The New York Times Connections puzzle is a game where players are given 16 words and must put them into four groups that are somehow connected. The game editor knows how to trick players by using words that can fit into more than one group. The Times now has a Connections Bot that can analyze players’ answers and provide a numeric score. Players registered with the Times Games section can track their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of perfect scores, and win streaks. The game is similar to Wordle but is more of a brainteaser.
To play Connections, players must mentally assign the 16 words to related groups of four and click on the words they believe go together. The groups are color-coded, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the toughest. The connection between the words can sometimes be based on just a part of the word. Hints are provided for each group, with the yellow group being the easiest and the purple group being the most challenging. Players are encouraged to look at the words carefully and think about related terms before making their selections.
In a recent Connections puzzle, the yellow group consisted of words related to sports achievements, such as hat trick, threepeat, trifecta, and triple crown. The green group was related to items needed for painting a room, including drop cloth, paint, roller, and tape. The blue group featured foods named after cities, such as broil, cheesesteak, sprouts, and wings. The purple group was related to a specific type of derby, with answers including demolition, home run, Kentucky, and soap box.
The Connections puzzle is gaining popularity as a challenging and entertaining game that tests players’ ability to think critically and make connections between seemingly unrelated words. Players can use hints and tips to guide them through the puzzle and increase their chances of success. The game editor keeps players on their toes by introducing new and interesting word combinations that require creative thinking to solve. Overall, Connections offers a fun and engaging way to exercise the brain and expand vocabulary skills.
