Wyna Liu is the mastermind behind the viral sensation known as the daily Connections puzzle. The game has quickly become a global sensation, rivaling the popularity of Wordle, another popular word game. Liu shared her experience of editing the puzzle, expressing her surprise at the overwhelming response from players. She sources ideas for the games from her daily life experiences, keeping a tidy spreadsheet and notebook close by for when inspiration strikes. Each board of the game is created from scratch, with Liu consulting her notebook and spreadsheet as a digital sketchpad to guide her in the process.
‘Connections’ is a New York Times game that requires players to group 16 words into four categories based on association. Liu explained that the game evolves with the solvers, responding to their experience and expectations. Each board is unique and carefully crafted, taking time and effort to create. The instructions for playing the game are simple; players must group words into categories based on their associations. Each category is labeled with a color indicating its difficulty level. The game uses various techniques like homophones and wordplay to keep things interesting, with themes ranging from Halloween costumes to music genres.
Players must place words into their respective categories correctly to progress in the game. Incorrect guesses contribute to the mistake tally, and up to four errors are allowed before the game is over. Players can rearrange the board to make connecting the words easier, and sometimes a word can belong to multiple categories. The game offers a challenge for players to improve their scores over time. ‘Connections’ puzzles are released daily at midnight in each player’s local time zone, providing a continuous opportunity for players to test their skills and enjoy the game.
Each game provides clues for players to follow, such as action words to advocate for something or categories relating to tossing actions. The answers are revealed at the end of the article, allowing players to check if they guessed correctly. The game encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills, challenging players to think creatively and make connections between words. Newsweek is committed to promoting uncommon knowledge and finding connections in the search for common ground, supporting the engagement and enjoyment of games like ‘Connections’ among its readers.
Wyna Liu’s dedication to editing and curating the daily Connections puzzle has resonated with players worldwide. The game has become a household name, captivating players with its challenging yet rewarding gameplay. Players must use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to group words into categories based on association, with each puzzle offering a unique experience. ‘Connections’ continues to evolve with the solvers’ expectations, providing new challenges and themes for players to enjoy. With its global popularity and engaging gameplay, ‘Connections’ has established itself as a leading word game in the puzzle genre.
