Puzzle #963Jan 29, 2026

Connections Hints Today

Play today's puzzle below, or scroll down for hints if you need help!

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Need Help? Try Our Progressive Hints

Tap the buttons below to progressively reveal hints. Start with the hint, then the group name, then individual words.

⚠️ Spoilers ahead! Tap buttons only when you're ready for hints.

Easiest
Easy
Medium
Hardest

How to Use Our NYT Connections Hints

Not every Connections player wants the full answers. That's why we created this page! Here, we give you one hint for each category to help you solve today's puzzle yourself.

1

See Hint – Get a vague clue about what connects the words in this category without knowing the exact answer.

2

See Group – Reveal the actual category name used by NYT if you need more than a hint.

3

See Words – Reveal individual words if you're stuck on the last one or two in a category.

The NYT Connections Colors

Each of the four groups has a color associated with it, indicating difficulty level:

Yellow
Easiest - Simple connections
Green
Easy - Fairly straightforward
Blue
Medium - Often trivia-based
Purple
Hardest - Tricky wordplay

What is Connections by The New York Times?

NYT Connections is similar to a game you might have played as a child called Categories. However, instead of having a certain starting letter, you start with 16 words on your grid. Each group has four words that share a common thread. You have to place these words into one of the four categories without making four mistakes.

You make a mistake when you group the wrong words in a category. Every time you guess a correct group, NYT Connections will tell you which color group you guessed correctly. Once you've made all your guesses, you can share your solution grid with friends.

Tips & Strategies For Playing Connections

Like any good word puzzle, there are skills you can develop. Here are our top tips:

  • 1.Start with Yellow – Begin with the easiest category. Getting one group correct narrows down your remaining choices significantly.
  • 2.Know Your Trivia – Blue and green groups often feature trivia-based categories like "FILE EXTENSIONS" or "SYNONYMS FOR..."
  • 3.Watch for Wordplay – Purple categories often involve puns, double meanings, or words that can follow/precede a common word.
  • 4.Look for Red Herrings – Some words intentionally fit multiple categories. Don't commit until you're confident about all four words.

Connections FAQ

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times where you're given 16 words and must group them into four categories of four words each. Each group shares a common theme or connection.

How do I play Connections?

Select four words you think belong together, then submit your guess. If correct, the category is revealed. You have four mistakes allowed before the game ends. Start with the easiest (yellow) groups first.

What do the colors mean in Connections?

Yellow is the easiest category, green is fairly easy, blue is medium/trivia-based, and purple is the hardest with tricky wordplay or obscure connections.

When does the Connections puzzle reset?

A new Connections puzzle is released daily at midnight Eastern Time. You can play the new puzzle as soon as it's released.

Can I play old Connections puzzles?

Yes! The NYT Games app has an archive of past puzzles. You can also check our archive page for hints and answers to previous puzzles.

More NYT Games Hints

We also help with other daily word-guessing games:

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