Connections is a popular brainteaser game launched by The New York Times in June 2023 and has quickly become the newspaper’s second-most played game behind Wordle. The game challenges players to uncover threads connecting a series of words, requiring them to group 16 words into four categories based on association. Each category is labeled with a color signifying its difficulty level, ranging from yellow, the easiest, to purple, the most challenging. The puzzles are designed to be challenging, using techniques like homophones and wordplay to keep players on their toes.
The familiarity of the words used, as well as how often they appear in daily life, also adds to the difficulty of the game. Less-common words are not only used in the harder categories, making it a balanced challenge for players of all levels. Additionally, “item overlap,” where one word can be linked to multiple categories, adds an extra layer of complexity to the game. Players who find themselves stuck can use the shuffle button to mix up where the words appear on the screen.
Wyna Liu, a crossword editor at The New York Times who developed Connections, shared some tips for playing the game. She recommends waiting as long as possible before guessing, as prematurely guessing without certainty can waste a turn. It’s important to carefully analyze the board and identify the category before making deductions. Liu also advises against “rage-solving,” or making hasty guesses out of frustration. Newsweek provides hints and clues for each day’s Connections game, helping players navigate the challenges and crack the puzzle.
In a recent edition of Connections, players were tasked with categorizing words related to making something smaller, fasteners, ways to mark completion, and items associated with a famous painting. The answers revealed for these categories include words like “Crush Into a Compact Shape,” “Fasteners,” “Mark as Completed,” and “Depicted in Dalí’s ‘The Persistence of Memory’.” Players who correctly identified the categories and words could congratulate themselves on their puzzle-solving skills, while those who didn’t get it right can try again with the next day’s game, released at midnight in their local time zone.
Overall, Connections offers a fun and challenging word game experience for players looking to test their skills and expand their vocabularies. By carefully analyzing the clues, using strategic thinking, and avoiding hasty guesses, players can enjoy the satisfaction of successfully completing the puzzles and keeping their win streak alive. With regular updates and hints provided by Newsweek, players can look forward to new challenges and opportunities to sharpen their puzzle-solving abilities.
