What Happened
On June 22, 2025, the New York Times released its daily word puzzle game, “Connections,” which has gained popularity among players looking for a mental challenge. This particular puzzle, identified as #742, required players to identify four groups of four words that share a common theme. To assist players, various sources provided hints and answers, highlighting the game’s increasing complexity and the strategies players can employ to solve it.
The game operates on a grid of 16 words, and players must group these words into four categories based on shared characteristics. Each grouping is color-coded to indicate its difficulty level, with yellow being the easiest and purple the hardest. The hints provided for this puzzle included references to news announcements, nouns from the Declaration of Independence, HBO shows, and meanings associated with the word “left.”
Key Details
The categories and answers for the June 22 puzzle were as follows:
- Yellow Category (News Announcement): BULLETIN, FLASH, REPORT, WIRE
- Green Category (Nouns from a Famous Line in the Declaration of Independence): HAPPINESS, LIBERTY, LIFE, PURSUIT
- Blue Category (HBO Shows): ENTOURAGE, EUPHORIA, INSECURE, SUCCESSION
- Purple Category (What “Left” Might Mean): DEPARTED, PORT, PROGRESSIVE, REMAINING
Hints provided by sources such as Mashable, Lifehacker, and TODAY included clues that guided players toward these answers, emphasizing the thematic connections among the words.
Multiple Perspectives
The reception of the “Connections” game has been largely positive, with players enjoying the challenge it presents. Some players appreciate the social aspect of sharing their results on platforms like Twitter, similar to the trend established by the popular game Wordle. However, there are varying opinions on the difficulty of the puzzles. Some players find the clues and categories straightforward, while others feel that the game can be quite challenging, particularly with the more complex purple category.
According to Mashable, the game has become a social media hit, with its design encouraging players to engage with each other about their strategies and solutions. Conversely, some players express frustration when they struggle to identify the correct groupings, indicating that the game may not be accessible to all skill levels.
Context & Background
“Connections” was introduced by the New York Times in June 2023 as part of its Games section, which also includes crosswords and other word games. The game requires players to think critically and creatively, as the connections between words can be subtle and require lateral thinking. The game’s format encourages daily engagement, with new puzzles released each day, fostering a community of players who return regularly to test their skills.
The popularity of word games has surged in recent years, with many people seeking out puzzles as a form of entertainment and mental exercise. This trend reflects a broader interest in cognitive challenges and the social sharing of achievements in gaming.
What We Don’t Know Yet
While the game has established a solid player base, ongoing discussions about its difficulty and accessibility remain. There is no definitive data on how many players engage with “Connections” daily or how it compares to other games in the New York Times portfolio. Additionally, as the game evolves, it will be interesting to see how the developers respond to player feedback regarding the complexity of the puzzles and the themes chosen for future games.
Moreover, the impact of “Connections” on the broader gaming landscape, particularly in relation to other word games, is still unfolding. As more players engage with the game, it will be essential to monitor trends in player demographics and preferences, as well as how these trends influence the design of future puzzles.
