Context:

Connections, a popular New York Times word game, challenges players to identify common themes among groups of words and has gained significant traction on social media. Crafted by associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, the game involves grouping four words that share a commonality out of a set of sixteen, with categories ranging from book titles to country names. Each category is color-coded by difficulty, with players allowed up to four mistakes before the game ends, and the ability to shuffle the board for better clarity. For September 11, 2025, the categories were 'Blemish,' 'Behemoth,' 'Rude things to do,' and 'On a baseball field,' with specific word solutions provided for each. As with Wordle, players can share their results socially, and Mashable provides additional puzzles and games for enthusiasts seeking more challenges.

Dive Deeper:

• Connections requires players to find commonalities among four words from a set of sixteen, with each group associated with a single theme, such as book titles or country names. Players must correctly identify these groupings, and each theme is categorized by difficulty levels indicated by colors.

• The game was developed with the involvement of Wyna Liu, associate puzzle editor at the New York Times, and has quickly become a social media phenomenon, similar to the popular Wordle game. Connections can be accessed on web browsers and mobile devices, offering a daily challenge with new word sets each day.

• For September 11, 2025, the game presented categories like 'Blemish,' 'Behemoth,' 'Rude things to do,' and 'On a baseball field,' with the correct words for each category being DENT, DING, MAR, SCRATCH for 'Blemish', and COLOSSUS, MAMMOTH, WHALE, WHOPPER for 'Behemoth'.

• Players have the option to rearrange the words on the board to better spot connections, and they can make up to four incorrect guesses before the game ends. The color coding, from yellow to purple, indicates the increasing difficulty of the categories.

• Mashable offers additional gaming options such as Mahjong, Sudoku, and crosswords, providing enthusiasts with a wide range of puzzles to challenge their skills. The platform also provides regular hints and solutions for Connections to assist players in honing their problem-solving abilities.