Discover The Exciting World Of Connections: The New York Times' Latest Word Puzzle Sensation

It may only have launched in summer 2023, but Connections is already The New York Times' second most-popular word puzzle game, right behind the beloved viral sensation Wordle.

Connections challenges players to group 16 words into four categories based on association. That may sound simple, but according to Wyna Liu—one of the NYT crossword editors that devised Connections—the game has many tricks designed to stump players. Liu emphasized, "The game has evolved with the solvers, and responds to solvers' experience and expectations."

In Connections, each category is represented by a color, which also signifies its difficulty level. Yellow is the easiest category, followed by blue, green, and then purple. This innovative approach not only adds visual appeal but also enhances the challenge for players of all skill levels.

Wyna Liu's insights into the game reveal fascinating strategies that players can use. She mentioned that sometimes she "clusters" words on the board, tricking players into thinking they don’t belong together due to their close proximity. This makes the game not only fun but also a great mental exercise!

Another clever strategy involves the use of synonyms, with words being selected that could fit into more than one category. This adds an additional layer of complexity, making it essential for players to think critically and creatively.

Since players have only four guesses before it's game over, Liu recommends waiting as long as possible before making a guess. "You may see the board and have completely identified the category, seeing five words that could belong in that category," Liu advised. "Don't try to guess the four words in that category, because, even though you know what the fifth member is, you won't know which of the four it might not be."

Instead, she suggests figuring out the other categories first, as this approach is less likely to waste a turn. Players can also utilize the "Shuffle" button, which rearranges the answers and can make the connections between words more obvious. These tips will undoubtedly improve your chances of success!

If you need assistance solving today’s Connections puzzle, Newsweek has gathered a few hints to help you out. Here are some clues for today's puzzle:

'Connections' #408 Hints for Tuesday, July 23

• Yellow: To fool someone.
• Green: Don’t make a...
• Blue: You’re such a poser.
• Purple: Characters in a famous cartoon that began in the 1930s.

'Connections' #408 Answers for Tuesday, July 23

Yellow Category:IMPOSTER

Yellow Words:Charlatan, Fraud, Quack, Sham

Green Category: UTTERANCE

Green Words: Noise, Peep, Sound, Word

Blue Category: ONE WHO LIKES SHOWING OFF

Blue Words: Ham, Hot Dog, Peacock, Showboat

Purple Category: LOONEY TUNES CHARACTERS MINUS A LETTER

Purple Words: Bug, Pork, Speed, Tweet

How many did you get right? Don't worry if you found today's puzzle difficult, as you can always try again when Connections resets at midnight in your timezone. Or, why not give Wordle a go? Newsweek has also put together a few hints to help you solve the daily brainteaser.