Today’s ‘Connections’ puzzle is very different and fans aren’t happy: “Why the fuck are there pictures?”

12 December, 2024

Connections game on mobile phone.

Connections is one of several hugely popular word games from the New York Times but today’s challenge (December 12) is very different to what fans are used to.

Launched last year, Connections features a series of 16 words that need to be arranged in four different groups, with players needing to work out what they have in common. Each word can only be used once and you only have four attempts to solve the grid, with the four different coloured categories getting increasingly harder.

After 549 puzzles though, gamemakers have tried something new for today’s puzzle. Instead of 16 words, players have been presented with a number of different images, drawn by New York Times’ illustrator Calum Heath. These include an adorable pair of rats, a bed, a t-shirt and a cup of tea.

This change has annoyed some fans, with one calling it “destabilising”.

“I HATE the new Connections format. Pictures? Don’t mess with my silly morning games,” said one disgruntled player. “Starting my day angry because Connections is supposed to be a word game, not &$%#ing pictures,” wrote another.

“I was appalled when I opened the NYT games app this morning and saw that Connections had no words only pictures… that was so evil of them to do,” said a furious fan. “Today’s puzzle being pictures like just punch me directly in the face instead,” wrote another.

However some fans like the “cool” change in format. “I really love the challenge of the pictures! This was fun, I’ll get it next time,” said one fan. “I LOVED this. Definitely not as a frequent change of format, but I like to see them keep us on our toes,” wrote another.

If you want some help solving today’s puzzle, you can check out hints and the actual solution here.

The New York Times hasn’t confirmed if this will be a regular thing going forward, or just a one-off puzzle to celebrate 550 different games.

In other news, The Pokémon Company has confirmed an “exciting collaboration” with Wallace & Gromit animation studio Aardman. Fans will have to wait until 2027 to see whatever it is they’re working on though.

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