The New York Times has introduced a new variation of its popular word game, titled Connections: Sports Edition, targeting sports enthusiasts. This version, developed in partnership with The Athletic, a property of the New York Times known for its sports coverage, focuses on identifying the "common threads between words" in a sports-specific context. The game resets daily at midnight, similar to the original Connections and Wordle, with each new set of words increasing in difficulty. The game is available to play on web browsers and mobile devices, requiring players to group four words that share a commonality.
Connections Sports Edition involves puzzles consisting of 16 words, divided into four categories such as book titles, software, or country names. While many of the words may seem related, only one correct combination exists. Successfully grouping all four words in a set removes them from the board, but incorrect guesses count as mistakes, with players allowed up to four mistakes before the game ends.
Players have the option to rearrange and shuffle the words to make identifying connections easier. The groups are color-coded, with yellow indicating the simplest set, followed by green, blue, and purple. Results, much like in Wordle, can be shared with friends on social media.
Hints for the day’s puzzle are also provided. For October 28, the categories included "Soccer positions," "Schools with colorful nicknames," "Alma mater of last 4 NFL No. 1 picks," and "Power ." The specific answers for the categories were GOALKEEPER, MIDFIELDER, SWEEPER, and WINGER for soccer positions; STANFORD, SYRACUSE, TULANE, and TULSA for schools with colorful names; ALABAMA, CLEMSON, GEORGIA, and USC for alma maters; and FORWARD, HITTER, LIFTER, and PLAY for Power .
Should players seek a fresh challenge after completing the puzzle, the game promises new content and hints for the following day. Other word puzzles and games like Mahjong, Sudoku, and crosswords are also available on Mashable for those looking for additional entertainment.
