**All You Need to Know About the NYT’s Trendy Word Game, *Connections***
*Connections* has rapidly risen to become one of the most cherished word games from *The New York Times*, enchanting players all around. The game tasks you with finding the “shared threads among words.” Similar to the viral hit *Wordle*, *Connections* refreshes every day at midnight, with each new puzzle presenting a unique and often more challenging test than its predecessor. If you find yourself at a standstill, don’t fret—we’ve compiled clues and advice to assist you.
If you’re only interested in today’s answer, feel free to jump to the end of this article. However, if you wish to take on the puzzle by yourself, continue reading for hints, tactics, and a bit of direction to guide you along.
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### What Is *Connections*?
The *New York Times*’ newest daily word game has taken the internet by storm. Developed with input from associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, *Connections* is a notable addition to the *Times*’ Games section. Accessible on both web browsers and mobile devices, the game challenges players to categorize four words that share a common theme.
Every puzzle showcases 16 words that need to be grouped into four unique categories. These categories can include anything from book titles to software names, country names, and beyond. While some words might appear to fit into several groups, there exists only one correct answer.
When you successfully group four related words, those words disappear from the board. However, an incorrect guess counts as a mistake. Players are permitted a maximum of four mistakes before the game concludes.
To simplify, you can shuffle and reorganize the board to help detect connections. Each group is also color-coded based on difficulty: yellow represents the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. And much like *Wordle*, you can flaunt your results on social media with friends.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections* Categories
In need of a little push without revealing the solution? Here are some hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Someone who amuses
– **Green:** Utilized for strength workouts
– **Blue:** Single candy bar
– **Purple:** Linked with “velocity”
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### Today’s *Connections* Categories
Still feeling lost? Here’s a recap of today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Comedian
– **Green:** Strength Training Gear
– **Blue:** Candy Bar Without “S”
– **Purple:** Velocity___
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### Today’s *Connections* Solution
Prepared for the answers? This is your final opportunity to turn back if you wish to solve the puzzle independently!
Drumroll, please…
The solution to today’s *Connections* puzzle (#597) is:
– **Comedian:** CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER, LAUGH
– **Strength Training Gear:** BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL, MAT
– **Candy Bar Without “S”:** AIRHEAD, MAR, MOUND, SNICKER
– **Velocity___:** BUMP, CHESS, DEMON, DIAL
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### Don’t Sweat If You Haven’t Solved It
If you couldn’t decipher today’s puzzle, don’t be disheartened! A new *Connections* puzzle will be available for you tomorrow, and we’ll be here with additional hints and answers to support you.
Looking for more challenges? Visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.
If you’re also participating in *Wordle*, [here’s today’s answer](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-january-28-2025). Or, if you’re interested in yesterday’s *Connections* puzzle, [find the answer here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-sports-edition-hint-answer-today-january-27).
Enjoy puzzling!