Connections
Connections is a daily word puzzle game published by The New York Times. Using tap or click controls, players select exactly four words to group them into four distinct categories sharing a hidden theme. The objective is to solve all four categories within four allowed mistakes. Associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu launched this viral game in June 2023.
Rules
- Grid: 16 words displayed in a 4Ă—4 grid.
- Objective: Group all 16 words into 4 groups of 4 — each group shares a hidden theme.
- Mistakes: Maximum 4 mistakes before game over.
Color Feedback
| Color | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Easiest — straightforward connections |
| Green | Moderate |
| Blue | Hard — often wordplay or double meanings |
| Purple | Hardest — abstract or tricky themes |
Step by Step
- Read all 16 words carefully before making your first selection.
- Select 4 words you believe share a common theme and tap Submit.
- If correct, the group is revealed and removed. If wrong, you lose 1 mistake.
- The game alerts "One away" if 3 of your 4 selections are correct.
- Solve all 4 groups to complete the puzzle.
Tips
- Watch for red herrings: Avoid five-word traps. If five words seem to fit a category, identify the word that fits somewhere else instead of guessing.
- Use the Shuffle button: Rearranging the words visually helps your brain break rigid patterns and spot abstract associations.
- Think outside definitions: Look for word associations, spelling patterns, or fill-in-the-blank categories (e.g., words preceding "box").