“Nintendo Princess” in the NYT Mini Crossword? Let’s Settle This Once and For All
Okay, let’s be real: we’ve all been there. You’re breezing through the NYT Mini Crossword, feeling like a genius, and then—bam!—you hit a clue that stops you cold. This week’s villain? “Nintendo Princess.”
Cue internal screaming.
Is it Peach? Zelda? Daisy? And why does Nintendo have SO MANY PRINCESSES? Look, I’m not here to judge—I’m here to help you crack this clue without throwing your pencil across the room. Let’s do this.
The Suspects (Because This Feels Like a Detective Story)
Nintendo’s been dropping princesses into games since the Reagan era, so let’s break down the usual suspects:
- Peach
- The OG. The pink-clad queen (okay, princess) of the Mushroom Kingdom. You know her, you’ve rescued her 8,000 times in Super Mario Bros., and let’s face it—she’s low-key OP in Mario Kart. Five letters. Solid contender.
- Zelda
- Hold up. Before you yell “Zelda’s the guy with the sword!”—no, that’s Link. Princess Zelda’s the actual namesake of The Legend of Zelda. She’s out here saving Hyrule with magic and wisdom while Link does the heavy lifting. Also five letters. Sneaky, right?
- Daisy
- The wild card. She’s Peach’s sassy, sporty BFF from Super Mario Land. Rules a place called Sarasaland (which sounds like a theme park, but whatever). Five letters, but let’s be honest—she’s the Taylor Swift “You Belong With Me” of Nintendo princesses. Underrated but loyal.
The Answer? Depends on the Crossword’s Vibe
Here’s the thing: crossword clues are like horoscopes—vague enough to mess with you. The real answer depends on:
- The intersecting clues:
- If there’s a “Mario’s Job” (PLUMBER) crossing it? Probably Peach.
- If there’s “Hyrule Hero” (LINK)? Bet on Zelda.
- If the puzzle’s feeling spicy and obscure? Maybe Daisy. (But let’s pray it’s not Daisy. Nobody wants that stress.)
- The crossword’s mood:
NYT Mini loves throwing curveballs, but 90% of the time, it’s either Peach or Zelda. Peach is the “default” answer, but Zelda’s got that nerdy cred. Flip a coin if you’re stuck.
Why This Clue Feels Like a Troll Move
Let’s rant for a sec. Crosswords that reference pop culture are either:
- “Oh, that’s cute!” (Easy mode)
- “WHO EVEN KNOWS THIS?!” (This clue.)
Nintendo’s been around longer than avocado toast, so of course they’ve got a princess roster longer than a CVS receipt. But hey, at least it’s not asking about Fire Emblem characters. Shudders.
Pro Tip from a Recovering Crossword Addict
If you’re still stuck:
- Write lightly. Use pencil. Erase aggressively.
- Channel your inner 10-year-old. What princess did you Google fan art of in 2007? That’s probably the answer.
- Blame the puzzle. Sometimes the crossword is just being a jerk.