Quick Answer
The New York Times Mini crossword clue “Crossplay plays” is answered with “WORDS”, a 5-letter entry.
Clue: “Crossplay plays”
Answer: WORDS
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 3-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Crossplay plays” is answered with WORDS.
Why WORDS Is the Right NYT Answer
- Crossplay is a new NYT two‑player word game where players take turns placing words on a shared board, similar to Scrabble-style play.
- So “Crossplay plays” refers to the individual plays you make in that game namely, the WORDS you put down.
- Published Mini answer keys and hint pages confirm that 3-Down: Crossplay plays WORDS for the February 10, 2026 NYT Mini. With a 5-letter slot, no other common term fits the clue and game reference as cleanly.
What WORDS Means in Plain English
- In general, words are units of language made up of letters, used to form sentences and convey meaning. In the context of Crossplay, a play is when you place one or more words on the board to score points.
- So the clue is using a light bit of wordplay: Crossplay “plays” are literally the WORDS that players create and place during the game.
Crossword-Specific Help for 3-Down
- On the Feb 10, 2026 NYT Mini, 3-Down has five squares, matching WORDS exactly. Hint articles even say 3-Down “starts with W,” pointing you toward a W‑initial 5-letter answer.
- Crossings from Across entries help lock it in:
- 1-Across BOW gives the W at the end of row one.
- 4-Across MOTOR, 6-Across EXTRA, and 7-Across NEEDY provide interior letters that produce the pattern W O R D S.
- Answer compilations for the whole Mini list the Down set as BOXED, OTTER, WORDS, MEN, RAY, confirming the fill.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue mentions a NYT game title (like Wordle, Connections, or Crossplay), it often wants something about:
- The game’s components (tiles, grids, words).
- The actions you take (guesses, plays, moves).
For a 5-letter slot clued as “Crossplay plays,” think of what you physically play in that game: WORDS. Crossings that give you W_O_R_ or WOR_S make WORDS nearly certain.
