NYT Midi Crossword Answers for Saturday, October 24, 2026: “Gaming the System”

Saturday, October 24, 2026 · Today's NYT Midi Crossword answers

OCT24

NYT Midi Crossword

Saturday, October 24, 2026

9×9“Gaming the System”By Ian Livengood

32 clues. Tap Reveal on any clue for just that answer, or open the full solution at the bottom.

This Midi was titled “Gaming the System” — the title hints at the theme. Clues that point at it: 7D, 18D.

Across

  1. 1"Nah, not for me" (4)
    RevealPASS
  2. 5Maple syrup source (3)
    RevealSAP
  3. 8Vocal range for Tracy Chapman and Toni Braxton (4)
    RevealALTO
  4. 9Basketball hoops (4)
    RevealRIMS
  5. 10Pixar's first sequel with Buzz Lightyear and Woody (9)
    RevealTOYSTORY2
  6. 12Magic spell (3)
    RevealHEX
  7. 13"Of course, monsieur!" (3)
    RevealOUI
  8. 14Letters aptly missing from coral r_ _f s_itherer (3)
    RevealEEL
  9. 15Airport code for an Arizona hub (3)
    RevealPHX
  10. 17Convention center event (4)
    RevealEXPO
  11. 21Sob (4)
    RevealWAIL
  12. 22Simple conveyance up a ski mountain (4)
    RevealTBAR
  13. 23___ Rozanov, Russian hockey player on "Heated Rivalry" (4)
    RevealILYA
  14. 24Firm (up), as muscles (4)
    RevealTONE
  15. 25Super-big film format (4)
    RevealIMAX
  16. 26Old flames (4)
    RevealEXES

Down

  1. 1This is the way! (4)
    RevealPATH
  2. 2Balm ingredient (4)
    RevealALOE
  3. 3River of Hades (4)
    RevealSTYX
  4. 4Distress call at sea (3)
    RevealSOS
  5. 5Apple's digital assistant (4)
    RevealSIRI
  6. 6Actress/podcaster Poehler (3)
    RevealAMY
  7. 7Popular Sony console released in 2000, familiarly ... or one way to describe the letters in this puzzle's shaded squares (3)
    RevealPS2
  8. 9Wheel of fortune? (8)
    RevealROULETTE
  9. 11Often-stubbed body part (3)
    RevealTOE
  10. 14Pharmacy product with the slogan "Gentle overnight relief you can trust" (5)
    RevealEXLAX
  11. 15___ Sunday (pre-Easter observance) (4)
    RevealPALM
  12. 16Informal greeting (4)
    RevealHIYA
  13. 18Popular Microsoft console ... or what is formed by this puzzle's circled squares? (4)
    RevealXBOX
  14. 19Section of a window (4)
    RevealPANE
  15. 20Mined rocks (4)
    RevealORES
  16. 21Popular Nintendo console ... or a homophone of 13-Across (3)
    RevealWII
Crossword regulars in this grid (spoilers)

Answers in this NYT Midi Crossword that had shown up before, counted over the 241 puzzles since February 2026:

ALOE ×8ALTO ×8TOE ×7EEL ×6SOS ×6EXES ×5SAP ×4OUI ×3

Show all 32 answers and the solved grid

Across: 1A PASS5A SAP8A ALTO9A RIMS10A TOYSTORY212A HEX13A OUI14A EEL15A PHX17A EXPO21A WAIL22A TBAR23A ILYA24A TONE25A IMAX26A EXES

Down: 1D PATH2D ALOE3D STYX4D SOS5D SIRI6D AMY7D PS29D ROULETTE11D TOE14D EXLAX15D PALM16D HIYA18D XBOX19D PANE20D ORES21D WII

About This NYT Midi Crossword

The NYT Midi for Saturday, October 24, 2026 was a 9×9 grid by Ian Livengood, titled “Gaming the System”, with 32 clues; the longest answer ran 9 letters. That is about average for a Saturday.

Also on Oct 24: the NYT Mini Crossword and the NYT Crossword.

Earlier October 2026 NYT Midi Crossword Answers

Oct 1Oct 2Oct 3Oct 4Oct 5Oct 6Oct 7Oct 8Oct 9Oct 10Oct 11Oct 12Oct 13Oct 14Oct 15Oct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 20Oct 21Oct 22Oct 23Oct 24

Every earlier puzzle is in the NYT Midi Crossword archive. For the newest one, see today's NYT Midi Crossword answers, which switch to the next puzzle as soon as it's released.

Unofficial fan guide — not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times. Clues are quoted for reference.