Connections

About Connections

Connections is a popular word grouping puzzle where you find hidden connections between 16 seemingly unrelated words. Sort them into 4 groups of 4, each sharing a secret theme. Tricky, satisfying and perfect for word lovers. Free to play online!

History of Connections

Connections was created by Wyna Liu, an associate puzzle editor at the New York Times, and launched in June 2023. The game was inspired by the British quiz show "Only Connect," which features a similar round where contestants group clues into categories. Within weeks of its debut, Connections became the second most popular game on the NYT Games platform after Wordle. The puzzle quickly developed its own dedicated fanbase and daily discussion communities, with players sharing strategies and debating the trickier purple category groupings.

Connections Tips & Strategies

• 💡Start by looking for the yellow (easiest) category first, which often involves a straightforward grouping like common objects or names.
• 💡Watch out for "red herring" words that could fit multiple categories; the purple (hardest) group often relies on wordplay or hidden connections.
• 💡If you are unsure, do not guess randomly; use your mistake allowance strategically and save guesses for when you have high confidence.
• 💡Look for patterns beyond obvious meanings: words may share prefixes, suffixes, or relate to a hidden word that precedes or follows each of them.
• 💡Process of elimination is your best friend; once you lock in the easier groups, the harder ones become clearer.

Fun Facts About Connections

• ★Connections overtook the NYT Crossword in daily play counts within its first three months of launch.
• ★The purple (hardest) category is solved first by less than 5% of players, according to New York Times data.
• ★Wyna Liu personally tests each puzzle on friends and colleagues to calibrate difficulty before publication.
• ★The game has inspired classroom adaptations, with teachers creating custom Connections puzzles for vocabulary and subject-matter review.

How to Play Connections

1. 1Look at 16 words displayed on screen
2. 2Find 4 groups of 4 words that share something in common
3. 3Select 4 words you think belong together, then click Submit
4. 4Color indicates difficulty: yellow (easy) to purple (hardest)
5. 5You have 4 mistakes allowed before the game ends

Frequently Asked Questions about Connections