Introducing "Connections": The Brain-Teasing Puzzle Taking the World by Storm

Happy Friday, word game enthusiasts! As the weekend approaches, many of us are looking for a fun and challenging way to unwind. If you’re a fan of brain teasers, you’re in luck! The New York Times’ Connections is here to keep your mind sharp and entertained. This article will guide you through the ins and outs of the game, provide tips for solving today’s puzzle, and even reveal the answers if you’re stuck. So, grab your coffee, sit back, and let’s dive into the world of Connections.

What Is Connections?

Connections is the newest word-based puzzle from The New York Times, launched in June 2023. Following the massive success of Wordle, this game offers a fresh and exciting challenge for word lovers. Each daily puzzle presents 16 words that players must categorize into four groups. The catch? Each group has a unique theme, and it’s up to you to figure out what connects the words.

The difficulty level of the categories is color-coded: yellow for the easiest, green for medium, blue for harder, and purple for the most challenging. For example, in a recent puzzle, words like "plant," "prune," "water," and "weed" were grouped under the green category: "Do some tasks in the garden." Meanwhile, the purple category might require a bit more thinking, like linking the words "castle," "paper," "piper," and "stone" to the phrase "Sand ___."

How to Play Connections

Unlike Wordle, which focuses on guessing a single word, Connections is all about categorization. When you start the game, you’ll see 16 seemingly random words on your screen. Your task is to group them into four categories, each with four words. The categories are color-coded to indicate their difficulty level: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest).

Wyna Liu, the developer of Connections and a puzzle editor at The New York Times, shared that she sometimes clusters words together to make the game trickier. However, don’t panic if you get stuck! The game comes with a handy "Shuffle" button that rearranges the words to give you a fresh perspective. Plus, there’s no time limit, so you can take your time to think through each connection.

A Peek Into the Mind of the Developer

Wyna Liu, the mastermind behind Connections, has a unique way of crafting these puzzles. She uses a notebook and a spreadsheet to brainstorm ideas, describing it as her "digital sketchpad." Liu has mentioned that she doesn’t always know how a puzzle will come together when she starts. Instead, she lets the words guide her, creating categories that are both logical and fun.

One of the most interesting aspects of the game is its ability to challenge and entertain players of all skill levels. Whether you’re a casual word game fan or a seasoned puzzler, Connections offers something for everyone. And with Liu’s creative approach, you’ll never know what surprises each new puzzle will bring.

Tips for Solving Today’s Puzzle: Connections #635

If you’re tackling Connections #635, congratulations—you’ve made it to Friday, and your brain deserves a treat (or maybe a break). But don’t worry, Newsweek has your back with some hints and clues to help you solve today’s puzzle. Here’s what you need to know:

Yellow Category: An Imprint

Start with the easiest category: yellow. The theme here is "an imprint," and the words to look for are Label, Mark, Seal, Stamp. These words all relate to something you might find on a product or document to indicate authenticity or ownership.

Green Category: Last Names of Famous Musicians

Next up is the green category: "Last names of famous musicians." The words to group here are Brown, Cash, Dylan, Mercury. These are the surnames of legendary artists: James Brown, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Freddie Mercury.

Blue Category: Places in the United States

The blue category is all about geography: "Places in the United States." The words to categorize are Buffalo, Helena, Irving, Phoenix. These are all names of cities across America: Buffalo (New York), Helena (Montana), Irving (Texas), and Phoenix (Arizona).

Purple Category: Types of Fruit with One Letter Difference

Finally, the purple category is the most challenging: "Types of fruit with one letter difference." The words here are Ample, Dote, Lumon, Poach. Each of these words can be transformed into a fruit by changing a single letter: Apple, Date, Lemon, Peach.

Answers for Connections #635

If you couldn’t crack all the categories, don