How to Play Connect
The board shows sixteen words. Tap four words that share one link, then press Submit. If all four belong to the same hidden group, the group locks in with its color and the words leave the board. If not, you lose one of your four mistakes.
When you find all four groups, you win. When your mistakes hit four, the game shows you every group and its words. There is no shame in a loss here. I lose about one in three, and my best day was a win with no mistakes at all. It felt like a hole in one.
Why the Connections Game Is So Fun
This kind of word game does something odd to your brain. You look at words like Milk, Jazz, Bridge and Teapot, and your mind starts throwing out links. Some are silly. Some are almost right. The fun lives in that messy middle.
The game also loves traps. One word may seem to fit two groups at once, which is where most mistakes come from. My rule is simple: before I submit, I check that each of my four words has no better home somewhere else on the board.
Connect Game Tips to Win More
- Lock the easy group first. Four clear friends, like Cat, Dog, Cow and Pig, are a gift. Take them and the board gets smaller.
- Say the words out loud. Some groups share sounds or hidden word starts. Your ear catches what your eye skips.
- Beware the overlap. If a word fits two groups, keep it until both are clear. Pick the group with no other home for its words.
- Count your picks. Four mistakes only. If you feel unsure, clear your picks and look again before you submit.
- Think in threes. If three words scream the same link, hunt the board for the fourth. The game even tells you one away when you are warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play the Connect game?
You see sixteen words. Four of them share something, and there are four such hidden groups. Pick four words that belong together and submit. Find all four groups before you use up your four mistakes.
What happens if I make a mistake?
A wrong group costs one of your four mistakes, shown as dots on screen. If three of your four picks belong together, the game says one away and does not charge a mistake, since you were on the right track.
Is there a new Connect puzzle every day?
Yes. The Daily puzzle gives every player the same sixteen words each day. Unlimited mode deals a fresh set any time you want more practice, and your win streak is saved in your browser.
What do the colors mean when a group is solved?
Groups show in yellow, green, blue or purple, from easiest to trickiest. The yellow group usually has the most obvious link, while the purple group loves wordplay and sneaky overlaps.
Can I play this word game on my phone?
Yes. The grid and buttons resize for small screens, and every action is a tap. I play one puzzle each morning on my phone while my tea gets cool.
Do you have tips for finding word groups?
Start with the four most obvious friends, then look at what is left. Say the words out loud, since shared sounds hide links. And beware of traps: some words seem to fit two groups, so hold your pick until you are sure.
More Word Games
More ways to bend your brain with words:
- Wordle Game , the classic daily word hunt.
- SpellBee , build words from seven letters.
- , guess the secret word by how close you feel.
- , four hidden words at once.
- All games , back to the full games hub.