How to Play Connections Game

Master the word association puzzle game that challenges your pattern recognition and vocabulary skills

What is Connections?

Connections is a daily word puzzle game where you find groups of four words that share a common theme or category. Each puzzle contains 16 words that form four distinct groups, ranging from obvious associations to clever, tricky connections. This engaging word game tests your vocabulary, general knowledge, and ability to spot patterns.

How to Play Connections

1

Select Four Words

Choose any four words from the 16-word grid that you believe share a common connection or theme.

2

Submit Your Guess

Click “Submit” to check if your selected words form a valid group. If correct, they'll be removed from the grid.

3

Find All Four Groups

Continue finding groups until you've identified all four connections. You have up to 4 mistakes allowed.

4

Win the Game

Successfully find all four groups before using up your 4 mistakes to complete the puzzle!

Difficulty Levels

🟡 Yellow - Usually Straightforward

The easiest group with the most obvious connections between words.

🟢 Green - Common Categories

Standard categories that most players can recognize with some thought.

🔵 Blue - Tricky Connections

More challenging groups that require creative thinking or specific knowledge.

🟣 Purple - Most Difficult

The hardest group with subtle, clever, or unexpected word associations.

Tips & Strategy for Winning

Beginner Tips

  • • Look for obvious word associations first
  • • Consider different categories (animals, food, colors, etc.)
  • • Think about multiple meanings of words
  • • Don't be afraid to make educated guesses
  • • Use process of elimination as you find groups

Advanced Strategies

  • • Look for word patterns and wordplay
  • • Consider homophones and rhyming words
  • • Think about pop culture references
  • • Consider abstract concepts and themes
  • • Look for less common meanings of familiar words

Common Connection Types

Categories

Animals, colors, foods, sports

Wordplay

Rhymes, homophones, palindromes

Sequences

Numbers, letters, time periods

Properties

Shapes, sizes, materials, textures

Actions

Verbs, movements, activities

Cultural

Movies, books, music, art

Frequently Asked Questions

How many mistakes can I make?

You're allowed up to 4 mistakes before the game ends. Use them wisely!

Can I play Connections from previous days?

Yes! Our archive lets you play any Connections puzzle from June 12, 2023 onwards.

What happens if I get stuck?

Try thinking about different categories, consider alternative meanings of words, or take a break and come back with fresh eyes.

Are there hints available?

The game shows you which difficulty level each group represents, helping you prioritize easier connections first.

Ready to Play?

Now that you know the rules, try your hand at today's Connections puzzle or explore our archive of past games!

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