How to Play NYT Connections: Rules & Basics

What is NYT Connections?

Connections is one of the most popular daily puzzles hosted by the New York Times. The puzzle presents you with a grid of 16 words, and your goal is to group them into four categories of four words each based on a common association.

Rules of NYT Connections

• You must select four words that share a common thread and click 'Submit'.
• You have up to four mistakes before the game ends.
• Categories can be very specific, ranging from synonyms to wordplay (e.g., 'Words that start with body parts' or 'Homophones of countries').

The Four Difficulty Levels

Each of the four groups has a hidden difficulty color revealed when you solve it:

• Yellow: The most straightforward, direct associations.
• Green: Common knowledge categories, slightly less obvious.
• Blue: Wordplay, trivia, or specific cultural references.
• Purple: The trickiest categories, often involving wordplay, homophones, or fill-in-the-blank clues.