Today’s NYT Mini Crossword for Monday, February 2, 2026, kicks off the week with some high-voltage rock and a nod to recent sci-fi cinema. Mondays are usually the easiest puzzle of the week, but if you haven’t been keeping up with 2025 movie releases or classic rock discographies, a few clues might slow you down.
Whether you are stuck on the coffee order or the “Tron” actor, we have the full solution below.
Puzzle Analysis
Today’s grid is a standard 5×5 Monday puzzle.
- Theme: No single theme, but a mix of Pop Culture (Music/Movies) and Phrases.
- Tricky Clues: The “Tron: Ares” clue references a specific actor (Jared Leto), which might be tricky if you missed the movie. The coffee clue also requires knowing your Italian espresso terms.
Hints for Today’s Puzzle
Need a nudge without seeing the completed grid? Here are hint-based breakdowns for the tougher clues.
Across Hints:
- 1 Across: A legendary Australian rock band known for “Thunderstruck” and “Back in Black.”
- 5 Across: A phrase meaning stuck in a boring routine (3 words).
- 7 Across: Doing incredibly well, or literally burning.
- 8 Across: An ending attached to a word (like -ing or -ed).
- 9 Across: The last name of the actor who played the Joker in “Suicide Squad” and stars in “Tron: Ares.”
Down Hints:
- 1 Down: To legally declare a marriage invalid.
- 2 Down: An espresso drink with a spot of milk (starts with C).
- 3 Down: To slide sideways in a car, or float aimlessly.
- 4 Down: A small, unusual object or trinket collected for display.
- 6 Down: The operating system for iPhones.
Spoilers Below!
Warning: The section below contains the direct answers for today’s puzzle.
Across Answers
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rock band with albums like “High Voltage” | ACDC |
| 5 | Stuck doing the same old, same old | INARUT |
| 7 | Burning up | ONFIRE |
| 8 | -tion, for one | SUFFIX |
| 9 | Jared of 2025’s “Tron: Ares” | LETO |
Down Answers
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Declare void, as a marriage | ANNUL |
| 2 | ___ macchiato (espresso drink) | CAFFE |
| 3 | Begin to veer off the road, say | DRIFT |
| 4 | Odd little trinket | CURIO |
| 6 | What Apple smartphones run on | IOS |
How to Play NYT Mini Crossword
If you are new to the Mini, here is how to get started:
- The Grid: It is a 5×5 grid (sometimes larger on Saturdays).
- The Goal: Fill in all white squares with letters to form words based on the clues.
- The Timer: The game tracks how fast you solve it. Try to beat your personal best!
- Rebus: Unlike the main crossword, the Mini rarely uses complex tricks or “Rebus” squares (multiple letters in one box).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the answer to 1 Across in today’s Mini?
The answer to “Rock band with albums like High Voltage” is ACDC.
What is the answer to 9 Across?
The answer is LETO, referring to actor Jared Leto.
When does the NYT Mini reset?
The puzzle resets daily at 10:00 PM ET on weekdays and 6:00 PM ET on weekends.
