NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Wednesday, March 12.

      Connections is regarded as one of the top puzzle games by the New York Times. This game challenges you to categorize a selection of 16 words into four secret groups by identifying the relationships between them. The puzzle resets each night at midnight, offering a new level of difficulty with each iteration. Similar to Wordle, you can track your winning streak and compare scores with friends.

      Some days will present more challenges than others, much like other popular NYT Games such as The Mini and Strands. If you're struggling with today's puzzle, feel free to consult our guide on Connections tips and tricks for helpful strategies or look at the hints for today's Connections puzzle below. If you're still unable to solve it, we'll provide the answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game focused on discovering common themes among words. Players need to choose four groups of four words without making more than three errors. Play now. https://t.co/YITfSnqODb pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

      — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 3, 2024

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

      In Connections, a grid of 16 words will be presented to you, and your goal is to arrange these words into four sets of four by recognizing the connections that link them. These sets might include categories such as video game franchise titles, book series, shades of red, names of chain restaurants, and more.

      There are usually words that seem to fit multiple categories, but only one combination is entirely correct. You can shuffle the word grid and rearrange the words to help visualize the potential connections better.

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

      Select four words and click Submit. If you're correct, those four words will be cleared from the grid, and the connecting theme will be revealed. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake, and you’re allowed only 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 need further help, we will also share one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes

      - INGREDIENTS IN CLASSIC POUND CAKE

      - THINGS THAT ARE RED

      - WORDS SAID TO HAVE NO EXACT RHYMES

      - ___ CANDY

      One-answer reveals

      - INGREDIENTS IN CLASSIC POUND CAKE – BUTTER

      - THINGS THAT ARE RED – CARDINAL

      - WORDS SAID TO HAVE NO EXACT RHYMES – MONTH

      - ___ CANDY – COTTON

      New York Times

      Today’s Connections answers

      Still having trouble? That’s all right. This puzzle is meant to be challenging. If you're just looking for today's Connections answer, it’s provided below:

      - INGREDIENTS IN CLASSIC POUND CAKE – BUTTER, EGGS, FLOUR, SUGAR

      - THINGS THAT ARE RED – CARDINAL, ELMO, KETCHUP, ROSE

      - WORDS SAID TO HAVE NO EXACT RHYMES – MONTH, ORANGE, PURPLE, SILVER

      - ___ CANDY – COTTON, EYE, JOHN, ROCK

      Connections grids change daily and can vary significantly. If you weren’t able to solve today’s puzzle, make sure to check back tomorrow.

      NYT Connection FAQs

      What time does the Connections puzzle change?

      The puzzle updates every day at midnight local time.

      Who is responsible for editing the NYT Connections game?

      Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles for The New York Times since 2020, oversees Connections on a daily basis. “A few months ago, a new assignment came my way: design the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been approved and needed an editor,” Liu explained in a June 2024 article discussing her process. “My background is primarily in crossword puzzles, so I was eager to try something new. It has been enjoyable to learn how puzzle editing works once a game gets the green light and seeing how our team fits into the larger picture.”

      On the one-year anniversary of Connections' launch earlier this year, Liu shared this TikTok about her favorite puzzles so far: @thegamesteam ? happy one year anniversary to connections, our newest official NYT game ? #nytgames #nytconnections #nyt ♬ The Kite Live by Luisa Marion – luisa_marion_music