
Can’t solve today’s NYT Connections puzzle? The March 31 edition brings a challenging grid that might leave even seasoned players puzzled. This popular New York Times daily word game tasks players with finding hidden connections between 16 random words. The goal is to arrange them into four groups of four based on shared themes, categories, or wordplay.
If today's puzzle feels tough, detailed hints and answers below will help. Read carefully to avoid spoilers.
NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle game launched by The New York Times. It debuted in beta on June 12, 2023, and quickly became the publication’s second-most-played game after Wordle. The game, created by Wyna Liu, challenges players to identify subtle word associations and categorize them correctly.
The puzzle offers three difficulty levels:
Easy (Yellow) – The simplest category.
Medium (Green and Blue) – Moderate challenge.
Hard (Purple) – Often involves wordplay or tricky connections.
Players get four chances to create correct groups. A wrong attempt costs one life. Losing four lives ends the game.
For those who want a nudge without spoiling the answers, here are category hints for today’s puzzle:
Yellow Category: Actions related to eating or intake.
Green Category: Ways to express addition or inclusion.
Blue Category: Transactions performed at a cash machine.
Purple Category: Common phrases ending with "Play."
These clues should help identify the hidden connections while keeping the solution a surprise.
Still stuck, here are the full answers for today’s NYT Connections puzzle:
CONSUMED – Ate, Had, Put Away, Took In
ALSO – As Well, Besides, To Boot, Too
ATM OPTIONS – Balance, Deposit, Transfer, Withdrawal
_ _ _ PLAY – Fore, Horse, Screen, Word
In NYT Connections, players face a grid with 16 random words. The goal is to group them into four categories based on shared meanings or themes. Each group contains four related words, forming a hidden connection.
The game often uses:
Synonyms and Antonyms
Wordplay or Phrases
Cultural references or categories
Homophones or rhyming words
Scan for obvious groups: Identify familiar word groups, like common activities, colors, or categories.
Test risky groups first: If unsure, test potential groups early to avoid losing lives on simple guesses.
Consider alternate meanings: Some words have multiple meanings, making the connection less obvious.
Use the color clues: The yellow group is usually easiest, while the purple group tends to be tricky and involves wordplay.
The NYT Connections puzzle offers a fun and brain-stimulating challenge, making it a hit among word game enthusiasts. Its daily streak and shareable results add to the appeal, fueling competitive streaks on platforms like X and Reddit.
Additionally, the combination of logic, language skills, and wordplay keeps players coming back daily. The varying difficulty levels offer something for both casual and seasoned wordsmiths.
The NYT Connections puzzle for March 31, 2025, delivered a clever mix of language, wordplay, and logic, keeping fans on their toes. With hints and answers now revealed, solving today’s categories becomes easier.
Whether aiming for a perfect score or just playing for fun, NYT Connections offers a rewarding mental challenge. For the latest solutions and daily hints, keep following The New York Times’ gaming section.