A new edition of the New York Times Connections puzzle became available at midnight on Monday, November 2, marking game #1240. The daily challenge requires players to sort sixteen words into four groups based on shared themes, with difficulty levels ranging from green (easy) to purple (very difficult). For those seeking assistance before attempting the puzzle, several hints were provided regarding the nature of each category.
The initial clues suggested that the yellow group relates to equipment for a long walk, while the green category involves concepts related to raging. The blue group was described as "wet not wet," and the purple category focuses on items where one can watch their reflection. These hints point toward specific thematic connections without revealing the exact answers immediately.
Upon solving the puzzle, the four groups were identified with their corresponding words. The yellow category, titled "Things to Bring on a Trek," includes Backpack, Compass, Hiking Boots, and Water Bottle. The green group, defined as "Anger," consists of Incense, Nettle, Pique, and Wind Up. The blue category, labeled "Mist Makers," comprises Dry Ice, Fog Machine, Humidifier, and Waterfall. Finally, the purple group, described as "Things with Mirrors," contains Disco Ball, Dressing Room, Kaleidoscope, and Medicine Cabinet.
The puzzle was rated as easy by the source, noting that it lacked word games, traps, or cultural gaps that often complicate these challenges. The author achieved a perfect score by identifying each group in order of difficulty, though they expressed some disappointment at not spotting the purple category sooner due to its straightforward nature. This edition serves as a relatively simple start to the week, potentially preparing players for more difficult puzzles later on.
For context, Connections is one of several popular word games offered by the New York Times, playable for free on desktop and mobile devices. Unlike Wordle, it allows up to four mistakes and offers a process of elimination strategy for the final group. The previous day's puzzle, game #1239 from Sunday, November 1, featured categories such as kinds of teeth, kinds of love, synonyms for enthusiast, and words meaning soaked with their first letter changed.
Sources: TechRadar.