The Exciting Challenge Of Connections: A New Word Game Sensation

Connections is a challenging game that can test the patience of even the most-experienced wordster. With its growing popularity, this daily puzzle from The New York Times engages players in finding the "common threads between words." Since its public launch in June, it has become The New York Times' second most-played word game, just behind the viral hit, Wordle. If you're looking to sharpen your word skills, Newsweek offers handy hints to help you get started!

The gameplay revolves around grouping words that share a common theme, requiring players to think critically and creatively. Each puzzle consists of 16 words divided into four categories, challenging your ability to identify connections. This blend of fun and mental exercise makes Connections a favorite for many word enthusiasts.

In a world filled with distractions, Connections offers a refreshing way to engage your mind. After each round, you can reflect on your choices and improve your strategy for the next puzzle. With new challenges awaiting every day, you'll find yourself coming back for more!

What You Will Learn

Understanding the rules and mechanics of playing Connections.
Strategies to effectively group words and uncover categories.
Clues to improve your chances of solving puzzles.
Insights into the game's popularity and its place among word games.

How to Play Connections

Connections requires you to group together the words with common threads to reveal the name of the categories. Each puzzle has 16 words, and then each group of words is separated into four categories. The uniting themes can come from a broad range of subjects, from similar sounds, to relating to a movie and even Halloween costumes.

If all four words are correctly placed into each set, those words will be removed from the board, and their category will be revealed at the top. Each incorrect guess counts toward the mistake tally. Players can make up to four mistakes before the game ends.

But, be careful; the game’s creator and editor Wyna Liu said the words' original placement on the board are specifically done to trick people. To make things even harder, on some days, words can belong to more than one category.

Liu also said that, if you realize that there are five or more words that belong to one category, try pivoting to a different group before making your first guess. “Doing so might take one of those extra cards out of contention, or at least remove a few cards from the board, making other categories easier to see,” Liu said.