"If you’ve ever played the New York Times Connections puzzle, you know how satisfying it can be to figure out the links between different words. But have you ever wondered how those puzzles are actually made? It’s more than just picking random words and throwing them into a grid. There’s real thought, testing, and creativity behind each one.

NYT Connections was designed by Wyna Liu, one of The New York Times puzzle editors. She and a small team start by picking four groups of four words that have a connection—like types of flowers, items you bring to the beach, or things that can be “broken.” The trick is to make sure the connections are clear enough to be found, but still challenging. Sometimes, words are chosen because they seem like they could fit into more than one group. This makes the puzzle more fun and a bit tricky.
https://connections-games.com/
The team writes out dozens of possible word groupings and then tests them with other editors and puzzle lovers at the Times. If certain words confuse too many testers, or if the connections feel too easy or too hard, those parts are changed. The goal isn’t to stump players completely, but to make them think a little differently.

One interesting part is the order of the colors used in the grid: yellow, green, blue, and purple. These show how hard each group is, starting with the easiest and ending with the most difficult. This helps players get started and build some confidence before moving on to the more challenging word groups.

The puzzles are released daily on the NYT Games platform—url only once—where you can also find classics like the Crossword and Spelling Bee.

Behind every Connections puzzle is a mix of language, logic, and a good sense of timing. The editors really aim to create small moments where players feel smart and curious. They often try to balance pop culture, history, and everyday life in the word groups so there’s variety in play.

So the next time you play, remember: there’s a small team of people working hard to give you just the right amount of challenge. And maybe that makes each solved group feel a little more satisfying."

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Pub: 13 Jan 2026 11:55 UTC

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