go live?
It usually goes live around 10 PM Eastern the night before.
How long should Trivia Week 2 take me?
Anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes is typical. Don't stress if you're on the slower end at first.
Is Trivia Week 2 free to play?
It's free to play, unlike the main NYT Crossword which sits behind a paywall.
What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 2?
It mostly comes down to recognizing common short answers and catching puns fast. The rest is just reps.
Does Trivia Week 2 get harder as the week goes on?
Difficulty shifts through the week; expect Monday to be gentle and Saturday to bite a bit more.