Since its debut, The New York Times' Connections has captivated word game enthusiasts with its clever challenge of linking words by their common threads. Launched with the help of associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, this daily brain teaser has quickly become a staple for those looking to test their vocabulary and pattern recognition skills.
The game resets each midnight, presenting a fresh set of 16 words that players must group into four categories of four words each. But don’t be fooled by the seemingly straightforward task; each new puzzle tends to ramp up in difficulty, keeping even seasoned players on their toes. The rules are simple yet demanding: players have a maximum of four mistakes before the game ends, and the board can be rearranged or shuffled to aid in spotting connections.
Color coding plays a key role in hinting at the difficulty of each group. Yellow categories are the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple—the latter often presenting the most challenging and sometimes unexpected connections. Players can share their results on social media, fueling friendly competition and community engagement.
Today’s puzzle, number 776, offers a fascinating blend of themes, including two travel-related categories that add a worldly flair to the challenge. The yellow group, the easiest, revolves around herbs and spices—those essential seasonings that even Colonel Sanders would recognize. The green group challenges players with various shades of green, a subtle nod to the complexity of color perception. The blue group focuses on travel on foot, requiring players to think about different ways humans move across landscapes. Finally, the purple group presents the starts of European capitals, cleverly abbreviated to tease the brain.
Specifically, the yellow group includes ANISE, DILL, MACE, and SAGE—common herbs and spices that flavor kitchens worldwide. The green group’s words are BOTTLE, HUNTER, KELLY, and PEA, all recognized shades of green, some more familiar than others. The blue group’s travel on foot theme features HIKE, MARCH, TRAMP, and TREK, each describing a form of walking, from casual to purposeful. The purple group’s European capital starts are COPE (for Copenhagen), LUXE (Luxembourg City), SARA (Sarajevo), and WARS (Warsaw), requiring a bit of geographical savvy.
Hints provided for today’s puzzle cleverly guide players without giving away the answers outright. For instance, the yellow hint references Colonel Sanders’ famous 11 herbs and spices recipe, nudging players toward seasoning-related words. The green hint, “It’s not easy being this,” plays on the phrase “it’s not easy being green,” pointing to the color theme. The blue hint advises to “get good shoes first,” a practical tip for traveling on foot. Lastly, the purple hint describes “major cities, cut short,” indicating the truncated versions of European capital names.
The New York Times has enhanced the Connections experience by introducing a Connections Bot, similar to the popular Wordle Bot. After completing a puzzle, players can receive a numeric score and detailed analysis of their answers. This feature adds a competitive edge and helps players track their progress over time.
For those registered with The Times Games section, there’s even more to enjoy. Players can follow their statistics, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, perfect scores, and current win streaks. This level of engagement transforms Connections from a casual pastime into a dedicated pursuit for many.
Connections’ popularity also stems from its accessibility. Available on both web browsers and mobile devices, it invites a broad audience to participate anytime, anywhere. The game’s design encourages thoughtful play without pressure, making it a perfect mental warm-up or a relaxing end-of-day activity.
As the game evolves, it continues to attract a vibrant community that shares strategies, celebrates victories, and collectively groans over the trickier puzzles. Whether you’re a casual player or a word game aficionado, Connections offers a fresh and stimulating challenge that keeps your brain engaged and your curiosity piqued.
So, if you missed puzzle #776 or want to test your skills, remember the categories: herbs and spices, shades of green, travel on foot, and starts of European capitals. With hints like Colonel Sanders’ secret recipe and the reminder to lace up for a walk, you’re well-equipped to tackle today’s challenge. And if you get stuck, don’t worry—each new day brings a new puzzle, and with it, another chance to connect the dots.
