NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Saturday, February 22

      Connections is regarded as one of the top puzzle games from the New York Times. The game's objective is to categorize a set of 16 words into four hidden groups by identifying how the words are connected. The puzzle refreshes each night at midnight, with varying levels of difficulty for each new puzzle. Similar to Wordle, players can track their winning streak and compare scores with friends.

      Some days present more challenges than others, much like other beloved NYT Games such as The Mini and Strands. If you're struggling with today's puzzle, you can refer to our guide for tips and strategies, or check the hints provided below for today's Connections puzzle. If all else fails, we will reveal the answers at the end.

      **How to Play Connections**

      Connections is a daily game focused on discovering shared links among words. Players need to identify four groups of four words while making no more than three errors. You can play now on the New York Times website or through the NYT Games app available on iOS and Android.

      In Connections, a grid of 16 words is presented, and the aim is to organize those words into four sets of four by recognizing the relationships between them. These sets may include categories such as names of video game franchises, sequels in book series, shades of red, or chain restaurant names, among others.

      Some words may seem to fit several categories, but there is only one correct solution. You can shuffle the word grid to help clarify potential connections.

      Each group is marked with a color code. The yellow group is the simplest to identify, followed by green, blue, and purple.

      Select four words and press Submit. If your selection is correct, the four words will be removed from the grid, and the connecting theme will be shown. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake, and you have a total of four mistakes before the game concludes.

      **Hints for Today's Connections**

      We can assist you in solving today’s Connections by providing the four themes. If you need additional help, we’ll also supply one word from each group below.

      Today's themes:

      1. MEMBER OF A TEAM WITH THE MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS

      2. CREATE SOME VOLUME/TEXTURE IN HAIR

      3. SUPPLIES FOR MACARONI ART

      4. WORDS AFTER “GOLDEN”

      **One-answer reveals:**

      - MEMBER OF A TEAM WITH THE MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS – CANADIEN

      - CREATE SOME VOLUME/TEXTURE IN HAIR – CRIMP

      - SUPPLIES FOR MACARONI ART – GLITTER

      - WORDS AFTER “GOLDEN” – DOODLE

      **Today's Connections Answers**

      Still having difficulty? That’s alright. This puzzle is meant to be challenging. If you're looking for the answers to today’s Connections, they are as follows:

      - MEMBER OF A TEAM WITH THE MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS – CANADIEN, CELTIC, PACKER, YANKEE

      - CREATE SOME VOLUME/TEXTURE IN HAIR – CRIMP, CURL, FEATHER, TEASE

      - SUPPLIES FOR MACARONI ART – GLITTER, GLUE, MACARONI, PAPER

      - WORDS AFTER “GOLDEN” – DOODLE, GOOSE, PARACHUTE, ROD

      The grids in Connections vary greatly and change daily. If you weren't able to solve today’s puzzle, be sure to return tomorrow.

      **NYT Connection FAQs**

      **What time does the Connections puzzle change?**

      The puzzle updates daily at midnight local time.

      **Who edits the NYT Connections game?**

      Wyna Liu, who has been involved with puzzle editing at The New York Times since 2020, is the editor for Connections.

      In an article discussing her editing journey in June 2024, Liu wrote, “A few months ago, a new assignment came my way: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently received approval and needed an editor. Most of my experience has been in crosswords, and I was eager to take on something new. I've enjoyed seeing how puzzle editing unfolds after a game gets approved and understanding how our team navigates within a larger structure.”

      On the one-year anniversary of Connections' launch earlier this year, Liu shared a TikTok highlighting her favorite puzzles to date.