The Rise of NYT Connections: Hints, Answers, and Insights into the Viral Word Puzzle

Vox News described the New York Times Connections game as the most entertaining, yet occasionally frustrating, online game.

• Connections is a popular word puzzle game developed and published by The New York Times as part of The New York Times Games
• Released on June 12, 2023, Connections quickly became the second-most-played game published by the Times, behind Wordle
• The objective of Connections is to divide a grid of sixteen words into four groups of four, where the words in each group belong to a specific category
• Categories may involve wordplay such as palindromes or homophones, increasing the difficulty level
• Each group is color-coded based on difficulty: yellow (most straightforward), green, blue, and purple (most difficult)
• On April Fools’ Day 2024, the game temporarily used emojis instead of words
• Connections was developed by Wyna Liu, editor of the Times and the game’s puzzles, who was inspired by cartoonist Robert Leighton’s wordplay puzzles
• The game tasks players with categorizing a pool of 16 words into four secret groups by figuring out how the words relate to each other

• Each new puzzle has a varying degree of difficulty, and players can keep track of their winning streak and compare scores with friends
• Some days are trickier than others, and players may need tips and hints to solve the puzzle
• To play Connections, players must organize the 16 words into four sets of four by identifying the connections that link them
• Sets could encompass concepts like titles of video game franchises, book series sequels, shades of red, or names of chain restaurants
• Players can shuffle the grid of words and rearrange them to help better see potential connections
• Guessing incorrectly counts as a mistake, and players have only four mistakes available until the game ends
• Hints for solving Connections include identifying the four themes and revealing one word from each group
• Connections grids vary widely and change every day, encouraging players to return and solve new puzzles
• The game revolves around identifying the “common links between words” and resets at midnight with increasingly complex sets of words
• Players can share their results on social media, similar to Wordle
• Hints for solving Connections include considering clues about the categories without revealing them outright
• If more assistance is needed, the actual categories for the day’s puzzle can be provided
• The New York Times attributes the creation of Connections to associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, who played a pivotal role in its development for the Games section
• Connections is accessible on both web browsers and mobile devices
• Players have the option to rearrange and shuffle the board, making it easier to identify connections
• Each category is color-coded, with yellow representing the simplest level, followed by green, blue, and purple
• Connections has caught the interest of many and has taken social media by storm
• The game provides a new set of challenges for players to test their minds every day
• Connections is more of a brainteaser compared to Wordle, which is more of a vocabulary test
• Game editor Wyna Liu is known for tricking players by using words that can fit into more than one group
• Hints for solving Connections include considering the difficulty level of each group, from the easiest yellow group to the toughest purple group
• Answers for the day’s Connections puzzle are provided, grouped by color and theme
• Playing Connections is easy, but winning can be hard, as players must mentally assign the 16 words to related groups of four
• The connection between words sometimes has to do with just a part of the word, such as four words grouped because each started with the name of a rock band
• Connections has become an integral addition to many people’s morning routines, alongside other New York Times games like the daily crossword, Wordle, and Spelling Bee
• The game has captured social media in a way that a simple five-letter word-of-the-day puzzle like Wordle never could
• Connections has the unique ability to make people feel either really smart or really stupid, depending on their ability to identify the categories
• Some players have expressed frustration with the game, feeling like they are “immediately ready to fight” the game’s editor
• Game designer Raph Koster suggests that Connections is “fundamentally elitist” because it requires players to have a broad education to find possible categories and punishes them for making guesses
• Wyna Liu, the game’s editor, has responded to conversations on social media by posting tips on how to play, such as not guessing unless you’re pretty sure you have a category, looking for words that don’t belong anywhere else, and thinking flexibly
• Games have been a hugely successful bet for The New York Times, with puzzles played more than 8 billion times in 2023, including 2.3 billion Connections successes
• The Times has introduced another word game called NYT Strands, currently in beta mode, which has already sparked online discourse and seems to be another hit
• Word games seem to stick because they engage people, make them feel intelligent, and are accessible, allowing players to take away new vocabulary, perspectives, and connections between things
• The New York Times reported that in 2023, there were 4.8 billion plays of Wordle, 2.3 billion plays of Connections, and 8 billion puzzle and game plays overall
• The popularity of Connections and other word games has contributed to subscriber growth for The New York Times in a challenging media market
• Connections requires players to think flexibly and consider various categories, from simple synonyms to more complex wordplay and associations
• The game’s difficulty levels and color-coding add an element of challenge and progression for players as they solve each puzzle
• Connections has become a daily ritual for many, providing a mental workout and a sense of accomplishment upon solving the puzzle
• The game’s social media presence has allowed players to share their experiences, frustrations, and victories, creating a sense of community around the puzzle
• Wyna Liu’s tips and insights into the game’s creation have helped players understand the thought process behind the puzzles and improve their solving strategies
• The success of Connections and other New York Times games demonstrates the enduring appeal of word puzzles and their ability to engage and challenge players of all skill levels
• As Connections continues to grow in popularity, it is likely to inspire more discussions, debates, and friendly competition among its dedicated player base
• The game’s ability to make players feel both smart and challenged is a testament to its well-crafted puzzles and the skill of its creator, Wyna Liu
• Connections, along with other popular word games, has proven that there is a strong demand for mentally stimulating and engaging content in today’s digital age
• As The New York Times continues to invest in its Games section, it is clear that word puzzles like Connections will remain an essential part of the company’s strategy to attract and retain subscribers
• The rise of Connections and its impact on social media and morning routines worldwide highlights the power of a well-designed word game to capture the attention and imagination of players across the globe

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Related Resources:

• https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections
• https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/todays-nyt-connections-hints-answers-and-help-for-august-2-418/ 
• https://www.vox.com/culture/2024/3/26/24111847/connections-nyt-game-hint-word-puzzles 
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Connections