The New York Times has a puzzle called Connections where players are given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. This game is more of a brainteaser compared to Wordle, which is more of a vocabulary test. The game editor knows how to trick players by using words that can fit in more than one group. Additionally, there is another NYT game called Strands that is still in beta, and tips for playing that game are also provided. A cheat sheet for Wordle with the most popular letters used in the English language is included as well.
Playing Connections is easy, but winning is hard. Players must look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. The groups are coded by color, but players do not know what goes where until they see the answers. The groups are ranked from easiest to toughest – yellow, green, blue, and purple. The connection between the words can sometimes be related to just a part of the word. Hints are provided for each group, ranging from easy hints for the yellow group to more challenging or bizarre hints for the purple group. Players must carefully analyze the words and think about related terms to make the correct groupings.
Today’s Connections puzzle includes a yellow group related to body parts in “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” a green group related to cars informally, a blue group related to removing coverings, and a purple group related to buzzy things. The answers for today’s groups are revealed as follows: the yellow group includes head, shoulders, knees, and toes; the green group consists of auto, ride, wheels, and whip; the blue group includes pares, peels, shells, and shucks; and the purple group is made up of bees, caffeine, gossip, and intercoms.
Overall, the Connections puzzle in the New York Times challenges players to think creatively and make connections between words in order to group them correctly. The game editor’s use of words that can fit into multiple groups adds an element of surprise and difficulty to the game. In addition to Connections, players can also check out Wordle for a different type of word puzzle experience. Additional tips for playing Strands and a cheat sheet for Wordle are also provided for those looking to enhance their puzzle-solving skills and vocabulary knowledge.
