New York Times Connections puzzle is a brain teaser game where players are given 16 words and asked to group them into four related groups. The game editor, Wyna Liu, sometimes tricks players by using words that can fit into more than one group. To play, players mentally assign the words to related groups of four and click on the four words they think go together. The groups are coded by color, but players do not know what goes where until they see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. The connection between the words could be related to just a part of the word, for example grouping words that start with the name of a rock band.
The hints for today’s Connections puzzle groups range from easy to tough. The yellow group hint is “Span or spread”, the green group hint is “Significant other”, the blue group hint is “Drink up”, and the purple group hint is “Word for wages”. These hints are meant to guide players in grouping the words together based on their related terms or concepts. Today’s answers for the Connections groups are as follows: Yellow group – breadth (extent, range, reach, scope), Green group – other half (complement, match, mate, partner), Blue group – beers, familiarly (Bud, Natty, Sierra, Stella), and Purple group – words after pay (check, dirt, pal, phone).
Wordle is considered more of a vocabulary test, while Connections is seen as more of a brainteaser game. Connections presents players with a different challenge in grouping the words based on their connections rather than guessing a single word. The game requires critical thinking and creativity to identify the relationships between the words provided. Players may find it challenging to determine the common thread among the words and sort them into cohesive groups. By providing hints for each group, the game aims to give players some direction in solving the puzzle and figuring out the connections between the words.
Playing Connections is relatively easy, but winning can be challenging. Players need to carefully analyze the words provided, consider their possible relationships, and make strategic groupings to solve the puzzle. The color-coded groups and hints help players navigate the game and increase their chances of successfully completing the puzzle. With practice and attention to detail, players can improve their skills in identifying connections between words and successfully grouping them into related clusters. Each day, players are presented with a new set of words and a fresh challenge to test their cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills in identifying the connections between the words.
