The New York Times launched Connections in June 2023 and since then, the word-based game has developed a loyal fan base across the world.
The game is all about finding "common threads between words," but sometimes that is easier said than done—especially when some of the daily words can belong to more than one category.
How to Play 'Connections'
In Connections players must group together words they think have common threads to reveal the name of their corresponding categories.
Each puzzle has 16 words and each group of words is separated into four categories. The uniting themes can come from a broad range of subjects ranging from horror movie franchises to types of sound.
If all four words are correctly placed into each set, those words will be removed from the board. Each incorrect guess counts toward the mistake tally, and players are only allowed to make up to four mistakes before the game ends.
The board also has a color-coding system representing levels of difficulty. Yellow represents the easiest, green and blue usually sit in the middle and purple is typically the hardest one to deduce. A group's color will only be revealed once the words in a group have been correctly connected.
The Times associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu is credited with bringing the popular game to life. It is now the news outlet's second most-played brainteaser after the hugely popular Wordle, created by Josh Wardle.
Liu recently revealed the original placement of the words in Connections is done on purpose to try to mislead players.
The New York Times rates the daily puzzle for difficulty, which is worked out "by averaging the ratings provided by a panel of testers who are paid to solve each puzzle in advance to help us catch bugs, inconsistencies and other issues. A higher rating means the puzzle is more difficult."
Below Newsweek has offered a variety of tips that will help you make the most of the online game. But be careful, as the answers to the puzzle are at the end of the article.
'Connections' #330 Clues for Monday, May 6
Newsweek has some hints to help you figure out today's Connections categories.
Yellow: Putting things together.
Green: When something or someone is being annoying.
Blue: Words that convey there being lots of something.
Purple: The names of Tarot cards.
'Connections' #330 Answers for Monday, May 6
Yellow Category: CONNECT
Yellow Words: Couple, Join, Link, Tie
Green Category: NUISANCE
Green Words: Bother, Handful, Pain, Pest
Blue Category: QUANTITY WORDS
Blue Words: Few, Many, Several, Some
Purple Category: TAROT CARDS, WITH "THE"
Purple Words: Fool, Lovers, Magician, Tower
Did you guess the answers correctly? If so, congratulations. If not don't worry, there will be another opportunity to crack the puzzle tomorrow.
Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone. Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips for each new game.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Billie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in London, U.K. She reports on film and TV, trending ... Read more
