The New York Times has introduced a new version of their Connections puzzle game called Connections: Sports Edition, focusing on sports-related words. This version is currently in beta testing, and players can access it for free for the next few weeks. The game follows the same rules as the original Connections game, where players are given 16 words and must group them into categories that are somehow connected. The main difference is that all the words and categories in this sports edition have a sports tie-in, making it ideal for sports fans.
To play Connections: Sports Edition, players must group the given words into four categories that are related to sports in some way. The categories vary in difficulty levels, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the hardest. Players have to use their knowledge of various sports and athletes to identify the connections between the words. The game may include player names, team names, or sport-related activities, requiring players to have some familiarity with different sports.
The game provides hints for each group of words, ranging from the easiest yellow group to the challenging purple group. Players must decipher the connections between the words based on these hints. For example, the yellow group hint for singular NHL team names could lead to answers like Duck, Flyer, Senator, and Star. The green group hint for fencing terms could result in answers like epee, foil, piste, and sabre. The blue group hint for Notre Dame football greats could lead to answers such as Bettis, Hornung, Montana, and Te’o. Lastly, the purple group hint for Golden ____ could lead to answers like Boot, Knights, State, and Tate.
The game is designed to test players’ knowledge of different sports and their ability to identify connections between sports-related words. While players do not need to be sports experts to enjoy the game, having some familiarity with sports terminology and athletes could enhance the gameplay experience. It remains to be seen whether Connections: Sports Edition will be added permanently to The New York Times Games app based on its popularity during the beta testing period. Players can access the game daily for free and challenge themselves with the various sports-themed puzzles provided.
