For millions of puzzle enthusiasts across the globe, the daily ritual of tackling the New York Times Connections puzzle has become a cherished part of their routine. On September 17, 2025, puzzle #829 dropped at the stroke of midnight, challenging players with a fresh set of 16 words and a web of hidden connections waiting to be unraveled. The game, only a little over two years old, has already cemented itself as a mainstay of digital wordplay—right up there with Wordle and the classic NYT crossword.
But what makes NYT Connections so compelling, and why did today’s puzzle spark such a wave of nostalgia and chatter online? Let’s take a closer look at the mechanics, the clues, and the community that’s grown up around the Times’ latest sensation.
According to Insider Gaming, NYT Connections launched in June 2023, quickly joining the ranks of the Times’ most beloved games. The premise is deceptively simple: each day, players are presented with a grid of 16 words. The challenge? Sort them into four groups of four, each group sharing a common thread. The rules are strict—there’s only one correct way to group the words, and players have just four mistakes before the game ends. The color-coded groups—yellow, green, blue, and purple—are ranked from easiest to hardest, with yellow offering the most accessible connections and purple often requiring a leap of lateral thinking.
On September 17, the words in play were: PINWHEEL, RAINBOW, STUFF, BACKPEDAL, SHOEHORN, FLAG, NEIGHBORHOOD, STREET, WEDGE, FLIP-FLOP, VANE, JAM, ABOUT-FACE, WIND CHIME, KANGAROO, and RENEGE. At first glance, the list seemed to offer a jumble of objects, actions, and even animals. But as seasoned players know, the magic of Connections lies in teasing out the subtle links that bind seemingly unrelated words.
Hints provided by Insider Gaming and Mashable gave players a gentle nudge in the right direction. The yellow group, for example, was described as “Whirl, wave, or chime—these catch the breeze and dance with it,” later refined to “They’re blowin’ in the wind.” The green group was all about reversal: “Backtrackers and flip-floppers—these words signal a reversal of course,” or more succinctly, “Change one’s tune.” The blue group, meanwhile, was themed around verbs for “forcing things into small spaces”—or “Cram,” as one hint put it. Finally, the purple group offered a blast from the past, tying together “nostalgia—think PBS and rainbow-colored logos,” and “Last words in long-running children’s show titles.”
For those determined to solve the puzzle without spoilers, these hints offered just enough to get the mental gears turning. But for many, curiosity won out, and they scrolled down to see the solutions. The answers for #829 were:
Yellow: FLAG, PINWHEEL, VANE, WIND CHIME
Green: ABOUT-FACE, BACKPEDAL, FLIP-FLOP, RENEGE
Blue: JAM, SHOEHORN, STUFF, WEDGE
Purple: KANGAROO, NEIGHBORHOOD, RAINBOW, STREET
Each grouping was more than just a test of vocabulary—it was an invitation to think creatively. The yellow group brought to mind objects that spin, flutter, or chime in the wind, evoking images of front yards and breezy afternoons. The green group’s focus on reversal—about-faces, backpedaling, flip-flopping, reneging—spoke to the language of change and indecision, a theme as relevant in politics as in everyday life. The blue group’s verbs—jam, shoehorn, stuff, wedge—were all about forceful fits, a playful nod to anyone who’s ever tried to cram too much into a suitcase. And the purple group? That was pure nostalgia, referencing the final words of beloved children’s show titles like “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “Reading Rainbow,” “Sesame Street,” and the lesser-known “Kangaroo” (as in “Captain Kangaroo”).
As Mashable noted, the Connections game has become a social media darling, with players sharing their results and strategies online. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu for helping to develop the game, which has drawn comparisons to Wordle for its daily cadence and viral appeal. Like Wordle, Connections resets at midnight local time, giving players 24 hours to crack the day’s puzzle before a new set of words appears. The game’s accessibility—playable on both web browsers and mobile devices—has only fueled its popularity.
Difficulty ratings for each puzzle are determined by NYT testers, who play each one in advance. According to a New York Times Connections Companion article, today’s puzzle was rated a 2 out of 5 in terms of difficulty—manageable for most, but not without its trickier moments. Hints were dispensed carefully, revealing one word per category: VANE for yellow, BACKPEDAL for green, STUFF for blue, and KANGAROO for purple. The article also encouraged players to share their solve grids and compare scores, fostering a sense of community and friendly competition.
One of the game’s enduring charms is the way it brings people together. Online forums and comment sections buzz with players swapping tips, celebrating perfect streaks, and commiserating over near-misses. The editors invite feedback and even encourage players to rate the puzzles themselves, making the experience feel collaborative rather than competitive. And for those who crave even more brain teasers, the Times’ Games section offers a growing menu of options, from Spelling Bee to the classic crossword.
For those who didn’t manage to solve #829, there’s no need for disappointment. As Mashable put it, “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 daily rhythm and ever-changing themes ensure that no two puzzles are exactly alike, keeping even the most seasoned solvers on their toes.
Ultimately, the September 17, 2025, edition of NYT Connections was more than just a word game—it was a celebration of language, nostalgia, and the little moments of connection that brighten our days. Whether you spotted the links right away or needed a nudge from the hints, the puzzle offered a satisfying blend of challenge and delight. And as midnight rolls around, a new puzzle awaits, ready to test—and connect—players all over again.
