Unlocking The Fun Of 'Connections': A Guide To The New York Times' Viral Word Game

Have you ever found yourself captivated by a word game that not only challenges your vocabulary but also tests your ability to connect ideas? If you’re not yet acquainted with Connections—The New York Times’ latest viral word game—Newsweek has provided instructions and hints to help make your inaugural experience a successful one. Launched in June 2023, the game quickly became the Times’ second-most played game after the beloved Wordle. With its engaging format, Connections presents players with the challenge of uncovering threads connecting a series of words.

Should you need some help with getting started, Newsweek has provided some instructions below. Clues and the answers are toward the end of the article. As you embark on your journey through this exciting game, remember that each puzzle consists of 16 words, divided into four categories. Your goal is to correctly group the words, which will enhance your problem-solving skills and vocabulary at the same time!

The process can be tricky, but that's where this guide comes in! Each incorrect guess counts toward your mistake tally, and you can make up to four mistakes before the game ends. To make things a bit easier, you can shuffle and rearrange the board, allowing you to visualize connections in different ways. So, are you ready to dive into the world of Connections and uncover the hidden links between words?

How To Play 'Connections'

Each puzzle consists of 16 words, with each group of words separated into four categories. The objective is to identify the correct grouping of words to successfully remove them from the board. If you manage to place all four words correctly into a set, those words will disappear, allowing you to focus on the remaining words. However, beware! Each incorrect guess counts toward your mistake tally, and you can only make up to four mistakes before the game concludes.

As you play, if you find yourself stuck, don’t hesitate to shuffle and rearrange the board! This feature can make the process of guessing the connections a bit easier. Additionally, the game includes a color-coding system that represents the levels of difficulty. Yellow indicates the easiest group, followed by green, blue, and purple. You won’t see the color of a group until all words in that group have been correctly connected, adding an extra layer of challenge to the game.

Sometimes, a word can belong to more than one category, making it essential to think critically about your choices. Connections editor Wyna Liu suggests that if you notice five or more words belonging to one category, consider pivoting to a different category before making your first guess. This strategy might help you eliminate some options and make the remaining categories clearer!

Clues for Today's Puzzle

Now let’s take a look at some hints provided by Newsweek to help you figure out today’s Connections categories. Remember, these clues are designed to guide you without giving everything away:

• Yellow: These words describe a primary color.
• Green: For these words, think of small measures.
• Blue: These words could represent champions.
• Purple: Each of these answers precedes a word associated with cleanliness.

Answers for Today's Puzzle

Let’s reveal the answers for today’s Connections puzzle:

• Brick
• Cherry
• Rose
• Ruby

• Drop
• Splash
• Spot
• Sprinkle

• Best
• Cream
• Pick
• Top

• Bird
• Bubble
• Mud
• Sponge

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