The New York Times Connections puzzle challenges players to group sixteen words into four categories of four. Success requires vocabulary, trivia knowledge, and strategic thinking. This guide offers tips to master today’s Connections puzzle.
Connections uses four colour-coded categories: yellow (easy), green (fairly easy), blue (medium, often trivia-based), and purple (most difficult). These colours hint at the complexity of the connections.
Start with obvious connections. If two words instantly relate, group them tentatively. This narrows down the remaining options. For example, “king” and “queen” suggest a royalty category.
Next, look for less obvious links: synonyms, antonyms, categories, functions, or shared characteristics. The challenge is finding the underlying theme. For instance, “flour,” “sugar,” “butter,” and “eggs” are all baking ingredients.
Experiment with different groupings. The game allows for a few incorrect attempts, letting you test ideas and refine your understanding. Analyze feedback from incorrect guesses to eliminate possibilities.
Trivia knowledge helps with blue and green categories, often based on facts. Familiarity with categories like “file extensions” or “synonyms for…” provides an advantage. Expanding your general knowledge improves your Connections game.
Finally, practice consistently. Regular play hones your pattern recognition, connection identification, and strategy development. The more you play, the better you’ll become at deciphering the links between words.