As the clock struck midnight in each time zone on September 24, 2025, word game enthusiasts around the globe found themselves once again drawn into the daily ritual of solving the New York Times’ Connections puzzle. This clever game, which has quickly become a staple among fans of wordplay and logic, challenges players to group a set of seemingly unrelated words into four distinct categories—a task that can be as frustrating as it is addictive.
According to The New York Times forum, the Connections puzzle for September 24 was rated 2 out of 5 in difficulty by the publication’s paid testers. For those who might be new to the game or just need a nudge in the right direction, the Connections Companions—live forums hosted daily based on Eastern Standard Time—offer hints, support, and a sense of camaraderie among solvers. The forum encourages participants to post their solve grids, compare scores, and even share emotional support for those moments when a tricky grouping gets the better of them.
On this particular Wednesday, the puzzle’s list of words was as follows: PICTURE, PEPPER, POTATO, BRAIN, PRUNE, TALK, SHAR PEI, LITTER, FLICK, SPRINKLE, FEATURE, TOOTH, SIXTEEN, CREPE PAPER, SCATTER, and FILM. At first glance, the connections between these words might seem elusive. But as seasoned players know, the devil is in the details—and so is the delight.
Hints provided by TechRadar for the September 24 game (game #836) offered a roadmap for solvers. The yellow group was said to evoke the cinema experience; the green group, things that are tossed asunder; the blue group, highly creased items; and the purple group, phrases that use the opposite of “sour.” With these clues in hand, players could begin to see patterns emerging from the chaos.
For the yellow group, the cinema experience, the answers turned out to be MOVIE FEATURE, FILM, FLICK, and PICTURE. These words are all synonymous with movies—a nod to the enduring popularity of film as both art and entertainment. The green group, described as things tossed asunder, included STREW, LITTER, PEPPER, SCATTER, and SPRINKLE. Each of these words conjures images of scattering or spreading, whether it’s tossing litter on the ground or sprinkling pepper over a dish. The blue group, highly creased items, was perhaps the trickiest, grouping together BRAIN, CREPE PAPER, PRUNE, and SHAR PEI. Here, the connection is wrinkles: a wrinkly brain, creased crepe paper, a shriveled prune, and the famously wrinkled Shar Pei dog breed. Finally, the purple group, using the opposite of “sour,” brought together SWEET POTATO, SWEET SIXTEEN, SWEET TALK, and SWEET TOOTH—phrases that all begin with “sweet.”
Johnny, a freelance pop culture journalist writing for TechRadar, rated the puzzle as “easy” and managed a perfect score. He recounted his experience, admitting, “After getting the first two groups quickly I went into a spiral of indecision over the final eight tiles. My lack of canine knowledge let me down, otherwise I would have known that SHAR PEI was a wrinkly dog breed and therefore belonged alongside BRAIN, CREPE PAPER and PRUNE as WRINKLY THINGS. Instead, with POTATO kicking me off, I managed to put together the purple group – ruining my enjoyment of solving Connections in difficulty order but letting me briefly bask in the glow of actually getting the hardest group.”
For those who struggled, the Connections forum was a haven. Users could share their frustrations, ask for hints, or simply commiserate with others who had been tripped up by a clever twist or an unexpected grouping. The NYT Games team, always eager for feedback, encouraged players to email their thoughts or report technical issues through the game’s settings menu.
Beyond the day’s puzzle, the articles provided a broader context for the Connections phenomenon. The game, available for free on the NYT Games site for both desktop and mobile, has carved out a niche among other popular word games like Wordle and Spelling Bee. Unlike Wordle, which offers a single solution, Connections challenges players to think laterally, making connections that might be obvious to one person and utterly baffling to another. The game allows up to four mistakes, providing a little breathing room for experimentation and second-guessing—a feature that many players appreciate, especially when the categories are particularly devious.
The previous day’s puzzle (September 23, game #835) was also referenced for comparison, with answers that included groupings like CHEERFUL (BOUNCY, BRIGHT, MERRY, SUNNY), “RUBBER BABY BUGGY BUMPER” (BABY, BUGGY, BUMPER, RUBBER), KINDS OF LUGGAGE (CARRY-ON, DUFFEL, HARD-SHELL, ROLLER), and TITLE CHARACTERS IN '80S MOVIES (FERRIS, HEATHER, INDIANA, PEE-WEE). These examples highlight the game’s knack for mixing pop culture, wordplay, and a touch of nostalgia.
What keeps players coming back, day after day? Part of the appeal is the shared experience—whether it’s the thrill of a perfect score, the agony of just missing the mark, or the satisfaction of finally cracking a tough category. The community aspect, fostered by forums and comment sections, turns a solitary puzzle into a social event. As one might expect, the competitive spirit is alive and well, with players comparing their scores to the editor’s rating and to each other’s achievements.
For those seeking more than just a daily brain teaser, the NYT Games team has expanded its presence to Instagram, offering solving tips, behind-the-scenes content, and a peek into the minds of the editors who craft each puzzle. This outreach not only deepens the connection between the creators and the audience but also provides a steady stream of hints and encouragement for both novices and seasoned solvers alike.
With its blend of challenge, community, and cleverness, the NYT Connections puzzle continues to capture the imagination of word lovers everywhere. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated solver, there’s always another grouping to discover and another “aha” moment waiting just around the corner.
