Connections, is this the new Wordle?

Connections. Photo: A screenshot from the New York Times.

Cast your mind back to 2022 when New Zealand was gripped by a game called Wordle.

Aotearoa was even given special credit by creator Josh Wardle for being among its earliest adopters.

"I should really do the maths because it's astounding," Wardle told RNZ of the game's Kiwi playerbase.

In February 2022, Wordle was purchased by The New York Times for more than $1 million.

Wordle was purchased by The New York Times. Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst / Unsplash

Though it continues to be a popular pastime for Kiwis, a new puzzle is proving popular.

Connections, also available via The New York Times, is a new daily grid puzzle sweeping through the globe.

Associate puzzle editor at The New York Times, Wyna Liu, created the game which launched in June this year.

It's been growing in popularity ever since, with many users taking to social media to rave about the brainteaser.

Hi I’m Cassie and I’m addicted to NYT Connections.
Puzzle #169

— Melnea Cass (@Cassie_Ashantae) November 27, 2023

NYT doing "Dad jokes" now?
"What is brown and sticky?"
Connections
Puzzle #169

— Ozzie (@CousinOzzie) November 27, 2023

wyna liu, this is magnificent, this is art, i am screaming pic.twitter.com/VUUFTuaY71

— reni reindeer (@reniadeb) November 15, 2023

Here's how to play:

• There are 16 words in a grid
• Identify the four different groups of words with a common theme
• Be careful, you only have four chances to solve the puzzle!