The popular brainteaser game Connections, created by The New York Times in 2023, challenges players to group 16 words into four categories based on association. The game has become the second-most played game on the newspaper’s website, following Wordle. Each category is labeled with a color, signifying its difficulty level, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the most challenging. The puzzles use wordplay and other techniques to keep players engaged and test their skills.
Players are encouraged to wait before guessing the four words in a category in order to avoid wasting turns. The game can be particularly challenging due to “item overlap,” where one word can be linked to multiple categories. If players get stuck, they can use the shuffle button to mix up the words on the screen. The goal is to uncover the threads connecting the words in each category and complete the puzzle.
Tips from crossword editor Wyna Liu include waiting before guessing and not rushing to solve the puzzle. The answers for each day’s connections puzzle are revealed at the end of the article, allowing players to check their guesses. The game offers a mix of familiar words and less common ones to keep players engaged and challenged. The puzzle is released at midnight in each player’s local time zone, giving everyone the opportunity to test their skills daily.
In the latest Connections puzzle, players were challenged to group words related to body parts, 80s slang, movies, and words from “The Sound of Music.” The answers for the categories were revealed to be body parts such as arm and leg, 80s slang like rad and ill, movie titles like Big and Elf, and words in the song “Do-Re-Mi” from “The Sound of Music.” Players who successfully grouped the words into the correct categories are congratulated, while those who may have struggled are encouraged to try again in the next puzzle.
As Connections continues to gain popularity online, players can expect new challenges and opportunities to test their word association skills. The game offers a fun and engaging way to exercise the brain and think creatively. By following tips from experts like Wyna Liu and practicing patience, players can improve their chances of completing each day’s puzzle successfully. With a variety of categories and clues provided, players can enjoy the challenge of uncovering the connections between words and solving the puzzle each day.
