Connections Puzzle — Group Words into Categories
Can you sort 16 words into 4 secret groups? Pick a level, find the hidden connections, and clear the board before your mistakes run out. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
How to Play Connections
Learn how to play the Connections word puzzle in 3 simple steps. Group words, avoid mistakes, and solve all four hidden categories.
1. Select 4 Related Words
Look at the 16 tiles on the board. Tap four words that you think belong to the same category. You can deselect any tile before submitting. Take your time — the first guess matters.
2. Submit Your Guess
Press Submit to check your answer. If all four words share the same hidden group, the category is revealed and those tiles are removed from the board. If not, you lose one of your four allowed mistakes.
3. Clear All 4 Groups
Keep finding groups until the board is empty. You win when all four categories are solved. Run out of mistakes and the game ends — but you'll see the correct answers so you can learn for next time.
What Is the Connections Word Puzzle?
Connections is a word-grouping puzzle where you sort 16 seemingly random words into 4 hidden categories of 4 words each. The catch? Some words could plausibly fit multiple groups, so you need to find the intended grouping — not just any grouping that looks reasonable.
The puzzle was popularized by The New York Times in 2023 and quickly became one of the most played daily word games alongside Wordle. The appeal is simple: it tests vocabulary, general knowledge, and lateral thinking all at once. A single puzzle typically takes 2-5 minutes, making it perfect for a quick mental break.
Our version at Queens Game offers 50 hand-tuned levels instead of a single daily puzzle. Each level draws from a bank of 40 carefully curated word groups spanning science, geography, music, food, mythology, sports, and more. You can replay any level, try them in any order, and challenge yourself to solve them with zero mistakes.
Unlike trivia games, Connections rewards pattern recognition over memorization. You don't need to know obscure facts — you need to spot the thread connecting four words that might seem completely unrelated at first glance.
More Logic & Word Puzzles
If you enjoy Connections, try these related puzzle games next.
Decode grid clues to reveal hidden pictures using pure logic. No guessing needed.
→Fill the 9×9 grid with digits 1–9 using classic deduction techniques.
→Place tents next to trees while satisfying row and column constraints.
→Browse every puzzle game on Queens Game and find your next challenge.
→Connections Solving Strategies & Tips
Scan for the Obvious Group First
Before making any guess, scan all 16 words and look for the easiest category. Often there's one group where all four words clearly belong together (like four planets or four chess pieces). Nail the easy win first — it removes 4 tiles and simplifies everything.
Watch for Decoy Words
Some words are deliberately placed to mislead. 'Mercury' could be a planet or a chemical element. 'Ruby' could be a gemstone or a programming language. When a word seems to fit two groups, hold off on it — solve the more certain groups first, and the ambiguous words will sort themselves out.
Think in Category Types
Groups usually follow patterns: a type of animal, a type of food, things associated with a concept. Ask yourself: are there four items from the same domain? Four words that share a hidden property? Training yourself to think in category types makes you faster at spotting connections.
Use Elimination on Your Last Two Groups
Once you've solved two groups, you're left with 8 words forming two categories. This is where elimination shines. If you're confident three words belong together, the fourth must be in the other group. Use this constraint to narrow down your final guesses.
Don't Waste Mistakes Early
You only get 4 mistakes for the entire puzzle. If you're unsure about a group, don't guess — shuffle the tiles, look again, or switch to a different group you're more confident about. Saving mistakes for the harder groups at the end is a winning strategy.
Why Play Connections Puzzles?
Connections isn't just entertaining — it exercises cognitive skills that matter in everyday life.
Strengthens Categorization Skills
Every Connections puzzle forces you to sort information into meaningful groups. This is the same skill you use when organizing projects, prioritizing tasks, or making sense of complex data at work.
Builds Vocabulary & General Knowledge
Each puzzle exposes you to words from diverse domains — science, music, geography, mythology. Over time, you naturally expand your knowledge base while having fun.
Trains Lateral Thinking
The best Connections puzzles feature words that seem to fit multiple categories. Solving them requires you to think beyond the obvious — a skill that transfers to creative problem-solving in any field.
Quick Mental Break
A single puzzle takes 2-5 minutes. It's the ideal brain reset between tasks — engaging enough to refresh your mind, short enough to fit in any schedule.
Connections vs Other Word Puzzles
How does Connections stack up against other popular word games? Here's an honest comparison.
Connections vs Wordle
Wordle is about guessing a single 5-letter word; Connections is about grouping 16 words into categories. Wordle tests spelling intuition, while Connections tests categorization and general knowledge. If you find Wordle too narrow, Connections offers a broader challenge.
Connections vs Crossword
Crosswords reward deep vocabulary and trivia knowledge. Connections rewards pattern recognition and lateral thinking. You don't need to know definitions — you need to see what four words share. Crosswords can take 30+ minutes; a Connections puzzle is done in under 5.
Connections vs NYT Connections
The New York Times version offers one puzzle per day with four difficulty tiers (yellow to purple). Our Queens Game version offers 50 levels you can play anytime in any order, making it ideal for binge-solving sessions or practice.
Connections vs Trivia Games
Trivia games test what you already know. Connections tests how you organize what you know. You might recognize 'Falcon' as a bird, a Marvel character, and SpaceX rocket — but which category is the puzzle using? That's the Connections difference.