How to Play NYT Connections

The complete guide to NYT Connections — the rules, the 4 color categories, and expert strategies to solve every puzzle without using all your mistakes.

What is NYT Connections?

📅

Daily Puzzle

A new Connections puzzle releases every day at midnight in your local timezone. Everyone worldwide solves the same puzzle.

🔢

16 Words, 4 Groups

You're presented with 16 words or phrases. Your goal is to sort them into 4 groups of 4, each sharing a hidden connection.

⚡

4 Mistakes Max

You get 4 mistakes before the game ends and the solution is revealed. Each wrong attempt costs one mistake.

🏆

One Category at a Time

Select 4 words you think belong together and submit. If correct, those 4 are removed from the board. Solve all 4 groups to win.

The 4 Color Categories Explained

Each category has a color that indicates its difficulty. Yellow is always the easiest; Purple is always the most devious.

Yellow— Straightforward

The easiest category. Words share an obvious, direct connection. A good warm-up before tackling harder groups.

Example: "Things that are ROUND": BALL, COIN, HOOP, RING

Green— Medium

Requires a bit more thought. The connection is clear once spotted, but less surface-level than Yellow.

Example: "Types of bridges": ARCH, CABLE, DRAW, SWING

Blue— Hard

Tricky connections that often use figurative language, less common knowledge, or subtle wordplay.

Example: "___ drop": DROP is hidden — EYE, GUM, RAIN, TEAR all precede "drop"

Purple— Devious

The hardest category. Frequently uses wordplay, hidden words, or connections that seem impossible until the "aha" moment.

Example: "Words inside other words": coNNECTion, LINK, tHREAD, BRIDGe

Step-by-Step: How to Play

Read all 16 words

Before selecting anything, scan the full board. Your brain will start making subconscious connections.

Find your obvious group

Identify the 4 words whose connection is crystal clear. This is usually the Yellow category.

Select 4 words and submit

Click or tap 4 words to highlight them, then hit Submit. Correct groups are removed and color-coded.

Use "One Away" clues

If the game says "One Away," you have 3 right and 1 wrong. Swap out words to find the correct fourth.

Work through remaining groups

Solve easier groups first. Each solved group removes words, making remaining groups easier to see.

Win!

Solve all 4 groups without using all 4 mistakes to complete the puzzle. Share your colored score grid.

Expert Tips & Strategies

Start with Yellow

Always begin with the category you're most certain about. Yellow is usually the most direct connection. Getting one group locked in early reduces the field from 16 to 12 words.

Watch for Red Herrings

NYT deliberately plants words that seem to fit one category but belong to another. For example, a word like "BRIDGE" could relate to card games, architecture, or music — always check all possible groupings before committing.

Look for Hidden Patterns

Purple categories often use hidden words, phrase completions, or wordplay. Read each word twice — once literally and once as part of a phrase or compound.

Use Process of Elimination

Once you're confident about two or three categories, the remaining four words must form the fourth — even if you can't see why yet. This narrows your final guess significantly.

Save Your Mistakes

You only get 4 mistakes. If you're unsure between two possible groupings, don't guess both the same turn. Test one and use the "One Away" signal to refine the next.

Think About Parts of Speech

Category connectors are often about shared function — all verbs, all adjectives, all things that precede or follow the same word. Sorting words by part of speech can reveal hidden patterns.

Ready to play? Get today's hints!

Stuck on today's puzzle? Get progressive hints — word clues, category hints, trap warnings, and the full answer.

Today's Connections Hints →