The New York Times Connections Game is a fun and brain-teasing word puzzle that challenges players to find connections between groups of four words. Each set of four shares a common theme or category. With only four mistakes allowed, it’s a mix of logic, intuition, and vocabulary skills. Whether you're new to the game or trying to improve your score, here’s a connections help guide to help you understand how it works, how to get better, and how to find hints and answers for today’s puzzle.
The Connections Game gives you a grid of 16 words. Your task is to group these into four sets of four words that are related in some way. The connections could be based on categories like “types of fruit,” “movie titles,” “synonyms,” or even “words that sound alike.”
To play:
Study all 16 words. Look for obvious patterns or themes.
Test combinations. Select four words you think are connected and hit “submit.”
Use your four chances wisely. You can only make four mistakes before the game ends.
Color-coded difficulty. The game assigns colors to each set — yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest).
Success depends on spotting both the easy and tricky patterns. Some words are intentionally misleading, so don’t be surprised if your first guess is off.
Improving at Connections takes practice, patience, and a little strategy. Here are a few tips to sharpen your skills:
Sometimes connections are not straightforward. For example, “Mercury” could refer to a planet, an element, or even the Roman god. Think about all possible meanings of each word.
Ask yourself questions like: Are any of these verbs, places, foods, or brands? Narrowing by category helps reduce confusion.
If you notice recurring themes in past puzzles—like musical terms, geography, or slang—it helps you recognize future connections more quickly.
Some words are designed to trick you. Just because four words are all animals doesn’t mean they’re the intended group. Always double-check before you submit.
If you're stuck and don't want to give up, using hints can make the game more enjoyable.
Even without outside help, you can eliminate some word groups by testing combinations. This narrows down options and gives you insight into the remaining groups.
There are many online spaces where players share hints without giving away full answers. These subtle nudges can help guide you to the right connections while still keeping the game fun.
Some puzzle blogs and mobile tools offer daily hints that maintain the challenge without spoiling the fun. These usually give you the category without listing the four words.
If you’re completely stumped and just want to see the answers, many puzzle enthusiasts post the full solution after the daily game resets. You can check puzzle-solving forums, word game websites, or puzzle blogs.
Be careful not to peek too early—it’s more rewarding to solve it yourself if you can. But don’t worry if you need help; over time, recognizing word groupings will become second nature.
The NYT Connections Game is a brilliant mix of wordplay, logic, and intuition. Whether you're solving it alone or with friends, it offers a satisfying daily challenge. With practice, clever strategies, and the occasional hint, you’ll get better every day.