NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Friday, April 25

      Connections is one of the premier puzzle games offered by the New York Times. In this game, your task is to categorize a set of 16 words into four hidden groups by discerning how the words are interconnected. Each puzzle resets at midnight, and the difficulty varies with each new challenge. Similar to Wordle, you can track your winning streak and compare scores with friends.

      Some days may present more challenges than others, much like other popular NYT Games such as The Mini and Strands. If you're finding it difficult to solve today's puzzle, refer to our Connections tips and tricks guide for useful strategies, or check the hints for today's puzzle provided below. If you're still stuck, we will reveal the answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game centered on identifying common threads among words. Players must select four groups of four words without exceeding three mistakes. Play now. [Link to the game]

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

      In Connections, you will see a grid filled with 16 words; your goal is to arrange these words into four sets of four by recognizing the connections that unite them. These sets can relate to themes such as titles from video game franchises, sequels in book series, shades of red, names of chain restaurants, and more.

      While certain words may seem applicable to multiple categories, there is only one definitive correct answer. You can shuffle the words within the grid and rearrange them to better visualize possible connections.

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

      Select four words and click Submit. If you are correct, those four words will be removed from the grid, revealing their connecting theme. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake, and you have only four mistakes allowed before the game concludes.

      Hints for today’s Connections

      We can assist you in solving today’s puzzle by revealing the four themes. If you require further help, we will also provide one word from each group below.

      Today's themes:

      - GUM FLAVORS

      - STARTING POINT

      - GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK SONGS

      - ___ TUBE

      One-answer reveals:

      - GUM FLAVORS – BUBBLEGUM

      - STARTING POINT – CATALYST

      - GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK SONGS – AUTUMN LEAVES

      - ___ TUBE – FALLOPIAN

      Today's Connections answers

      Still having trouble? That's alright; this puzzle is meant to be challenging. If you just want to see today’s answers, they are listed below:

      - GUM FLAVORS – BUBBLEGUM, CINNAMON, MENTHOL, WINTERGREEN

      - STARTING POINT – CATALYST, LAUNCHPAD, SPARK, SPRINGBOARD

      - GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK SONGS – AUTUMN LEAVES, SUMMERTIME, UNFORGETTABLE, WITCHCRAFT

      - ___ TUBE – FALLOPIAN, INNER, TEST, VACUUM

      Connections grids vary greatly and change every day. If today’s puzzle stumped you, be 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 editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, is the daily editor for Connections. In an article explaining her editorial process, Liu wrote, “A few months ago, a new assignment crossed my desk: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been approved and was looking for an editor.” She expressed excitement at the opportunity to expand her puzzle editing experience beyond crosswords, enjoying the learning curve of how puzzle editing operates once a game is sanctioned and understanding her team's role in a broader context.

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

      @thegamesteam ? happy one year anniversary to connections, our newest official NYT game ? #nytgames #nytconnections #nyt ♬ The Kite Live by Luisa Marion – luisa_marion_music