Since its launch in June 2023, Connections has become a popular online brainteaser game created by The New York Times. It challenges players to group 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. The puzzles use wordplay and homophones to keep players challenged and engaged.
The familiarity of the words used and how often they appear in modern life are factors that contribute to the difficulty of the puzzles. In addition, some words can overlap into multiple categories, adding another layer of complexity. If players get stuck, they can use the shuffle button to mix up the words on the screen. Wyna Liu, a crossword editor at The New York Times who developed Connections, advises players to wait as long as possible before guessing in order to avoid wasting turns. The game is released daily at midnight in each player’s local time zone.
To play Connections, players must uncover connections between a series of words and group them into four categories. Each category is marked with a color that indicates its level of difficulty, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the hardest. The puzzles use various techniques to challenge players, including wordplay and homophones. Players can use the shuffle button if they get stuck and should avoid guessing too early to prevent wasting turns.
The New York Times provides daily clues and answers for Connections puzzles. The answers for each puzzle are revealed at the end of the article, allowing players to check their guesses. For example, in a recent puzzle, words related to cuts of meat, different styles of underwear, dental care, and well-known brands were used. By correctly identifying the connections between the words, players can win the game and maintain their win streak.
Connections has attracted a dedicated following since its release in 2023, becoming the second most played game on The New York Times’ website behind Wordle. Players can challenge themselves with the daily puzzles and improve their skills at recognizing connections in a fun and interactive way. The game’s popularity is likely to continue to grow as more players discover the challenge and excitement of uncovering the threads connecting a series of words in each puzzle.
As players continue to engage with Connections and tackle the daily puzzles provided by The New York Times, they have the opportunity to improve their problem-solving skills and test their ability to identify connections between different words. The game’s challenging nature and use of various techniques to keep players engaged make it a popular choice for those looking for a mental workout. Whether players are new to the game or have been playing since its launch, there is always an opportunity to test their skills and maintain their win streak by correctly identifying the connections in each puzzle.
