NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Thursday, May 15.

      Connections is considered one of the finest puzzle games offered by the New York Times. The objective of the game is to classify a set of 16 words into four secret (for now) categories by discerning the relationships among them. The puzzle refreshes every night at midnight and varies in difficulty with each new edition. Similar to Wordle, players can track their winning streaks and compare scores with friends.

      Some days can be more challenging than others — mirroring experiences found in other NYT Games favorites like The Mini and Strands. If you're facing difficulties with today's puzzle, refer to our guide on Connections tips and tricks for helpful strategies or check below for hints related to today’s Connections puzzle. If you're still stuck, we’ll provide the answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game focused on identifying common links between words. Players must select four groups of four words without exceeding three mistakes. Play now. https://t.co/YITfSnqODb pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

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

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

      In Connections, a grid appears with 16 words, and your aim is to sort these words into four sets of four by uncovering the connections that unite them. These groups could represent various categories, such as video game franchise titles, book series sequels, shades of red, or names of restaurant chains, among others.

      While there are often words that may seem to fit several themes, only one combination is entirely correct. You have the option to shuffle the grid of words and rearrange them to better identify the potential links.

      Each group is distinguished by color. The yellow group is the simplest to identify, followed by green, blue, and purple.

      Select four words and click Submit. If you’re correct, those four words will be eliminated from the grid, and their connecting theme will be unveiled. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake, and 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 revealing the four themes. If you require further help, we’ll provide one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes

      RATIONAL

      TYPES OF SNOW

      LAST WORDS OF FAMOUS OPERA TITLES

      REAL ___

      One-answer reveals

      RATIONAL – BASIS

      TYPES OF SNOW – CRUST

      LAST WORDS OF FAMOUS OPERA TITLES – BESS

      REAL ___ – DEAL

      New York Times

      Today’s Connections answers

      Still stuck? That’s perfectly fine; this puzzle is meant to be challenging. If you simply want to see today’s Connections answer, we’ve got you covered below:

      RATIONAL – BASIS, FOUNDATION, GROUNDS, REASON

      TYPES OF SNOW – CRUST, ICE, POWDER, SLUSH

      LAST WORDS OF FAMOUS OPERA TITLES – BESS, BUTTERFLY, FLUTE, SEVILLE

      REAL ___ – DEAL, ESTATE, MADRID, WORLD

      Connections grids differ significantly and change each day. If you couldn’t 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 editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, oversees Connections on a daily basis.

      “A few months ago, a new assignment came my way: 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 experience is with crossword puzzles, so I was thrilled at the chance to try something new. I’ve enjoyed learning how puzzle editing evolves once a game is approved and seeing how our team fits into a larger ecosystem.”

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