Newsweek’s “Connections” puzzle, launched by The New York Times in June 2023, has become one of the most popular word-based puzzles, following Wordle. Today’s puzzle has a difficulty rating of 2.8 out of 5, indicating a moderate level of challenge. The puzzle requires players to group 16 words into four categories based on association, with each category labeled with a color representing its difficulty level. The game uses various techniques like homophones and wordplay to keep players engaged and challenged.
To play “Connections,” players must select four words they believe belong in the same category and submit their choices. If correct, the words will appear in the category’s color and disappear from the grid. If incorrect, the words will remain gray and stay on the board. If players are stuck, they can use the “shuffle” button to reorganize the words on the grid. Wyna Liu, a crossword editor at The New York Times who developed Connections, offers tips such as moving on to a different category if five cards seem related and trying to eliminate potential words to make other categories clearer.
For those needing a hint, Newsweek provides clues for each category in the puzzle. In a recent puzzle, the yellow category related to sight, the green category focused on items tracked with a metronome, the blue category featured objects grouped by a specific number, and the purple category connected with an animal commonly found in homes. Players could then use these hints to help them figure out how to group the words in each category. The game is released at midnight in the player’s local time zone, providing a new challenge each day.
The recent “Connections” puzzle included words like “Endeavor,” “Enterprise,” “Project,” and “Venture” grouped under the category “Undertaking.” Players must use logic and word association to successfully group the words in the correct categories based on the provided clues. The game’s complexity lies in its use of various wordplay techniques to keep players engaged and thinking critically. With different color-coded categories representing varying levels of difficulty, players must strategize and think creatively to solve each puzzle successfully.
Players who correctly solve the puzzle by grouping the words into the appropriate categories can celebrate their success. Each puzzle provides a unique challenge, with new hints and tips offered by Newsweek to aid players in their solving process. The game’s popularity has grown since its launch, with players enjoying the mental challenge and word association required to successfully complete each puzzle. Whether players are looking for a fun brain teaser or a way to test their wordplay skills, “Connections” offers a unique and engaging puzzle experience for enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.
