The daily routine of puzzle enthusiasts once again revolved around The New York Times’ games section on Tuesday as the latest edition of the NYT Mini Crossword rolled out for August 26, 2025.The Mini Crossword, a condensed version of the paper’s celebrated Crossword, continues to enjoy immense popularity among casual solvers and serious word-game fans alike. On Tuesday, the game served up a compact yet challenging puzzle, and for those struggling, NYT Mini Crossword Answers and hints became indispensable in navigating the clues.What is the NYT Mini Crossword?The New York Times has long been a dominant force in the world of puzzles, with its flagship daily Crossword regarded as the gold standard. However, for those pressed for time, the Mini Crossword offers a quicker alternative.Unlike the full-sized Crossword, which can take hours for some players, the Mini is designed to be solved in just a few minutes. Typically comprising a 5x5 grid, it resets every evening at 10 p.m. ET, giving solvers a fresh challenge before bedtime.While shorter in length, the Mini is no less satisfying. It captures the essence of crossword solving, clever clues, wordplay, and cultural references, all in a bite-sized format.Live EventsTuesday’s Puzzle at a GlanceThe Mini Crossword for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, blended references to sports, politics, leisure, and food. From identifying the host nation of the 2028 Olympics to naming a classic Eastern European dessert loaf, the puzzle spanned a diverse set of topics.For many, today’s grid was approachable but not without its tricky corners. The clues tested knowledge across domains, while the final answers provided the usual mix of “aha” moments and everyday vocabulary.NYT Mini Across HintsTo assist solvers without directly revealing the solutions, hints for the “Across” entries were provided. These subtle nudges helped players narrow down the possibilities while retaining the challenge.1 Across: Place to pour a pint — Hint: Starts with “P”4 Across: Host of the 2028 Olympics, for short — Hint: Starts with “U”5 Across: Black suit — Hint: Ends with “S”7 Across: Political commentator Jen — Hint: Starts with “P”8 Across: Kick one’s feet up — Hint: Ends with “X”NYT Mini Down HintsFor the vertical clues, the game supplied another layer of guidance. The hints struck a balance between making the puzzle accessible and preserving the fun of discovery as per a Beebom report.1 Down: Sign of life — Hint: Ends with “E”2 Down: Regular patron’s order, with “the” — Hint: Starts with “U”3 Down: Loaf with a chocolate swirl — Hint: Starts with “B”5 Down: Skill practiced on dummies, for short — Hint: Ends with “R”6 Down: Age at which Tiger Woods made his first hole-in-one — Hint: Starts with “S”NYT Mini Across AnswersFor players who found the hints insufficient, the final NYT Mini Crossword Answers for “Across” were:1 Across: PUB — Place to pour a pint4 Across: USA — Host of the 2028 Olympics, for short5 Across: CLUBS — Black suit7 Across: PSAKI — Political commentator Jen8 Across: RELAX — Kick one’s feet upNYT Mini Down AnswersThe “Down” entries revealed an equally engaging mix of solutions, with nods to biology, culinary traditions, and sporting trivia.1 Down: PULSE — Sign of life2 Down: USUAL — Regular patron’s order, with “the”3 Down: BABKA — Loaf with a chocolate swirl5 Down: CPR — Skill practiced on dummies, for short6 Down: SIX — Age at which Tiger Woods made his first hole-in-oneDifficulty and Player ReactionsTuesday’s puzzle was widely regarded as moderately easy, with solvers across forums noting that the most challenging clue involved the dessert “Babka.” While terms such as “RELAX” and “PUB” were straightforward, cultural knowledge came into play with “PSAKI,” referring to former White House press secretary and current political commentator Jen Psaki.The sports clue about Tiger Woods’ first hole-in-one at the age of six added a touch of trivia that delighted golf fans. Meanwhile, the nod to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics under “USA” reflected the puzzle’s habit of weaving current events into its compact format.The Broader NYT Games LandscapeThe New York Times’ portfolio of games now includes Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Strands, and the classic Crossword. Together, these offerings have created an ecosystem of daily puzzles that appeal to a wide demographic.The Mini Crossword, though sometimes overshadowed by Wordle’s virality, is a consistent performer. Analysts note that it draws repeat engagement, particularly from long-time Crossword enthusiasts who want a quick puzzle fix.FAQsWhat were the NYT Mini Crossword Answers for August 26, 2025? The “Across” answers were PUB, USA, CLUBS, PSAKI, and RELAX. The “Down” answers were PULSE, USUAL, BABKA, CPR, and SIX.How often does the NYT Mini Crossword reset? The Mini Crossword resets daily at 10 p.m. ET, unlike some other NYT puzzles such as Wordle, which reset at midnight.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News onNYT mini answersNYT Mini CrosswordNYT Mini hintsNYT Mini CluesNYT Mini Theme (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onNYT mini answersNYT Mini CrosswordNYT Mini hintsNYT Mini CluesNYT Mini Theme(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless Explore More Stories123