Everyone's Talking About the New 'Connections' Game—Here's Why Some People Are Ditching Wordle for It

While it can be easy to fall victim to mindless social media scrolling, it’s important to keep our brains sharp. Puzzles, word games and other strategy-type games are great ways to do just that; exercise our minds and keep us thinking. It can help with creativity, memory and more. And with Wordle being the big deal that it is, the New York Times has another game called Connections that might be coming for Wordle’s bag.

To be fair, the two games are very different and playing one doesn’t mean you have to stop playing the other. But with Wordle’s popularity, Connections seems like it might be on its heels in that regard.

So what exactly is Connections and how do you play? We have everything you need to know to play below.

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

What is the new Connections game from the New York Times?

Connections is a word-grouping game that only gives users four tries to get the right answer.

In a June 26 article, the New York Times puzzle editor, Wyna Liu, wrote about how the idea for Connections was approved and they just needed an editor to create the daily puzzles.

It came out at the end of June, with the New York Times tweeting about it on July 13.

How do you play Connections?

Okay, so how do you play Connections? The game’s tagline or short description reads, “Group words that share a common thread.” Players have to find four groups of four items that share a common—you got it—connection. They have to click “submit” after each grouping to see if they have it correct, and they only have four chances to get the whole puzzle right.

Liu wrote that there are different categories for pairing words together. They could be palindromes, homophones, or words that lose or add a letter. You don’t have to just think of literal connections between words; it could be just how they look, not necessarily what they mean.

This game is certainly a good way to exercise your mind daily and kick up those problem-solving and puzzle-solving skills.

You can play on the NYT's app, or on the NYT's website.

Related: 60 Wordle Memes to Crack You Up While You Await Your Daily Puzzle

How is Connections different from Wordle?

While you can definitely play both Wordle and Connections daily, what’s the difference? Wordle is also a word game where you have to guess the 5-letter word by process of elimination. You put in one word to start—any 5-letter word works—and then the box will turn either green, letting you know if you got the right letter in its correct spot, or yellow, meaning that the letter is in the word, just not in the correct spot. Grey means that the letter isn’t in the daily word at all. Basically, you have to keep guessing (almost like hangman) until you have the right word.

So whereas Wordle is very much a hangman-like word game without clues, Connections is more of a puzzle game where you’re trying to figure out a common theme among four words that already exist—and find four different groupings in each daily puzzle. Both games will get that brain working, so it’s up to you whether you want to tackle both or one daily.

What users are saying about NYT's Connections game

Sometimes, it's so difficult it's actually comical

It's a teaching opportunity

The limit on guesses is less than ideal for some of us

It's a daily treat...but it's so challenging

"Addictive and annoying"

It's actually really fun

Better than Wordle (sorry Wordle)

Easy to get hooked

Those of us who play want to talk about it with everyone!

Next up, the editor of Wordle shared the words players stumble on the most (which might help you sharpen your Wordle skills).