Connections, the daily word challenge game created by The New York Times in 2023, has quickly gained popularity and become the second most-played word game published by the NYT, following the success of Wordle. In Connections, players are tasked with finding common threads between a series of 16 words, grouping them into four categories of four words each. Players must correctly identify the categories to remove the words from the board, but incorrect guesses count towards a mistake tally, with the game ending after four mistakes. The color-coded difficulty levels of the groups range from yellow to purple, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the most challenging. Players can shuffle and rearrange the board to assist in guessing the connections.
One of the challenges in Connections is the fact that a word may belong to more than one category, but there is only one correct answer. If players find themselves stuck, Connections editor Wyna Liu suggests pivoting to a different category before making the first guess. By doing so, players may be able to eliminate some cards from contention or remove a few cards from the board, making other categories easier to identify. Newsweek often provides hints to help players figure out the categories for each new game, such as clues for each of the color-coded categories, along with the corresponding answers for previous games. Connections is released at midnight in each player’s local time zone, providing a daily challenge for word game enthusiasts to enjoy.
The gameplay of Connections involves critical thinking skills and the ability to find patterns and connections between seemingly disparate words. By grouping words into categories based on themes, players must exercise their deductive reasoning and problem-solving abilities to successfully complete each puzzle. The game offers a unique and engaging challenge for players looking to test their word association skills and expand their vocabulary while having fun. As players progress through the levels of difficulty, they are encouraged to think creatively and consider various possible connections between words to reach the correct solution.
With its increasing popularity and challenging gameplay, Connections has become a favorite word game for players seeking a mental challenge and an opportunity to exercise their word association skills. The color-coded difficulty levels, along with the ability to shuffle and rearrange the board, add an extra layer of complexity to the game, keeping players engaged and entertained as they work to solve each puzzle. By providing daily hints and tips, Newsweek supports players in their quest to uncover the connections between words and complete each challenge successfully. Connections offers a rewarding and stimulating experience for players of all ages and skill levels, making it a standout word game in the world of online puzzles and challenges.
