The New York Times launched a new word-based game called Connections in June 2023, which has gained a loyal fan base across the English-speaking world. This game follows the success of Wordle, a popular game that was purchased by The New York Times in January 2022 for a significant sum. In Connections, players must identify common threads from 16 different words and categorize them into four separate categories. The game does not have a time limit, but players can only make up to four mistakes before the game ends.
To play Connections, players must divide the 16 words they are given into four categories based on common characteristics. As players select four words at a time, if they are linked and form one of the four categories, the letters light up and are removed from the board. Each category is color-coded to indicate its difficulty level, with yellow being the easiest followed by green, blue, and purple. After successfully linking four words, their color is revealed, indicating how difficult the quiz setters considered that part of the puzzle to be. Players can also shuffle the board at any time to randomly reposition the 16 words.
Sometimes a word may seem to belong in more than one category, but there is only one correct answer. Connections editor Wyna Liu suggests that if five cards seem to belong to the same category, it may be beneficial to move on to a different category and eliminate some of the words. This approach can help remove certain cards from contention or make other categories easier to see. The game offers clues and hints for each day’s puzzle, with the answers provided at the end of the article to help players solve the challenge and improve their skills for future games.
Newsweek is committed to promoting uncommon knowledge by challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground. The publication regularly features Connections puzzles, providing hints and tips to help players navigate the game and solve the daily challenges. Players can test their skills and expand their word association abilities by participating in the game, which offers a fun and engaging way to exercise the mind and improve cognitive skills. With new puzzles released regularly, players have the opportunity to enhance their problem-solving abilities and enjoy the intellectual challenge provided by Connections.
