13 Games like Connections NYT: Find Your New Favorite Word Puzzle!

If you are interested in mind games or usually play from the New York Times’ games collection – then you might have also tried or at least heard about Connections. It is a fun word puzzle developed and released by the New York Times, their second most popular game in the category.

Connections is not famous for having easy gameplay, but what catches your attention is that the simple gameplay can give you a headache while solving its daily quizzes. You only have to group words sharing a similar thread — but trust us, it’s not as easy as it sounds. 

The same competitiveness, knowledge of vocabulary and words, and many similar factors from Connections have driven many users to search for similar titles — and, if you are one of them, then you are at the right page because we have sorted out a list of the best games like Connections NYT mentioned right below. 

List of Games like Connections NYT:

Connections Unlimited 

 

• Platform(s): Web 

Connections Unlimited, in simple words, is an unlimited version of Connections NYT. Similar to Connections, this game allows you to take on the challenges of grouping 4 words with similar traits and characteristics.

However, the only twist is that while Connections offers one puzzle each day with no extra puzzles — Connections Unlimited offers unlimited puzzles as the title says, where you can keep on trying different puzzles throughout the day. 

How to Play?

1. Analyze the grid carefully, and make groups of 4 sharing any similar trait or category. 
2. After you are done creating groups, select the first 4 words and tap on ‘Submit’. 
3. The result will show if your guess was correct or incorrect, and you can continue solving the puzzle until you get it correct. 

Semantle 

• Platform(s): Web

Semantle, unlike many titles mentioned in this article, has its main goal set on the meaning of the word instead of letters and alphabets. 

In this game, there is a secret word with every new puzzle, and with every word you guess, it will tell you how semantically similar the word is to the hidden world. 

Moreover, both Connections and Semantle share the core similarity of finding Connections between words, and they also prioritize strong vocabulary equally,  

How to Play?

1. You have to start by choosing a random word to guess.
2. Tap on ‘Guess’ and it will tell you the similarity percentage of how similar you are to the hidden word.
3. Based on those percentages, you have to get closer to the hidden word and identify it. 

Keyword by Washington Post

• Platform(s): Web

Keyword by Washington Post is a unique game from their games collection – giving you 6 words where each has a letter missing. Here, you have to find each missing letter to form a new word.

Similar to Connections, Keyword also offers new puzzles to enjoy every day, and with its similarities with other popular word games, it may sound familiar, but still hard to solve. 

Moreover, both games aim to test your capability of finding Connections between various words and have a strong hand on vocabulary. 

How to Play?

1. Analyze the puzzle suddenly and think of options for the missing letters.
2. You can go systematically from start to end, and the more you progress, the more you’ll get an idea of what the ending word is.
3. Once you have found each and every missing letter, the ending word will be revealed. 

Quordle 

• Platform(s): Web

Quordle, developed and released by Freddie Meyer, is another interesting word game, and a complex version of Wordle and Dordle.

In this game, you are limited to only 9 guesses, and in that number of moves, you are required to solve 4 hidden words at the same time. 

As for the similarities – both hold a strong connection with vocabulary, require you to use feedback to lessen options, and eliminate words in Connections and letters in Quordle that don’t fit the criteria. 

How to Play?

1. Think carefully and start with a letter that’s usually present in all the spellings.
2. With every guess, it will give clues like — the letter is involved and in the right place, involved but in the wrong place, or not involved at all. 
3. Similarly, you have to guess carefully and identify the hidden word without running out of the moves. 

Connecting Walls (PuzzGrid) 

• Platform(s): Web

Connecting Walls, one of the many interesting grid games by PuzzGrid, has derived from a round you see on the BBC Quiz show named Only Connect. 

Here, you are given 16 items in the grid that don’t seem similar at all, and your goal is to find what one trait connects all the 16 items together to solve the wall. 

Talking about the similarities – you have to find Connections between words in both games, and they both require you to have a good idea of vocabulary. 

How to Play?

1. You’ll see a 4×4 including 16 words, and you have to group 4 words to form categories.
2. To check if your guess is correct, select those 4 words and it will tell you if your guess is correct or not. 
3. You continue to solve the puzzle until you connect all 4 walls.

Red Herring 

• Platform(s): Web and iOS

Red Herring is a logic-based puzzle and trivia game, with similar elements to many titles in this list. In this word game, you have to organize phrases and words into specific categories to find out the one correct solution.

In addition to that, the game is similar to Connections in a couple of ways, like – both focus on grouping words based on Connections, and they both directly and indirectly make you think  deeply of how you can connect 2 words. 

How to Play?

1. Analyze the puzzle and think of Connections between words.
2. Make groups of words with similar characteristics – but make sure to look out for Red Herring, the type of words with double meanings which are only included to mislead you. 
3. Likewise, keep an eye and continue to make groups till you succeed. 

