Connections is a popular puzzle game that has built a large fan base since its release on June 12, 2023. It is now The New York Times’ second-most played game after Wordle. The game involves grouping 16 words into four categories based on association. Each category is labeled with a color that signifies its difficulty level, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the hardest. Players are allowed four guesses, with each incorrect guess adding to their mistake tally.
The game uses a variety of techniques such as homophones and wordplay to keep players engaged and challenged. Once a player correctly groups a set of words, those words are removed from the grid. The game also includes a shuffle button to mix up the word placement for players who might be stuck. The difficulty levels are designed to challenge players in different ways, with some categories focusing on wordplay and adding complexity to the game.
Each day, Newsweek provides hints and tips to help players solve that day’s Connections puzzle. The game is released at midnight in the player’s local time zone, providing a daily challenge for fans of word-based puzzles. If players are unable to solve the puzzle for that day, they can try again the following day. In addition to Connections, players can also try out other word-based games such as Wordle for additional entertainment and mental stimulation.
The game’s puzzle editor, Wyna Liu, explains that the mix of categories and difficulty levels is essential for creating a challenging and satisfying experience for players. Categories may involve wordplay, homophones, and other linguistic techniques to keep the game interesting. The familiarity of the words used in the game, as well as the use of less-common words, also contribute to the difficulty level. Players must use their knowledge of language and associations to correctly group the words in the puzzle.
For each day’s puzzle, Newsweek provides clues and answers to help players navigate the difficult categories and successfully group the words. The game challenges players to think creatively and make connections between seemingly unrelated words. With its growing popularity and dedicated fan base, Connections continues to be a beloved puzzle game that offers entertainment and mental stimulation to players who enjoy word-based challenges. Newsweek is committed to providing support and guidance to players as they work through each day’s puzzle and looks forward to continuing to engage with the game’s dedicated community.
