NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Monday, April 21.

      Connections is regarded as one of the top puzzle games from the New York Times. The objective of the game is to categorize a set of 16 words into four hidden groups by determining how the words are related. Each puzzle resets at midnight, offering varying levels of difficulty each new day. Similar to Wordle, players can track their winning streak and compete with friends on their scores.

      Some days present a greater challenge than others, much like other favorites from NYT Games such as The Mini and Strands. If you're finding today’s puzzle difficult, you can refer to our Connections tips and tricks guide for effective strategies or view the hints for today’s Connections puzzle below. If you’re still stuck, the answers to today’s puzzle will be provided at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game where the aim is to discover common links between words. Players are required to choose four groups of four words, but they can make no more than three mistakes. Play now. https://t.co/YITfSnqODb pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

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

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

      In Connections, you’ll be presented with a grid of 16 words; your goal is to organize these words into four sets of four by recognizing their connections. These sets might include themes like titles of video game series, sequels to book series, shades of red, or names of chain restaurants, among others.

      Often, some words may seem to fit multiple themes, but there is only one absolutely correct solution. You have the option to shuffle the grid of words and rearrange them to uncover potential connections more easily.

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

      Select four words and click Submit. If your selection is correct, those four words will be taken off the grid and the theme connecting them will be disclosed. If you guess incorrectly, it counts as a mistake. You have only four mistakes available before the game concludes.

      Hints for today’s Connections

      We can assist you in solving today’s Connection by providing the four themes. If you need extra help, we will also list one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes:

      - INFO ON A NUTRITIONAL LABEL

      - METAPHOR FOR SOMETHING UNEXPECTED

      - THINGS YOU CAN INSERT INTO A SPREADSHEET

      - HELICAL THINGS

      Single-word reveals:

      - INFO ON A NUTRITIONAL LABEL – FAT

      - METAPHOR FOR SOMETHING UNEXPECTED – BOMBSHELL

      - THINGS YOU CAN INSERT INTO A SPREADSHEET – CELL

      - HELICAL THINGS – CORKSCREW

      New York Times

      Today’s Connections answers

      Still having trouble? That’s perfectly fine. This puzzle is meant to be challenging. If you just want to see today’s Connections answers, we’ve provided them below:

      - INFO ON A NUTRITIONAL LABEL – FAT, IRON, PROTEIN, SODIUM

      - METAPHOR FOR SOMETHING UNEXPECTED – BOMBSHELL, CURVEBALL, TWIST, WRENCH

      - THINGS YOU CAN INSERT INTO A SPREADSHEET – CELL, COLUMN, ROW, SHEET

      - HELICAL THINGS – CORKSCREW, DNA, FUSILLI, SPRING

      Connections grids vary significantly and change each day. If you couldn't solve today's puzzle, make sure to check back tomorrow.

      NYT Connection FAQs

      What time does the Connections puzzle reset?

      The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.

      Who is responsible for editing the NYT Connections game?

      Wyna Liu, who has been an editor for puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, oversees Connections on a daily basis.

      “A few months ago, a new task landed on my desk: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently received approval and needed an editor,” Liu explained in an article about her experience in June 2024. Most of my puzzle work has been with crosswords, and I was eager to explore something new. Learning how puzzle editing unfolds once a game is approved has been enjoyable, as well as understanding how our team contributes to a larger ecosystem.”

      On the one-year anniversary of Connections launching earlier this year, Liu shared this TikTok highlighting 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