If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably noticed those grids of colored squares popping up everywhere. And no, it’s not just Wordle anymore. The New York Times has a new daily puzzle that people genuinely can’t stop playing: Connections.
Since it launched in 2023, Connections has quietly become a morning ritual for millions of people. So what is it, why is it so weirdly addictive, and how do you actually get good at it? Let’s break it all down.
What Even Is NYT Connections?
At its core, Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. You get a grid of 16 words and your job is to sort them into four groups of four, each sharing a common theme.
Sounds easy, right? It’s not.
The categories can range from totally obvious (like “Types of Fish”) to genuinely devious wordplay (like “Words that precede FIRE”). Half the challenge is realizing the connection you thought was obvious is actually a trap.
The puzzles are crafted by Wyna Liu, a puzzle editor at the NYT who clearly enjoys watching people second-guess themselves.
How to Play NYT Connections
Here’s the basic flow:
- Look at all 16 words first — don’t just grab the first four that seem related.
- Spot the pattern — find four words that share a specific connection.
- Select and submit — tap the four words and hit Submit.
- See the result — correct groups get color-coded by difficulty.
- Don’t burn your lives — you only get four wrong guesses. Use them wisely.
The Color System
Each color tells you how hard that category was:
| Color | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | Easiest — usually pretty literal |
| 🟩 Green | Moderate — might need some trivia knowledge |
| 🟦 Blue | Tricky — wordplay, idioms, or less obvious links |
| 🟪 Purple | Hardest — abstract, fill-in-the-blank, or seriously sneaky |
NYT Connections Tips That Actually Help
Don’t rush the first guess. Read all 16 words before you touch anything. The puzzle is designed to trick you, and the obvious answer is often a red herring.
Watch for crossovers. Some words could fit multiple categories. The puzzle-makers count on this. If you see a word that seems like it belongs in two groups, it’s probably the one meant to trip you up.
Hit Shuffle when you’re stuck. Rearranging the board can genuinely help you see connections you were missing. Fresh layout, fresh perspective.
Start with Yellow or Green. Knock out the easier categories first. Fewer words on the board = clearer path to figuring out the trickier ones.
FAQ’S Of NYT Connections
Midnight, your local time. Every single day.
Yes. You don’t need a subscription. A free NYT account lets you save your stats across devices, but it’s not required.
Only with an All Access or Games subscription. The archive goes back to June 12, 2023.
Game over. The answers are revealed automatically so at least you get to see what you missed
Yes, it’s part of the NYT Games app on iOS and Android. You can also just play in any browser at nytimes.com/games/connections
It’s an AI tool from the NYT that breaks down your performance after each puzzle how your guesses compared to other players, where you went wrong, that kind of thing. Useful if you want to actually improve rather than just survive.
Whether you’re a crossword veteran or just looking for something to do with your morning coffee, Connections is worth trying. It’s quick, it’s satisfying when it clicks, and it’s just difficult enough to keep you coming back.
