Mastering The Connections Puzzle: Tips And Strategies For Success

Another day means another Connections puzzle to solve, and if you're struggling to figure it out, Newsweek is here to help you. If you’ve never played it before, Connections is the latest New York Times word game and it has taken the internet by storm since its June 2023 launch. The Times associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu is credited with bringing the popular game to life. It is now the news outlet's second most-played brainteaser after the hugely popular Wordle, which was created by Josh Wardle.

Understanding the Game Mechanics

Each puzzle consists of 16 words, grouped into four categories. The themes can include a variety of topics, such as types of plants, popular movie franchises, and verbs. This diversity in themes makes each puzzle unique and challenging, requiring players to think critically and creatively.

When players correctly place all four words into each category, those words will be removed from the board. However, players must be cautious, as each incorrect guess counts toward the mistake tally. You can make up to four mistakes before the game ends, which adds an exciting layer of strategy to your gameplay.

Strategies to Enhance Your Gameplay

When you find yourself stumped during a game, you have the option to shuffle and rearrange the board. This feature can help make the connections clearer and aid in guessing the correct categories. Additionally, the game employs a color-coding system that indicates the level of difficulty for each group of words. Yellow is the easiest, while purple is typically the hardest.

It's important to recognize that some words can fit into more than one category, but there is only one correct answer for each group. To maximize your chances of success, consider pivoting to a different category if you notice that many words fit into the same theme. This tactic can help narrow down your options and reveal connections more easily.

Today's Connections Puzzle Clues

For today's challenge, here are the clues you need to solve the Connections puzzle:

• Yellow: Found at a Mexican restaurant.
• Green: Shortened measurement words.
• Blue: Different styles of a piece of clothing that covers one’s legs.
• Purple: Jack and Jill went up this.

Today's Answers Revealed

If you've worked through the puzzle and are curious about the answers, here they are:

Did you guess the answers correctly? If so, congratulations! If not, don’t worry, as there will always be another opportunity to crack the puzzle tomorrow. Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone, and Newsweek will provide more hints and tips for each game.