NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Saturday, May 17.

      Connections is considered one of the top puzzle games by the New York Times. The objective of the game is to categorize a set of 16 words into four hidden groups by determining the relationships among the words. The puzzle resets each night at midnight, and the difficulty varies with each new puzzle. Like Wordle, you can track your winning streak and compare scores with friends.

      Some days present more challenges than others, similar to other popular NYT Games like The Mini and Strands. If you're facing difficulties with the current day's puzzle, be sure to check out our guide for tips and tricks on Connections, or look at the hints provided below for today's puzzle. If you're still struggling, we will reveal the answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game focused on identifying commonalities between words. Players must choose four groups of four words, allowing for 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 either on the New York Times website or through the NYT Games app available on iOS and Android.

      In Connections, you'll see a grid of 16 words — your task is to organize these words into four sets of four by uncovering the connections that link them. Possible sets can include themes like titles of video game series, sequels of book series, shades of red, or names of chain restaurants.

      Although some words may appear to fit multiple categories, there is only one absolutely correct solution. You can shuffle the word grid to help visualize potential connections better.

      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 correct, those words will be removed from the grid, and the theme connecting them will be revealed. Incorrect guesses will count as a mistake, and you have a maximum of four mistakes 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 additional help, we’ll also provide one word from each group below.

      Today's themes:

      - MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY

      - GRADUATED INSTRUMENTS

      - KINDS OF PENGUINS

      - “E” THINGS

      One-answer reveals:

      - MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY – ANIMAL

      - GRADUATED INSTRUMENTS – BEAKER

      - KINDS OF PENGUINS – CHINSTRAP

      - “E” THINGS – COMMERCE

      New York Times

      Today's Connections answers

      Still having trouble? No worries, this puzzle is designed to be challenging. If you simply want to see today's Connections answer, here it is:

      - MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY – ANIMAL, BACTERIA, FUNGUS, PLANT

      - GRADUATED INSTRUMENTS – BEAKER, PROTRACTOR, RULER, SYRINGE

      - KINDS OF PENGUINS – CHINSTRAP, EMPEROR, KING, MACARONI

      - “E” THINGS – COMMERCE, MAIL, SCOOTER, SIGNATURE

      The Connections grids change daily and can vary significantly. 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 for The New York Times since 2020, is responsible for editing Connections each day.

      “A few months ago, I received a new assignment: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that was recently approved and needed an editor,” Liu explained in an article about her process in June 2024. “Most of my experience has been with crosswords, so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to try something new. Learning how puzzle editing functions after a game gets approved has been enjoyable, along with seeing how our team integrates into a larger ecosystem.”

      To celebrate the first anniversary of Connections earlier this year, Liu shared this TikTok highlighting some of 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