- NYT Connections is one of The New York Times' most famous and loved word association games.
- To win, players must sort out 16 words into four categories, with the latter only being revealed in the end.
- Some of the best Connections tricks to win include being careful with your guesses and hitting that Shuffle button.
There is no shortage of online games that help pass the time while you pretend to work. And while Wordle reigned supreme for a few years, NYT Connections has established a firm foothold in gamers’ hearts. However, even though Connections is a bit old at this point, many folks still don’t know what it is and how it works. Well, as solid players ourselves, we decided to sit down and explain it all. So keep reading to learn what is the NYT Connections game, along with the best tips and tricks to master it.
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of the best word games by the New York Times. Connections joined the ranks of NYT’s other popular games like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Mini Crossword, which are loved and played by people globally. This word association game gives players a collection of 16 different words to begin. While all these words might look different, some have a degree of relation to each other.
As the player, your aim is to associate these words together and categorize them into sets of four. Each puzzle has only one solution. So, if the grouped words you chose fit the categories, you win the game. Like other NYT games, Connections resets every 24 hours with a new set of words. If you have a fair idea of what the game is and want to learn how to play it, keep reading.
How to Play Connections Game
- Players get 16 words in a 4 x 4 grid divided into four hidden categories
- Figure out connections between words and group them into sets of four; grouped words become a category
- Players must figure out all categories by grouping the words
- You have four chances to group words into categories
Let’s talk about the rules and layout first. As mentioned, NYT Connections gives players a set of 16 words in a 4 x 4 grid. While most of these words are random, some have a relation to each other. As the player, it is your job to figure out this connection and group these words into sets of four and further, four different categories.
These four categories will not be revealed to us at the start. However, the category will reveal itself if you create the correct word group. Once you guess all of them, you win the game. Groups are divided into four colors: yellow, green, blue, and purple. While yellow refers to an easy-to-guess category, purple is the most difficult to figure out.
However, the kicker is that players only get four chances, which are denoted by little bubbles at the bottom of the grid. Once you run out of chances, you fail the puzzle and must wait an entire day for it to reset. This adds a sprinkle of challenge to the game.
To begin, head on over to NYT Connections (visit) and click the Play button. You will now be explained the rules. Have a look through them and close the box. You will now see 16 words in a grid. Start by clicking on them and selecting a set of four words that you feel have a connection. Once done, click the Submit button.
If you’re correct, the words will be grouped, and the category will be revealed. Keep grouping words to find out all the categories, and you will win the Connections game for the day.
Tips and Tricks to Master NYT Connections
While it may sound easy, you might spend up to an hour trying to solve the puzzle or pull out your hair trying to build relations between words. To get some much-needed help in that area, check out the best tips and tricks for NYT Connections below.
1. Brush up Your Trivia & Vocab
The best and worst part about Connections is that it relies on the player being familiar with trivia and having a good vocabulary. However, this does not just mean little facts but also familiarity with pop culture. If you pit this game against someone with minimal trivia knowledge, chances are they won’t be able to figure out the common denominators.
An example is a recent puzzle that grouped the names of horror directors. So, if you want to establish links between the words quickly, we suggest working on your general and pop culture knowledge to be in the know.
2. Watch out for Ambiguous Words
Establishing relationships between words may seem easy, but it alone won’t get you by. That’s because many words in the puzzle have been made to relate to more than one category at once. So, while you may think words like Carpenter and Saw are related and should be grouped in the same category, the latter could refer to the horror movie of the 2000s. See what we mean? You will encounter many ambiguous words like these, which will trip you up.
To overcome this hurdle, we suggest taking some time to think about the exact connection between these words. Look around at the other words and see if that helps. Click on that submit button only when you’re sure about your choice.
3. Your Guesses Are Precious
Unlike Wordle, which gives six generous chances to get the answer, Connections only gives you four tries. This means you essentially get a single chance to guess each category. We don’t have to tell you that makes the game challenging. As such, we highly suggest you treat your four tries with utmost care.
This means taking your time to sort through the words and only pressing the Submit button when it feels right. Don’t rush, as once you run out of your tries, you will have to wait 24 hours for the puzzle to reset.
4. Shuffle, Shuffle, Shuffle
In a recent Q&A session with the game’s editor, Wyna Liu confirmed that the initial word placement is intentional and is meant to mislead the solvers. This is why the game has a handy Shuffle button that quickly moves all the words around. Besides changing up that initial placement, the shuffle button might also help you jog your memory when you’re thinking about a few words.
So, one of the best tips and tricks for the game is to hit that shuffle button like it owes you money. It just might be the reason your puzzle gets solved.
And that is how you play the Connections game and easily master it. If you still can’t crack the game and need even more help, then check out our extensive NYT Connections directory linked at the beginning. Do you now know what NYT Connections is? If you still have doubts, drop your questions in the comments below.
