Connections shows you 16 words. Your job is to sort them into four groups of four, where each group shares a hidden link. You can make four mistakes before the game ends.
The colors
- Yellow: the most straightforward group.
- Green: a step harder.
- Blue: harder still.
- Purple: the trickiest, often wordplay such as hidden words, homophones or words that can follow the same word.
Strategy
Look for the red herrings first
Most puzzles include a decoy theme with five or six words that seem to fit. If you find five words for one group, one of them belongs somewhere else. Work out which one before you submit.
Solve the group you are surest of
Every correct group removes four words, which makes the rest easier. Many players save purple for last, when only four words remain.
Say the words out loud
Purple groups often depend on sound or spelling: words that hide another word, words that rhyme, or words that become something new with a letter added or removed.
Think about other meanings
A word like CRANE could be a bird, a machine or a yoga pose. If a word feels out of place, list every meaning you can think of.
Take a break before guessing
With mistakes limited, a few minutes away often makes a hidden link obvious. Our hints start by showing one word from each group, which is often enough to unlock the rest.
Connections questions
How does Connections work?
You get 16 words and have to sort them into four groups of four that share something in common. You can make four mistakes before the game ends.
What do the colors mean?
Each group has a color that shows its difficulty: yellow is the most straightforward, then green, then blue, and purple is the trickiest.
When does the new Connections come out?
A new puzzle starts at midnight local time each day.
Why are some words in more than one possible group?
That is the point of the game. Several words usually fit two themes, and only one arrangement uses all 16 words correctly.
Does it matter which group I solve first?
No, but many players find it easiest to lock in the group they are surest of, which shrinks the pool for the harder ones.