Celebrating Independence And Connections: A Puzzle For All Ages

Happy Fourth of July! As America celebrates 248 years of independence, it does so one month after Connections' own one-year anniversary. This unique brainteaser was launched by The New York Times in June of last year and has quickly become the newspaper's second-most-played game, just behind Wordle, another popular word-based puzzle. If you're new to Connections, get ready to uncover the threads connecting a series of words. Below, you'll find instructions on how to play, along with clues and answers for today's puzzle.

How to Play Connections

In Connections, players are tasked with grouping 16 words into four categories based on their associations. For instance, in a recent game, the words "Concrete," "Material," "Real," and "Solid" were linked under the category "Tangible." This engaging format not only challenges your vocabulary but also sharpens your critical thinking skills.

Each of the four categories is color-coded to indicate their difficulty level: yellow is the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. However, don’t be fooled! The puzzles often incorporate homophones and clever wordplay, ensuring that every game remains a delightful challenge.

Wyna Liu, the puzzle editor for The New York Times, shared insights on why the game includes these varying difficulty levels. She explored different methods to enhance the challenge in Connections, aiming to create a mix of categories that feel both satisfying and stimulating.

"There would have to be a mix of categories for the game to feel challenging and satisfying," Liu explained. "Some categories might be defined by their use of wordplay—palindromes, homophones, adding or dropping letters and words—rather than the literal meanings of the words on the cards." This thoughtful design contributes to the game's widespread appeal and keeps players returning for more.

Today's Puzzle Clues and Answers

For those eager to test their skills, here are today's clues for Connections #388:

Yellow: These words are associated with amorous feelings.

Green: Each of these answers is linked to internet use.

Blue: For these answers, think of going full circle.

Purple: These words precede the name of something that tolls.

Answers for Connections #388

Yellow Category: ROMANTIC RAPPORT

Yellow Words: Attraction, Chemistry, Fireworks, Sparks

Green Category: THINGS STORED BY A WEB BROWSER

Green Words: Cache, Cookies, Data, History

Blue Category: SINGLE ROTATION

Blue Words: Cycle, Lap, Revolution, Turn

Purple Category: WORDS BEFORE "BELL"

Purple Words: Bar, Dinner, Liberty, Tinker

Did you guess the answers correctly? If so, congratulations! If not, there will be another opportunity to crack the puzzle tomorrow. Remember, Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone, and Newsweek will be back with more hints and tips for each new game.