The History of NYT Connections Puzzles: Best Themes from the Past Month

Wiki Article

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a word game but loving every second of it, you might already be a fan of the NYT Connections puzzles. These daily puzzles from The New York Times continue to grow in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. They combine creativity with just the right amount of challenge, asking players to group words that share something in common. New sets pop up every day, and thanks to websites like https://connections-games.com/, fans can keep up with the latest games, find clues, or catch up on missed ones.

Connections puzzles first made their appearance in summer of 2023 and have since become a daily routine for lots of word lovers. Each puzzle contains 16 words, and the goal is to sort them into four groups of four based on a theme. Some groupings are simple — colors, numbers, or animals, for example. Others are trickier and make you think about slang, pop culture, or double meanings.

Over the past month, NYT has really brought out some fun and surprising themes. One standout category grouped together “Bark,” “Shell,” “Coat,” and “Skin.” At first glance, they seem unrelated. But once you think skin-deep, it clicks — they’re all types of outer coverings! Another popular theme a few weeks ago included “Mustang,” “Jaguar,” “Charger,” and “Camaro.” While these are all animals or concepts on their own, they’re also car models — a perfect example of how connections can play on different meanings.

Some days throw in themes based on common expressions. A recent one grouped “Button,” “Lid,” “Trap,” and “Lip.” It took players a while, but the connection was “things you keep shut” — both in real and human-made ways.

What makes these puzzles fun is how they mix the familiar with unexpected surprises. Just when you think you’ve got the pattern figured out, a new twist throws you off. But that’s part of the appeal. Whether you’re solving alone or teaming up with friends, each day’s puzzle has something new to offer.

So, if you missed any puzzles over the past month, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to revisit them and challenge yourself again. And if you’re new to Connections, now’s a great time to jump in and see what stories today’s words have to tell.