On January 28, 2025, players of the New York Times Connections game eagerly anticipated the answers to their latest puzzle, Connections #597. This intriguing word game, which requires participants to find common threads between words, has captured the attention of crossword enthusiasts and casual players alike.
The game, which debuted on June 12, 2023, has quickly become the NYT's second-most-played game after Wordle. Each day at midnight, the game resets, presenting players with 16 new words to sort and categorize. Today's puzzle featured four distinct categories, each requiring players to identify the themes correctly.
For those seeking clues without being spoiled completely, hints were generously offered. The categories for today were:
- Yellow: Someone who entertains
- Green: Used for strength training
- Blue: Candy bar, singular
- Purple: Associated with "speed"
The NYT's Connections game encourages social interaction, allowing players to share their results and compare progress on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Wyna Liu, the associate puzzle editor credited with creating Connections, noted how the game has evolved, challenging players to think critically about word associations.
Hints provided for today’s game guided players through the otherwise tricky word associations, setting the stage for the eventual reveal:
Yellow Category: FUNNY PERSON, which included: CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER, LAUGH. This set recognized the humor associated with each term, presenting straightforward connections.
Green Category: RESISTANCE TRAINING EQUIPMENT comprised of BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL, MAT. These terms reflected items commonly found in fitness scenarios, linking them seamlessly.
Blue Category: CANDY BARS MINUS “S” consisted of AIRHEAD, MAR, MOUND, SNICKER. Each word represented popular candy bars with the final letter omitted, creating puzzlement and intrigue.
Purple Category: SPEED ___ was perhaps the toughest challenge today, featuring BUMP, CHESS, DEMON, DIAL. The challenge here was recognizing diverse expressions associated with speed.
Understanding the hints required players to grasp not only the straightforward connections but also navigate the more complex associations, particularly the playful and oblique connections found within the purple grouping. For example, BUMP can refer to both speed bumps on roads and colloquially to laughter or applause.
Successful players comb through the grid of words, diligently attempting to sort them until they find the correct combinations of four. If they hit four mistakes, the game ends, making every guess count as both a strategic choice and nerve-wracking moment.
For avid players who encountered difficulties today, they weren't alone—numinous overlaps can trick even seasoned puzzle solvers. A yellow group featuring CARD and LAUGH could lead to confusion over categories if players weren't careful to distinguish between traditional characters, jokes, and candies.
Connections’ design and daily release echo the format of other popular word games, inviting camaraderie and light-hearted competition among friends and family. With its color-coded groups, the game visually delineates the difficulty levels, thereby catering to both novices and experts.
Just like in other word games, players often rely on previous knowledge or contextual clues to crack the puzzles. Today's solution offered those committed to the game another chance to engage intellectually, as new puzzles arrive daily, nurturing their vocabulary skills and problem-solving abilities.
Connections has quickly drawn acclaim for its engaging format and challenging concepts, proving again why word games remain appealing across broader audiences. The daily ritual of solving word puzzles—whether they’re adhering to themes or embracing quirky overlaps—adds to the enjoyment.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next installment! Will you be able to connect those words?