The New York Times released Connections to the public a year ago, and it has quickly become popular among word game enthusiasts. It is the news outlet’s second most played game after Wordle. Connections challenges players to find common threads between a series of words by grouping them into categories based on association. Each category is labeled with a color to signify its difficulty level, ranging from yellow (easiest) to purple (hardest). Players are given four guesses to solve the puzzle, with incorrect answers adding to their mistake tally and ending the game after four wrong guesses.
The game includes a shuffle button to rearrange the words on the screen if players get stuck. Puzzle editor Wyna Liu explained the different difficulty levels in the game, stating that a mix of categories is necessary to provide a challenging and satisfying experience. Categories may involve wordplay such as palindromes, homophones, and adding or dropping letters and words. The familiarity of the words used and their frequency in modern life also contribute to the difficulty level, with some words being able to fit into multiple categories. The game includes a variety of themes ranging from movie franchises to body parts to keep players engaged.
Each day, a new Connections puzzle is released with clues provided to help players determine the categories for that day’s game. Players must use their knowledge and deductive skills to group the words correctly before running out of guesses. The game is designed to be challenging yet rewarding for players as they uncover the connections between seemingly unrelated words. The answers to each day’s puzzle are revealed at the end of the article, allowing players to check their solutions and see if they cracked the puzzle or need to try again the next day.
Newsweek features hints and tips for each day’s Connections puzzle to assist players in figuring out the categories and solving the game. The goal of the game is to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground among words that may initially seem unrelated. Connections is a popular online brainteaser that continues to engage players with its unique gameplay and diverse themes. Players can test their word association and problem-solving skills by playing Connections and enjoying the satisfaction of unraveling the connections between words in each puzzle.
