NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Sunday, March 9

      Connections is considered one of the top puzzle games by the New York Times. In this game, players are challenged to categorize a set of 16 words into four secret groups by determining their interrelations. The puzzle resets every night at midnight, with each new puzzle offering a different level of difficulty. Similar to Wordle, players can track their winning streaks and compare scores with friends.

      Some days prove to be more challenging than others — akin to other NYT Games favorites like The Mini and Strands. If you need assistance with today's puzzle, feel free to refer to our Connections tips and tricks guide for effective strategies, or check out today's hints below. And if you still find yourself stuck, we will reveal today’s answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game centered around identifying common themes among words. Players need to select four groups of four words while making no more than three mistakes. Play now. [link]

      You can access Connections on the New York Times website or through the NYT Games app available on iOS and Android.

      In the game, a grid displays 16 words, and your goal is to arrange them into four sets of four by recognizing the connections between them. The sets may relate to categories such as titles of video game franchises, sequels of book series, different shades of red, names of chain restaurants, and more.

      Some words may appear to fit multiple themes, but there is only one completely correct answer. You can shuffle the grid and rearrange the words to better visualize the potential connections.

      Each group is color-coded: the yellow group is the easiest to identify, followed by green, blue, and purple.

      Select four words and click Submit. If you guess correctly, those words will be removed from the grid, and the theme connecting them will be revealed. If you guess incorrectly, that counts as a mistake. You have a maximum of four mistakes before the game concludes.

      Hints for today’s Connections

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

      Today's themes:

      - COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE

      - BUILDING MATERIALS

      - HELPFUL DEED

      - #1 SONGS FROM 1982

      Word reveals:

      - COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE – MICROPHONE

      - BUILDING MATERIALS – BRICK

      - HELPFUL DEED – FAVOR

      - #1 SONGS FROM 1982 – ABRACADABRA

      New York Times

      Today's Connections answers

      Still not finding success? That's alright. This puzzle is designed to challenge you. If you simply want to see today’s Connections answers, they're provided below:

      - COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE – MICROPHONE, MOUSE, SCANNER, TABLET

      - BUILDING MATERIALS – BRICK, CONCRETE, METAL, STONE

      - HELPFUL DEED – FAVOR, KINDNESS, SERVICE, SOLID

      - #1 SONGS FROM 1982 – ABRACADABRA, CENTERFOLD, MICKEY, PHYSICAL

      Connections grids are diverse and change every day. If you couldn't resolve today’s puzzle, be sure to check back tomorrow.

      NYT Connection FAQs

      What time does the Connections puzzle reset?

      The puzzle updates daily at midnight local time.

      Who edits the NYT Connections game?

      Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles for The New York Times since 2020, oversees the daily editing of Connections.

      “A few months ago, I received a new assignment: to create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been approved and needed an editor," Liu explained in an article detailing her process in June 2024. "Most of my puzzle experience has been with crosswords, and I was eager for the opportunity to explore something new. I have enjoyed discovering how puzzle editing advances once a game is approved and understanding our team's role in a larger ecosystem.”

      On the one-year anniversary of Connections launching earlier this year, Liu shared this TikTok celebrating her favorite puzzles so far.