Skip to content
puzzlerzone
SubmitSign in
NYT Connections icon

NYT Connections

nytimes.com

Group words that share a common thread.

Words topic Free access
Play on nytimes.com
No player ratings yet

Here’s what we found when we checked

Last checked 14 Aug 2026 · re-checked every Monday
Still live
Yes
Responded on the last sweep.
Truly daily
Yes
New puzzle at local midnight.
Signup
None detected
We found no login blocking play. This check catches redirects and blocking dialogs; a plain login landing page can slip past it.
Ad load
Heavy
Ads interrupt or cover the board.
On a phone
Works well
No horizontal scroll, tappable targets.
Real time
Not checked yet
Every answer above is measured — not copied from the game’s own description. How we measure →

Against the other grouping puzzles we have measured

Every number here comes from opening the games ourselves. We have not finished them, so there is no strategy guide.

Overview

What NYT Connections is

Connections is the New York Times daily grid game where sixteen words hide four secret groups of four. Overlapping associations are deliberate traps, so many words fit more than one possible category. You pick four words that share a theme and submit the group; a correct group locks in, while an incorrect group costs one of four mistakes. The puzzle is solved only when all four groups are found. The groups are colour-coded from easier yellow and green to harder blue and purple. Purple groups often rely on wordplay or a fill-in-the-blank pattern. The game is available free on the web and updates each day with a new set of words.

Getting started

How to play

You are given sixteen words and must find four groups of four words that share a common thread. Select four words and submit them as a group. If they are correct, that group locks in and its colour is revealed. If incorrect, you lose one of four mistakes. The goal is to solve all four groups before using up your mistakes. As you play, you will see which groups you have already solved and can keep testing new combinations.

Practical help

Tips

  1. Look for words that seem to fit two different categories and use them to test which groups are real.
  2. Before submitting a group, say the full four-word theme out loud to make sure it truly connects them.
  3. For the toughest purple group, think about wordplay, puns, or common phrases that complete a pattern.
  4. Start by spotting obvious easy groups, like colours or animals, then use the remaining words to narrow harder ones.
  5. If a guess fails, note the words you tried and look for a different shared thread among them.
  6. Keep in mind that overlapping associations are intentional, so resist locking in the first tempting set.
Quick answers

Common questions

How often does Connections update?

Connections is a daily puzzle that resets each day with a new set of sixteen words and four hidden groups.

How many mistakes are allowed?

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

What do the group colours mean?

The groups are colour-coded from yellow and green (easier) to blue and purple (harder), with purple often involving wordplay or fill-in-the-blank patterns.

Is Connections free to play online?

NYT Connections is currently listed as free to access. Check the official destination for current regional pricing or account requirements.

Why do some words seem to fit multiple groups?

The official page describes overlapping associations as deliberate traps, so words are chosen to fit more than one possible category.