What is New York Times Connections?
The New York Times Connections has popular word puzzle game Connections, which asks players to figure out groups of four related words among 16 total words. The game may seem to be straightforward, but it can be deceptively tricky: it pushes players to think outside the box and make connections between words, sometimes in ways people would least expect.
If you’re having trouble with Connections and could use a few tips, you’re in good company. Players search for “connection hints” to use to solve the daily puzzle. This article will provide you with systems, tips, and tactics to push your gameplay further without taking the fun out of the challenge.
How to Play The New York Times Connections Game
Before we get into hints and strategy, there are a few basic mechanics to understand about the game. With each puzzle every day, 16 words appear before you. Each set consists of four words that have something in common. These connections may depend on:
- Nouns: Big, Huge, Large, Giant
- Categories (e.g., Colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow)*
- Wordsights (e.g., Anagrams: Jdoda)
- Phrases/Expressions (On Fire: Lit, Ablaze, Burning, Ignited)
- Theme: Hidden (e.g. Types of Apples: Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith)
For each puzzle, there are four levels of difficulty: Yellow (Easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (Hardest). Knowing how The New York Times organizes these categories can also help you to play strategically.
New York Times Connections Strategies 2023-10-03
Scan for Obvious Groups
The first step is to search for words that jump out at you as a set. There should be a focus on directly related words, like colors, numbers, or common food. These groups typically do well with Yellow and Green difficulties.
Identify Uncommon Words
If one of the words seems like it doesn’t belong or is least common, that could be a sign that a more difficult category is about to pop up. Certain abstract words can also be objects of consideration, for example, the color category of words could include chartreuse or cerulean — even if you don’t know what they’re referring to immediately.
Think About Homophones and Wordplay
The trickiest categories tend to be wordplay, either with homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings) or words that work in certain phrases. When you get stuck, try mouthing the words to see if there’s a pun or soundalike.
Try the Process of Elimination
If you are having trouble finding the last group, look at the leftover words and see what doesn’t belong with the previous completed categories. This approach allows the last set of words to be isolated, revealing less obvious connections.
Think Thematically
Occasionally, words that didn’t seem related at first glance had a buried theme in common. So “Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars” doesn’t immediately tell you “planets,” but seeing a common thread can help you figure it out.
Be Aware of Traps and Decoys
The New York Times includes many words that have words in more than one category to confuse the players. For instance, if you read like this “Apple, Orange, Banana, and Blue,” your brain will instantly goes like F. However, “Blue” does not fit. Q: It says to check that because all four words in a group are a set.
Use Hints When Available
For the truly stymied, some players explore online communities and forums, or solicit daily hints offered by numerous puzzle blogs. These nudges often send you in the right direction without giving you the solution on a silver platter.
The New York Times Connections common connection categories
For further help with gameplay, here some common connection categories that appear:
- Colors (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, etc.)
- Words With Similar 의미 (Large, Huge, Big, Massive)
- Terms for Music (Note, Scale, Chord, Harmony, etc.
- Towns (e.g., Lyon, Naples) or regions (e.g., Provence, Bavaria) or countries (e.g., France, Italy, Spain, Germany)
- April 23, 2022 Types | Types of Clothing (e.g., Hat, Scarf, Gloves, Jacket)
- TITLES FOR MODERN MOVIES (e.g. Titanic, Inception, Avatar, Jaws)
- Animals (Lion, Tiger, Bear, Wolf)
- (and other chemical elements in periodical table: O, H, He, C etc).
- Presidents of the United States (Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, etc.)
- Brands (Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma)
Familiarity with these common types can help you solve puzzles faster.
Why is The New York Times Connections so popular?
Suffice to say, The New York Times Connections is popular for a reason — it strikes the perfect balance between logic, trivia and wordplay. Unlike regular crossword puzzles, which rely on the solver to find individual clues, Connections requires players to find relationships between words, making it a fun, unique brain teaser.
The game is also suitable for all levels of player. Relative newcomers can be pleased with completing simpler sets, and veteran puzzle pros like the thrill of unearthing the hardest groups.
The social aspect is also part of its appeal. Many players post their results online, discuss daily puzzles with friends, or vie for streaks and high scores.
Final Thoughts
Solving The New York Times Connections involves a blend of logic, pattern recognition and familiarity with word relationships. By following the strategies above, whether checking to see what groups are obvious, considering homophones, or eliminating options that make no sense in your puzzle, you can improve your skills and increase the pleasure you derive from the game.
Practice makes perfect, and never forget what a “connection hint” is when you’re lost. With effort and experience, you will start to see patterns and themes more quickly, and now the fun and rewarding challenge of completing each puzzle.
Happy puzzling!