Solving the New York Times Connections game can be tricky. This guide shares strategies for using hints effectively to conquer today’s puzzle without giving away the answers.
The NYT Connections game gives you 16 words to sort into four groups of four, each sharing a common theme. The game uses colours to show difficulty: yellow (easy), green (moderately easy), blue (trivia-based), and purple (hardest).
Knowing these colours helps you use hints wisely. Stuck on a blue category? Think about trivia. “Today’s Connections hints” often hint at category themes, helping you narrow down choices. A hint might suggest “file types” or “words with similar meanings”, guiding you to the right groups.
Use hints strategically. Don’t jump to hints for every category. Find obvious connections first. Grouping easy words simplifies the puzzle and lets you use hints on tougher blue or purple categories. For example, grouping food-related words makes the rest easier. Then, use a hint for a harder category.
Consider the puzzle’s overall structure. Don’t let a hard purple category discourage you. Find easier connections first, then use hints to unlock harder groups. Even one well-placed word, guided by a hint, can solve a whole category.
Mastering the NYT Connections puzzle means combining observation, logic, and smart hint use. Understand the game, use the colour-coded difficulty, and find easy connections first to maximize the power of hints and enjoy solving the puzzle.