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NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle game by The New York Times, created by puzzle editor Wyna Liu. Launched in June 2023, it presents players with a grid of 16 words that must be sorted into four groups of four, each sharing a hidden connection. The game allows only four mistakes before it ends, making strategic thinking essential. Connections has become one of the most popular daily puzzle games alongside Wordle, Spelling Bee, and The Mini Crossword in the NYT Games suite.
Quick Facts — NYT Connections
| Game Name | NYT Connections |
| Publisher | The New York Times (NYT Games) |
| Creator | Wyna Liu (Associate Puzzle Editor) |
| Launch Date | June 12, 2023 |
| Game Type | Daily Word Puzzle / Categorization |
| Grid Size | 16 words (4 groups of 4) |
| Mistakes Allowed | 4 (5th ends the game) |
| Difficulty Levels | Yellow (easiest) → Green → Blue → Purple (hardest) |
| New Puzzle | Daily at midnight ET |
| Platform | nytimes.com/games/connections (web + NYT app) |
| Cost | Free (included with NYT Games subscription) |
| Similar Games | Wordle, Spelling Bee, The Mini, Strands |
NYT Connections — Daily Puzzle
16 Words. 4 Groups. 4 Mistakes.
Sort 16 words into four hidden categories. Color-coded difficulty: Yellow (easy) → Green → Blue → Purple (hardest). Created by Wyna Liu for The New York Times. New puzzle every day at midnight ET.
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a daily word categorization puzzle published by The New York Times as part of its NYT Games platform. Each day, players are presented with a grid of 16 seemingly unrelated words and must identify the four hidden groups of four words that share a common theme or connection.
The game was created by Wyna Liu, an Associate Puzzle Editor at The New York Times, and launched on June 12, 2023. It quickly became a cultural phenomenon, joining Wordle (acquired by NYT from creator Josh Wardle in 2022) as one of the most-played daily puzzle games on the internet.
What makes Connections uniquely challenging is that the puzzle is designed with intentional misdirection. Many words appear to fit into multiple categories, and the puzzle creators deliberately include “red herring” groupings to test lateral thinking and vocabulary depth.
How to Play NYT Connections — Complete Rules
Step-by-Step Gameplay
- Open the puzzle: Visit nytimes.com/games/connections or open the NYT Games app (iOS/Android)
- Study the grid: You’ll see 16 words arranged in a 4×4 grid
- Select four words: Tap or click four words you believe share a hidden connection
- Hit Submit: If all four are correct, the group is revealed with its category name and color
- Continue: Solve all four groups to complete the puzzle
- Track mistakes: You get four mistakes maximum — a 5th wrong guess ends the game
The Four Difficulty Levels
| Color | Difficulty | Typical Category Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Yellow | Easiest | Straightforward synonyms, obvious groupings | “Types of fruit” — Apple, Orange, Grape, Banana |
| 🟢 Green | Easy-Medium | Slightly less obvious themes | “Things that are round” — Ball, Globe, Wheel, Moon |
| 🔵 Blue | Medium-Hard | Abstract connections, cultural references | “___ King” — Burger, Lion, Martin Luther, Stephen |
| 🟣 Purple | Hardest | Complex wordplay, hidden patterns, lateral thinking | “Contains a body of water” — PIRATE (irate→sea), BEATEN (eat→bay) |
NYT Connections Tips & Strategies — How to Win
1. Read All 16 Words Before Guessing
The biggest mistake new players make is rushing. Before submitting your first guess, carefully read all 16 words and mentally map potential groupings. The puzzle is designed so that at least a few words can plausibly fit into multiple categories — spotting these “overlap” words early is crucial.
2. Start with the Easiest (Yellow) Category
Always try to identify and solve the Yellow (easiest) category first. Clearing four words from the board reduces noise and makes the harder connections easier to spot. If you can’t identify Yellow, look for the group where you have the highest confidence.
3. Watch for Red Herrings
If you see five words that seem to belong together, that’s almost certainly a trap. The puzzle creators at The New York Times deliberately design one “extra” word that looks like it fits but actually belongs to a different category. This misdirection is the core challenge of Connections.
4. Use the Shuffle Button
The Shuffle button randomizes the word positions on the grid. This is surprisingly effective — changing the visual arrangement can break mental fixation and reveal patterns you missed. Use it liberally when stuck.
5. Look Beyond Literal Meanings
Especially for Blue and Purple categories, think about:
- Word structure: Do words share a prefix, suffix, or hidden word inside them?
- Compound phrases: Can each word precede or follow a common word? (e.g., “_____ bar”)
- Homophones: Do any words sound like something else?
- Pop culture: Song titles, movie names, celebrity connections
6. Use “One Away!” Wisely
When you get the “One Away!” message, it means three of your four selected words are correct and one is wrong. Don’t panic-guess — carefully consider which word is the imposter and systematically test replacements.
7. Take a Break If Stuck
Unlike Wordle (which is pure deduction), Connections rewards pattern recognition — a skill that benefits from mental reset. Step away for a few minutes, then return with fresh eyes.
NYT Connections vs. Other NYT Games
| Game | Type | Grid/Format | Daily Reset | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connections | Word Categorization | 16 words → 4 groups | Midnight ET | Medium-Hard |
| Wordle | Word Guessing | 5-letter word, 6 guesses | Midnight ET | Easy-Medium |
| Spelling Bee | Word Finding | 7-letter honeycomb | 3:00 AM ET | Medium-Hard |
| The Mini | Crossword | 5×5 mini crossword | Varies | Easy |
| Strands | Word Search | Themed word search grid | 2:00 AM ET | Medium |
Who Created NYT Connections?
Wyna Liu is the creator of NYT Connections and serves as an Associate Puzzle Editor at The New York Times. Before joining the NYT puzzle team, she had experience in game design and puzzle creation. Liu has described the inspiration behind Connections as wanting to create a puzzle that tests “lateral thinking” rather than pure vocabulary knowledge — setting it apart from traditional crosswords and word games.
The game sits within NYT Games, the division of The New York Times responsible for its puzzle portfolio. NYT Games became a significant revenue driver for the company after the acquisition of Wordle from creator Josh Wardle in January 2022 — a deal reportedly worth “low seven figures.” The success of Wordle proved that daily puzzle games could drive massive subscription growth, leading to the development of Connections, Strands, and other new puzzle formats.
Where to Play NYT Connections
- Web browser: nytimes.com/games/connections (desktop and mobile)
- NYT Games App (iOS): Available on Apple App Store
- NYT Games App (Android): Available on Google Play Store
- NYT News App: Connections accessible within the main NYT app under “Games” tab
- Access: Free to play — included with any NYT Games or NYT All Access subscription
Key Takeaways
- Game: NYT Connections — daily word categorization puzzle
- Publisher: The New York Times (NYT Games)
- Creator: Wyna Liu
- Format: 16 words → 4 groups of 4
- Mistakes: 4 allowed (5th = game over)
- Difficulty: Yellow (easy) → Green → Blue → Purple (hardest)
- Best Strategy: Read all words first, start with Yellow, use Shuffle, watch for red herrings
- New Puzzle: Every day at midnight Eastern Time
- Platform: Web + iOS/Android (NYT Games app)
- Related Games: Wordle, Spelling Bee, The Mini, Strands
Frequently Asked Questions
8 ANSWERSReferences & Sources
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