What do the colors mean in NYT Connections?

Each of the four groups has a different difficulty level: Yellow (Easy) – The most obvious category. Green (Medium) – A common but slightly tricky connection. Blue (Harder) – Requires deeper thinking. Purple (Most Difficult) – Often involves wordplay, double meanings, or obscure references.

Where can I play NYT Connections?

You can play it online at The New York Times' Games section: <a class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections">NYT Connections</a>

Are there any hints or cheats available?

While there are no official hints, players can strategize by: Looking for synonyms, themes, or wordplay. Identifying potential distractions (words that seem related but aren’t). Using process of elimination to find remaining groups.

Can I share my NYT Connections results?

Yes! After completing the puzzle, you can share your results without revealing the answers, similar to <a href="https://officialgamerules.org/game-rules/wordle/">Wordle.</a>

Last Updated on September 3, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle game from The New York Times that challenges players to find four groups of words that share a hidden connection. Unlike Wordle, which focuses on guessing a single word, Connections requires lateral thinking and pattern recognition.

You can play it online at The New York Times’ Games section: NYT Connections

NYT Connection, New York Times Connections purple game poster

How to Play NYT Connections

Q: What is NYT Connections

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle game by The New York Times where players must find four groups of four words that share a hidden connection. The challenge is to identify all four sets before making four incorrect guesses.

Q: 2How do you play NYT Connections?

You are given 16 words in a grid. Select four words that you believe share a common theme. If correct, they are grouped together and removed from the grid. If incorrect, you receive a strike. You have four chances before the game ends.

Q: How many mistakes can you make in NYT Connections?

You can make up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends.

NYT Connections Objective

The goal is to correctly identify four sets of four words that are connected by a common theme before making four incorrect guesses.

Setup & Gameplay

Start the Puzzle
- Each puzzle presents 16 words on a grid.
- These words can be related in various ways, including synonyms, pop culture references, categories, or wordplay.
Find a Connection
- Look for four words that share a common theme.
- Example: If the words Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars appear, the connection is Planets.
Select Four Words & Submit
- Click on the four words you believe are connected.
- If correct, the words will be grouped together and removed from the grid.
- If incorrect, you will receive a strike.
Continue Until All Four Groups Are Found
- The game allows up to four incorrect guesses before it ends.
- Once all four sets are correctly identified, the puzzle is complete.

NYT connections word game create four groups of four example

Game Difficulty

The four groups are color-coded based on difficulty:

Yellow (Easiest) – Often straightforward categories.
Green (Moderate) – Requires some thinking but still common knowledge.
Blue (Challenging) – More nuanced or slightly tricky connections.
Purple (Hardest) – Often involves wordplay, double meanings, or obscure references.

NYT connections word game difficulty levels showing yellow, blue, green, and purple from easiest to hardest.

Strategies & Tips

Look for synonyms or related words first.
Check for hidden themes, like homophones or phrases.
Be mindful of misleading words that seem related but belong to different categories.
Use process of elimination if you’re stuck.

Winning the Game

You win by correctly identifying all four groups before making four mistakes. If you exhaust all four incorrect guesses, the game ends, and the correct answers are revealed.

NYT Connections FAQ

What is NYT Connections

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle game by The New York Times where players must find four groups of four words that share a hidden connection. The challenge is to identify all four sets before making four incorrect guesses.

2How do you play NYT Connections?

You are given 16 words in a grid. Select four words that you believe share a common theme. If correct, they are grouped together and removed from the grid. If incorrect, you receive a strike. You have four chances before the game ends.

How many mistakes can you make in NYT Connections?

You can make up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends.

What do the colors mean in NYT Connections?

Each of the four groups has a different difficulty level: Yellow (Easy) – The most obvious category. Green (Medium) – A common but slightly tricky connection. Blue (Harder) – Requires deeper thinking. Purple (Most Difficult) – Often involves wordplay, double meanings, or obscure references.

Can you play old NYT Connections puzzles?

Currently, the game does not offer an archive to play past puzzles, but the latest puzzle refreshes daily.

Where can I play NYT Connections?

You can play it online at The New York Times’ Games section: NYT Connections

Are there any hints or cheats available?

While there are no official hints, players can strategize by: Looking for synonyms, themes, or wordplay. Identifying potential distractions (words that seem related but aren’t). Using process of elimination to find remaining groups.

Can I share my NYT Connections results?

Yes! After completing the puzzle, you can share your results without revealing the answers, similar to Wordle.