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Explore NYT Connections hints for October 21, 2026, and discover clues to help solve today’s 16-word puzzle.
Uncover the four categories covering classic children’s games, important people, famous paintings, and double misnomers.
Check all 16 answers and complete NYT Connections Puzzle #1228 with confidence.
The New York Times released the newest Connections grid. Once again, it has 16 randomly placed words, and four of them share a passive link. One must identify these hidden connections to form the sets and solve the puzzle.
NYT Connections on October 21 features words closely related to buttons associated with emails, ways for fishing, terms associated with chess, and terms starting with renowned people’s names. Finding the correct four words to make each set may require some help. Don’t worry, this article has everything you need to win today. Read on!
Every day, NYT experts rate Connections puzzles to indicate their level of difficulty. Out of 5, to hint at the difficulty level. Today’s one is rated 2 out of 5. Although players’ personal ratings may differ, experts have found today's themes easy to solve. So, if you are struggling to figure it out, here are some hints to make the process easier.
Easiest Group (Yellow): Today’s yellow group words are related to the childhood games that every kid must have played.
Moderate Group (Green): These words are generally used to point to a big name, a VIP person.
Challenging Group (Blue): If looking for this group of words, find painting names that are contemporary with Monalisa.
Most Difficult Group (Purple): In this group, both words are wrong.
Also Read: Today's Wordle Hints and Answer for October 21, 2026
Hopefully, the above-mentioned clues have directed you to the right path. If not, don’t hesitate to go through these bonus hints:
Yellow Group: DUCK DUCK GOOSE
Green Group: BIG CHEESE
Blue Group: SUNFLOWERS
Purple Group: SWEETBREAD
Congratulations if you have already cracked the themes of today’s Connections! If not, here is the full solution:
Yellow Category (CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMES): DUCK DUCK GOOSE, HOT POTATO, LEAPFROG, MUSICAL CHAIRS
Green Category (IMPORTANT PERSON): ALPHA DOG, BIG CHEESE, HEAVYWEIGHT, TOP BANANA
Blue Category (FAMOUS PAINTINGS): AMERICAN GOTHIC, CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN, SUNFLOWERS, THE SCREAM
Purple Category (DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION)): ENGLISH HORN, GRAPE-NUTS, MANTIS SHRIMP, SWEETBREAD
For further clarity, check out the image below:
These are the four categories for today’s puzzle, and hopefully, most players have guessed the word sets without the answer. So, congratulations to all who have solved it!
The October 21 edition of NYT Connections shows how a puzzle can remain engaging even at an average difficulty level. By combining popular games options with titles for VIPs, the grid offers a quick yet satisfying mental workout.
What stands out today is the balance between familiarity and fun. Most categories reveal themselves quickly, but the purple group may pose a challenge. Today’s puzzle is another reminder that Connections thrive on variety, keeping players curious, observant, and eager to return for the next daily challenge.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints, Spangram And Answers For October 21, 2026
