For fans of word games and daily mental challenges, the New York Times’ Connections puzzle has quickly become a staple of the morning routine. Much like its predecessor Wordle, Connections has found a devoted following, with players sharing their colorful results across social media and swapping strategies with friends and strangers alike. But what exactly is it about this puzzle that has so many brains buzzing, and what were the answers that stumped—or delighted—players on September 11 and 12, 2025?
Connections, for those who haven’t yet tried it, is a word game that asks players to find the common thread between sets of words. Each day, a fresh puzzle presents 16 words, and the objective is to divide them into four groups of four, with each group connected by a shared theme. The catch? Sometimes, several words seem like they could fit together, but there’s only one correct grouping. According to Mashable, the Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create this clever addition to their Games section.
The game is available via web browsers and mobile devices, making it easy to play on the go or during a coffee break. Each group is color-coded by difficulty: yellow is the easiest, followed by green, blue, and finally purple, which is usually the trickiest. Players are allowed up to four mistakes before the game ends, and they can shuffle the board to help spot hidden connections. And just like Wordle, Connections resets at midnight, ensuring a new challenge every day.
On September 11, 2025, the puzzle proved to be a particularly engaging challenge. As reported by multiple sources including Mashable and the NYT’s own hints section, the categories for that day’s puzzle were: Blemish, Behemoth, Rude things to do, and On a baseball field. The answers, which players either celebrated or groaned over, were as follows:
Blemish: DENT, DING, MAR, SCRATCH
Behemoth: COLOSSUS, MAMMOTH, WHALE, WHOPPER
Rude things to do: POINT, SNICKER, STARE, WHISPER
On a baseball field: BASE, BOX, MOUND, PLATE
These categories may seem straightforward in retrospect, but anyone who’s played Connections knows how easy it is to second-guess yourself. For instance, “DING” and “WHOPPER” might both evoke thoughts of size or impact, but only one belongs in the ‘Blemish’ group and the other in ‘Behemoth.’ The purple category, ‘On a baseball field,’ was a particular favorite among sports fans, requiring a bit of knowledge about America’s pastime. As Mashable noted, these categories can range from book titles and software to country names or, as in this case, sports terminology.
The following day, September 12, 2025, brought a new set of challenges and themes that tested players’ vocabulary and pattern recognition skills in different ways. According to a CNET article published that same day, the categories were: Entreaty, Contact info, Kinds of camera lenses, and Bodies of water plus starting letter. The answers were:
Entreaty: appeal, bid, call, petition
Contact info: address, email, name, number
Kinds of camera lenses: fisheye, macro, telephoto, zoom
Bodies of water plus starting letter: driver, ebay, finlet, flake
The purple category, ‘Bodies of water plus starting letter,’ was especially tricky, requiring players to mentally subtract a letter from each word to see how they connect—a classic example of the game’s penchant for lateral thinking. As CNET explained, “today’s NYT Connections puzzle is tricky -- it contains one of those purple categories where you have to mentally subtract a letter from four related words to see how they connect.”
Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now track their progress more closely, thanks to the new Connections Bot. This tool, similar to the one for Wordle, analyzes answers, calculates numeric scores, and keeps tabs on win streaks and perfect completions. For puzzle enthusiasts, this adds an extra layer of motivation—and perhaps a dash of competitive spirit. As CNET reported, “Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.”
What’s behind the game’s rapid rise? Part of the appeal is its blend of challenge and accessibility. The rules are simple, but the puzzles can be devilishly clever. And much like Wordle, Connections encourages a sense of community: players often compare notes, swap hints, and celebrate their victories (or bemoan their defeats) together. The sharing feature, which lets players post their results as colored squares, has become a familiar sight on social platforms, echoing the viral success of Wordle.
Of course, not every player finds success every day. As Mashable gently reminded readers, “Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.” The game’s designers seem to understand that the real fun lies in the journey—the little ‘aha!’ moments that come with each solved puzzle.
For those seeking more than just Connections, the Times offers a suite of daily puzzles, including the Mini Crossword, Wordle, and even a Connections: Sports Edition. As the appetite for brainteasers grows, so too does the NYT’s commitment to providing a variety of games to satisfy every kind of puzzler. And for those who crave even more, Mashable and other outlets have begun compiling daily hints, strategies, and solutions, ensuring that no one gets left behind for long.
Looking at the September 11 and 12 puzzles, it’s clear that Connections continues to push players to think creatively and make unexpected associations. Whether you’re a word game veteran or a newcomer, there’s always a new twist waiting just around the corner. And with each daily reset, the community of players grows a little more connected—one puzzle at a time.
