Updated 19 May 2025 at 10:41 IST
NYT Connections is a daily puzzle game from The New York Times that requires you to find patterns between a set of words. In contrast to games such as Wordle, where you are attempting to guess a particular word, Connections requires you to sort words into sets by way of unknown relationships.
You're shown 16 words in a 4x4 grid. Your challenge is to categorise them into four groups of four that have a common theme or link. When you believe you have discovered a valid group, click on the four words and submit your answer. You have only four opportunities for error, so make your selections wisely!
Each group you solve is coloured according to difficulty:
Yellow - Easiest and most straightforward connections
Green - Somewhat trickier
Blue - Hardest to crack
Purple - The hardest, where wordplay or less obvious connections are involved
Go to the New York Times Games page or launch the app and begin. Scan the grid and start identifying potential groupings. When you believe you've located a match set, tap or click the words and select "Submit." If you're correct, the group vanishes, leaving you free to concentrate on what remains.
Improve your rate of success? Here are some tips to follow:
Read them out loud: Hearing them sometimes makes it easier to find rhymes or known sounds.
Cluster by categories: Consider potential topics such as occupations, equipment, slangs, or phrases in common use.
Be alert for patterns: Check for common prefixes, suffixes, or roots that would indicate a connection.
Work slowly: Don't try to make assumptions, each incorrect response counts against you.
Be creative: particularly with the purple group, think outside the box. Some are clever wordplay or cultural references.
The trick is to approach the puzzle with a sense of wonder. Think about how the puzzle maker might be attempting to trick or surprise you as part of the fun!
Yellow group – Good deeds
Green group – Think Monopoly properties
Blue group – Nearly equated with a VIP gambler
Purple group – Get serious and drive it home
Yellow group - fundraising event
Green group - spaces on a Monopoly board
Blue group - features of a toothed whale
Purple group - homophones of parts of the foot
Fundraising event - BALL, BENEFIT, FUNCTION, GALA
Spaces on a Monopoly board - AVENUE, CHANCE, RAILROAD, UTILITY
Features of a toothed whale - BLUBBER, FLIPPER, FLUKE, MELON)
Homophones of parts of the foot -BAWL, HEAL, SOUL, TOW
Published 19 May 2025 at 10:41 IST