The Rise Of Connections: A Year Of Wordplay Sensation

This June marks one year since The New York Times unveiled Connections to the public, and it has proved to be a hit with word game fans. The brainteaser is now the news outlet's second-most-played game after Wordle. While similarly word-based, Connections challenges players to uncover threads connecting a series of words. It has captivated audiences by combining strategy, logic, and a good dose of vocabulary.

Curious about how this game works? Connections involves grouping 16 words into four categories based on associations. For instance, players might see the words "coil," "spool," "wind," and "wrap," which fall under the theme of "twist around." This innovative approach to word games has sparked interest, leading many to engage with it daily, eager to sharpen their minds while having fun.

Each category in Connections is color-coded to indicate its difficulty: yellow is the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. However, don't be fooled—these puzzles are anything but simple! They often employ clever wordplay, homophones, and a range of themes, ensuring players remain engaged and challenged. As players navigate through the game, they must think creatively and strategically to succeed.

How To Play Connections

The brainteaser tasks players with grouping 16 words into four categories based on association. For example, Monday's game linked the words "coil," "spool," "wind," and "wrap," which all came under the category "twist around." Each of the four categories is labeled with a color, which also signifies their difficulty level. Yellow is the easiest category, followed by green, blue, and purple. However, the puzzles are rarely straightforward, using homophones and wordplay, among other techniques, to keep things interesting.

The uniting themes span a wide range of topics, from movie franchises to body parts. Once you have figured out one group, those words are removed from the grid. However, players only get four guesses. Each incorrect guess adds to your mistake tally, and after four wrong answers, it’s game over! This adds an element of pressure and excitement, making the game even more thrilling.

Connections also has a shuffle button, which will mix up where the words appear on the screen to help players who might be stuck. This feature has proven to be a game-changer, allowing players to reset their approach if they're having difficulty. It’s all about strategy and using your vocabulary skills to make the right connections!

Explaining why the game has four difficulty levels, NYT puzzle editor Wyna Liu said she toyed with different ways to make the game more of a challenge. "There would have to be a mix of categories for the game to feel challenging and satisfying," she said in the NYT. "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."

However, the familiarity of the words used, and how often they pop up in modern life, are also difficulty factors. Less-common words aren't exclusively found in the harder categories. "Item overlap," where one word can be linked to multiple categories, is another way Connections tests players. Caution was needed when including items that might stand out in the grid, since they would invite immediate scrutiny.

'Connections' #359 Clues for Tuesday, June 4

Newsweek has some hints to help you figure out today’s Connections categories.

• Yellow: These words represent personal wealth.
• Green: For these words, think of what a person with magical powers might wear.
• Blue: These words are associated with features on a sailing vessel.
• Purple: Each of these answers follows the third letter of the alphabet.

'Connections' #359 Answers for Tuesday, June 4

Yellow Category: TAKE HOME, AS INCOME

• Yellow Words: Clear, Earn, Make, Net

Green Category: PARTS OF A WIZARD'S COSTUME

• Green Words: Beard, Hat, Robe, Staff

Blue Category: FOUND ON A SHIP

• Blue Words: Bridge, Deck, Hatch, Keel

Purple Category: C-___

• Purple Words: Clef, Section, Span, Suite

Did you guess the answers correctly? If so, congratulations! If not, 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.