Every morning, countless puzzle enthusiasts grab their coffee and open The New York Times’ Games section, eager to tackle Connections, the daily word game that’s become a social media sensation. On Thursday, October 23, 2025, players faced a fresh set of categories and answers, sparking conversations—and a few groans—across the internet.
Connections, for those who haven’t yet joined the craze, is a word game that challenges players to group 16 seemingly unrelated words into four sets of four, each sharing a hidden common thread. According to Mashable, the game resets at midnight, and each new puzzle brings a unique blend of logic, wordplay, and, sometimes, a dash of misdirection. Players get up to four mistakes before the game ends, and the color-coded groups (yellow, green, blue, purple) offer a hint at each set’s relative difficulty.
On October 23, the Connections puzzle (#865, for those keeping score) proved to be a mix of fun and frustration. The categories, as revealed by Parade and Mashable, were: "Peachy," "Winnings," "Pieces of Olympic sports equipment," and "___ Bag." Each category required a different kind of thinking—some leaning on idioms, others on sports trivia, and one on a familiar fill-in-the-blank.
Let’s break down the solutions, as reported by Parade and CNET—but be warned, spoilers ahead! For "Peachy," the answers were DANDY, DUCKY, FINE, and SWELL. These upbeat adjectives all evoke the sense that everything’s more than just good—it’s downright splendid. As Mashable put it, "Yellow: Peachy. DANDY, DUCKY, FINE, SWELL." If you’ve ever heard someone say, "I’m just ducky," you know the vibe.
The "Winnings" group stumped more than a few players. The set included KITTY, POT, PRIZE, and PURSE—words that might initially seem like baby animals or fashion accessories, but in this context, are all terms for a pool of money (often in gambling or competitions). As CNET noted, "Today’s NYT Connections puzzle tried to fool players into selecting baby animal names, like kitty and ducky, but naturally, they all go in different categories." It’s a classic Connections move: lure you in with one connection, then reveal another entirely.
Sports fans likely had the easiest time with the blue group: "Pieces of Olympic sports equipment." According to Mashable and Parade, the words were BALL, BIRDIE, PUCK, and STONE. These are all objects used across different Olympic sports—think of curling’s stone, badminton’s birdie, hockey’s puck, and the ubiquitous ball in everything from basketball to soccer. As Mashable observed, "The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a sports fan."
The trickiest group, by most accounts, was the purple set: "___ Bag." This required players to identify DOGGY, GO, MIXED, and SWAG as words that commonly precede "bag." Whether you’re grabbing a doggy bag after dinner, a go bag for emergencies, a mixed bag of treats, or a swag bag at an event, the connection here was a classic fill-in-the-blank. As Parade succinctly put it, "___ BAG: DOGGY, GO, MIXED, SWAG." It’s the kind of set that can make you slap your forehead once you see it.
But the Connections fun didn’t stop there. On the same day, the New York Times also released its Connections Sports Edition, a variant of the game that’s entirely sports-themed. According to Forbes, this edition follows the same format—16 words, four groups—but every connection is rooted in the world of sports. For October 23, the categories were "sounds from the crowd," "basketball offenses," "Triple-A baseball teams," and "ends with a basketball stat." The answers, as listed by Forbes, were:
- Sounds from the crowd: BOO, CHEER, CLAP, WHISTLE
- Basketball offenses: MOTION, PICK AND ROLL, PRINCETON, TRIANGLE
- Triple-A baseball teams: ACES, JUMBO SHRIMP, SOUNDS, STORM CHASERS
- Ends with a basketball stat: AFOUL, ASSIST, COUNTERPOINT, SUNBLOCK
This sports edition, as Forbes explained, is a daily treat for fans, offering clues that range from straightforward to downright devious. For example, "sounds from the crowd" included both positive (CHEER) and negative (BOO) reactions, while "Triple-A baseball teams" required some minor league knowledge—ACES, JUMBO SHRIMP, SOUNDS, and STORM CHASERS are all real teams, not just playful phrases.
What makes Connections so addictive? For one, it’s the clever wordplay and the daily challenge. But as Mashable and CNET both point out, it’s also the community aspect. Players love sharing their results, commiserating over tricky sets, and debating whether a particular grouping was fair. The game’s color-coded system (yellow for easiest, purple for hardest) adds another strategic layer, as does the limited number of mistakes allowed.
The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping bring Connections to life. As the game’s popularity has soared, the paper has added features like a Connections Bot to analyze your answers, as well as stats tracking for registered users. You can monitor your win streak, perfect scores, and more—adding a competitive edge to what’s already a brain-teasing experience.
For those who need a little help (or just want to keep their streak alive), a cottage industry of hint and answer articles has sprung up. Outlets like Parade, Mashable, and Forbes publish daily guides, offering everything from subtle nudges to outright spoilers. As Parade warns, "Spoilers ahead! We’ve warned you. We mean it." But for many, the real joy is in the "aha!" moment—when the last group clicks into place and the board clears, ready for tomorrow’s challenge.
Whether you’re a word nerd, a sports fanatic, or just someone looking for a daily dose of mental exercise, Connections continues to capture imaginations. With new puzzles every day—and a growing archive of clever solutions—it’s no wonder the game has become a staple in the lives of so many.
Tomorrow’s puzzle is just around the corner, promising another round of head-scratching, laughter, and maybe a little friendly competition. Happy connecting!
