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The New York Times (NYT) Connections puzzle is a rather interesting word game that requires participants to think intelligently and creatively. Each day brings a new challenge for players with varying levels of difficulty. The January 12, 2025 puzzle (#581) is no exception. So, let’s explore a bunch of clues and tips to crack NYT Connections today.
NYT Connections is a word puzzle. Grouping 16 words into four distinct categories that are in some related to each other. The relationship might be based on synonyms, shared themes, even wordplay, or just plain recognition. This is broken into various categories with differing difficulties, yellow is the easiest while the color purple is the hardest.
As always, the categories require players to dig deeper into their knowledge of words and meanings. The four categories in today's game are:
Yellow – Make-believe
Green – Win over
Blue – Arcade Fun
Purple – Obvious in hindsight
Here are the helpful hints to get started with each category:
Yellow – Imaginary: It is a list of words describing something that has nothing to do with reality.
Green – Win someone over: The words in this category deal with actions or terms related to persuasion or charm.
Blue – Arcade Fun: Look for terms related to popular arcade games and their mechanics.
Purple – Obvious in retrospect: These words share a relationship that, once a player grasps the relationship, will become evident but was probably not apparent at first.
For players stuck on a dead-end, the full solutions for today's crossword appear below, complete with rationale for each group.
Yellow – Fantasy:
FAIRY TALE
FANTASY
FICTION
INVENTION
This category is based on things that exist in the imagination, like stories and creations that do not exist in reality.
Green – Win over:
CHARM
COURT
PURSUE
ROMANCE
All the words in this category are associated with actions or efforts to gain affection or favor, especially in a romantic context.
Blue – Arcade Fun:
ASTEROIDS
BREAKOUT
CENTIPEDE
DEF
These are all titles of classic arcade games, so they fit the category well. Each is the title of a well-known video game.
Purple – Obvious in hindsight:
COIN TOSS
COMETS
DRES'S COAT
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
These words are related in a way that, when one thinks about it, seems obvious. The category is things that, in hindsight, are related.
NYT Connections for January 12, 2025, is challenging yet entertaining. Congratulations to the ones who solved it!
Come back tomorrow for more NYT Connections hints and answers.
Happy puzzling!