Wordle 

• Platform(s): Web, iOS, and Android

Wordle, one of the top games mentioned in this list, is originally a web-based puzzle game. It is where you have to guess a 5-letter word, but you only get 6 chances to guess the correct answer, and tiles in the grid will give you clues to progress. 

Moreover, along with the strong vocabulary focus you find with both games, they also share similarities of strategic thinking, make logical moves, and you deduct the words you don’t need in the pattern and use feedback to get closer to the keyword.

How to Play?

1. Start by guessing a valid 5-letter word.
2. The tiles will change color, where the green will tell you if the letter is in the word and in the correct place, the yellow one that the letter is in the word but not in the correct spot, and the gray tile will dictate that the letter is not in the word at all.
3. With the help of similar clues and feedback, you have to progress and identify the hidden word. 

Dordle 

• Platform(s): Web 

Dordle, a sequel to Wordle, comes with a similar concept, rules, and gameplay, with the only twist being that while the original game asked you to guess 1 word, Dordle here will ask you to find 2 hidden words in only 6 tries.

Also, there are various similarities between the two games, such as – a strong hold over vocabulary, and gameplay that makes your mind work logically and strategically. At the same time, they both also ask you to rely on feedback and to grow closer to the key. 

How to Play?

1. You have to analyze the puzzle and guess 2 5-letter words.
2. The tiles will change colors similar to how they did in Wordle.
3. Based on similar clues and feedback, you have to get closer to the hidden word and identify it.

Spelling Bee 

• Platform(s): Web

Spelling Bee is also a word game, but unlike titles, it revolves around letters instead of proper words. Here, you are given a bunch of letters jumbled up and your only task is to create as many words as you can from that bunch.

As you might have already guessed, the main similarity between Connections and Spelling Bee is that both the games require you to have a good hold of vocabulary, while they also ask you to think logically. 

How to Play?

1. You get a hexagonal grid puzzle with 7 letters jumbled in the form of a honeycomb.
2. You will get points as you create words of 4 or more letters.
3. But, you have to make sure that the word mentioned in the center of the honeycomb is mentioned in every word you propose.

The Crossword 

• Platform(s): Web

The Crossword by the New York Times, is a web-based version of the classic Crossword. Here, you get to solve a new puzzle every day and learn new words to improve your vocabulary regularly. But, you must be aware that this version by NYT is only for its subscribers. 

Connections and Crossword, both focus on vocabulary and while the success depends on your understanding to relate the words, they both also provide us with a mental challenge to simulate a brain workout.

How to Play?

1. Analyze the grid and it is suggested to start from the easiest one to the hardest one.
2. You can go for the shorter answers first too, and think about the possibilities derived from the puzzle’s theme. 
3. Lastly, work on missing letters to find options, and don’t give up till the grid is complete. 

Mini Crossword NYT 

• Platform(s): Web

In case you didn’t have any idea – Mini Crossword NYT is not something new, but only a junior and free version of The Crossword by the New York Times. It has similar rules and gameplay, but instead of solving a big grid, you will get a smaller version.

Additionally, the similarities for both titles look — they focus on wordplay where your knowledge is being tested, they majorly focus on vocabulary, and also provide brain-stimulating excitement with a truly satisfying brain workout. 

How to Play?

1. Analyze the grid and start with the easiest or smallest words.
2. Read the hints and clues given carefully and think logically for any Connections. 
3. Lastly, search for the missing letters and take a break if it gets too hard. 

PlusWord

• Platform(s): Web

PlusWord is another unusual yet exciting game on our list. To start with, it seems similar to crossword, where you indeed have to solve a crossword, but the twist is – you have to use the shaded squares in the crossword grid to complete the additional PlusWord.

Furthermore, PlusWord and Connections both share a same core concept of focusing on Connections and while you need a strong sense of vocabulary, they also rely on success derived from understanding different word associations like categories. 

How to Play?

1. Read the list of clues for every word in the grid.
2. Choose a clue to type in the specific square on the grid. 
3. Once you are done with the grid, use the shaded squares to make a PlusWord. 

Squareword  

• Platform(s): Web

Squareword, as you might have guessed, is yet another daily word game, but in 2 dimensions. In this game, your main goal is to guess multiple valid 5-letter words to find the correct square of words, but — without running out of a specific set of guesses. 

Moreover, they share a few similarities, like — finding logical Connections or underlying themes between words, a strong idea of vocabulary and vocabulary exploration, and challenging you mentally for a stimulating and engaging brain workout. 

How to Play?

1. You have to type 5-letter words to guess the secret word, and all the guesses will be applied to horizontal words.
2. With every attempt, the shade of the letter will change to give you feedback.
3. Once all the letters in the grid turn green, that means all of them are placed correctly and the grid is complete.