Published by Newsweek, Connections is a popular online brainteaser game that challenges players to find connections between a series of words. Launched by The New York Times in June 2023, the game has quickly become the newspaper’s second-most played game, following Wordle. To play Connections, players must group 16 words into four categories based on associations, with each category assigned a color based on difficulty level. The game uses various techniques such as wordplay and homophones to keep players engaged and challenged.
The words used in Connections are based on their familiarity and frequency in modern life, with less common words also included in harder categories. One unique feature of the game is “item overlap,” where one word may be linked to multiple categories, further testing players’ skills. If players get stuck, they can utilize the shuffle button to mix up the words on the screen. Wyna Liu, a crossword editor at The New York Times, offers tips for playing Connections, advising players to wait before guessing in order to maximize their chances of solving the puzzle correctly.
Each category in Connections is assigned a color, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the most challenging. The game offers a variety of categories, including body parts, slang from the ’80s, movie titles, and references to “The Sound of Music.” To help players out, Newsweek provides clues and answers for each day’s puzzle. For example, one day’s puzzle included words related to body parts, cool slang from the ’80s, movie titles, and words from “Do-Re-Mi,” allowing players to make connections and solve the puzzle.
Players can access the daily Connections puzzle at midnight in their local time zone, giving them a new challenge each day. Newsweek continues to provide hints and tips to help players navigate the game and improve their skills. While some players may find it challenging to crack the puzzle, the satisfaction of successfully identifying connections between words makes the game both entertaining and rewarding. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, Connections offers a fun and engaging way to test your word association skills and enjoy a popular online brainteaser game.
