Happy Anniversary, Connections: A Data-Driven Retrospective

It’s been a year since Connections, the NYT’s addictive word puzzle, first challenged our minds and enriched our vocabulary and trivia knowledge. As we celebrate its first anniversary, here is a comprehensive game journey analysis. From the most popular categories to the trickiest puzzles, we’ve parsed through a (leap) year’s worth of data to uncover fascinating trends and insights.

Top Insights

• HOMOPHONES stood out as the most popular category with 21 occurrences overall. The most frequently used words were RING and BALL, each appearing 11 times.
• Synonyms, Logical Links, and Complete the Phrase emerged as the most popular categories.
• More than 3 million players engage with Connections daily, with the emoji puzzle on April 1st being the most played puzzle to date.
• May 2024 turned out to be the toughest month in Connections yet. It was packed with tricky puzzles full of combined words and confusing categories leaving users turning to Google for help more than ever.

Charting Connections: Exploring Themes and Patterns

The game was released on June 12, 2023, and since 2024 is a leap year, it featured 366 puzzles in its first year, as showcased in the searchable table below.

We meticulously analyzed 366 days' worth of past Connections puzzles, refining and iterating on categories to create a comprehensive list of 25 distinct themes. Initially, we encountered challenges with categories that consisted of only a few items, resulting in a longer final list. To simplify and enhance clarity, we merged some related smaller categories. For example, we consolidated weather-related topics into Nature World and grouped shoe-related themes under Clothing & Accessories. We also broadened some categories, such as merging Units and Quantities into a single category and combining Disney and newspaper-related topics under the broader Film, TV, Theater and related media category. Additionally, we renamed categories to ensure they cover all relevant items. In some cases, we found it hard to decide between two themes, such as SNEAKER BRANDS which could fit under both Brands and Clothing & Accessories. In making these decisions, we relied on human judgment, opting for Brands as it seemed more relevant to the overarching theme.

Notably, broad themes like Synonyms, Logical Links, and Complete the Phrase emerged as pivotal categories, each encompassing various connections. Synonyms includes words mainly sharing a meaning with the category, Logical Links unites words as components of a larger concept, and Complete the Phrase consists of words used within a common expression.

This meticulous process yielded a refined list of 25 themes, each representing a distinct facet of the Connections in my analyses.

1. Synonyms
2. Logical Links
3. Complete the Phrase
4. Miscellaneous
5. Film, TV, Theater and related media
6. Food & Cooking World
7. General Knowledge
8. Language World
9. Animal World
10. Sports World
11. Music World
12. Tech World
13. Slang
14. Gaming Universe
15. Brands
16. Clothing & Accessories
17. Geography World
18. Beverage World
19. Anatomy
20. Color & Color Logic
21. Nature World
22. Notable Names
23. Home Universe
24. Units & Quantities
25. Festive World

Themes in Connections: Breakdown by Group Color

The interactive chart below showcases the frequency of each theme used in the 366 Connections puzzles, providing a clear view of which categories have dominated the puzzles. Here are some key insights:

• Synonyms: Leading the chart, Synonyms appear in 327 puzzles, reflecting the game's emphasis on vocabulary and language skills.
• Logical Links: With 145 instances, this category highlights the cognitive skills required to identify connections between words.
• Complete the Phrase: Featured 140 times, it challenges players to think in terms of common expressions and idiomatic phrases.

Other popular themes include Miscellaneous (encompassing diverse themes that don't neatly fit elsewhere), Film, TV, Theater and related media, Food & Cooking, General Knowledge, Animals, Sports, and Music.

The chart also reveals how different colors represent various groupings within each theme. For instance, Synonyms are dominant in the Yellow and Green categories, highlighting the importance of word linkage. In contrast, Logical Links are more characteristic of the challenging Blue and Purple colors. Notably, Complete the Phrase stands out in the Purple category, underscoring the need for critical thinking, well-rounded knowledge, and an advanced vocabulary.

Interacting with the chart you can explore the distribution of topics in more depth for each color.

Exploring Recurrences: Top Repeated Groups and Words

This section will reveal the most frequently repeated themes and words, providing intriguing insights. Understanding these recurring elements can be particularly helpful for those looking to improve their performance in solving Connections and anticipate common themes in future puzzles.

Recurring Groups

The chart below highlights themes that were repeated three or more times in Connections puzzles, showcasing the most frequently used categories over the past year.

The concept of HOMOPHONES was not only referenced 6 times under its straightforward name but recurred 21 times in various forms, making it the most frequently employed challenge. Variations like FRUIT, LETTER, NUMBER, and COLOR HOMOPHONES highlight its versatility. However, players often expressed frustration with these puzzles, especially when regional accents influenced the perceived homophonic connections, adding an extra layer of difficulty.

Additionally, certain themes like STATES OF MATTER, UNITS OF LENGTH, and DECLINE were reused entirely, maintaining the same words across multiple instances. This repetition underscores their significance within the game and emphasizes the consistent testing of players' knowledge.

Recurring Words

The chart below reveals Connections' most frequently used words over its first year, listing all words that were used two times or more. Words like RING and BALL top the list with 11 occurrences each, followed closely by WING, HEART, and COPY with 9. Want more insights? Interact with our charts to explore additional words and their usage details. With each discovery, you'll deepen your understanding of Connections and improve your solving abilities.

Top Puzzles: The Best and the Toughest

In this section, we spotlight the most creative and challenging puzzles from the first year of Connections. These standout puzzles not only captivated players with their ingenuity but also tested their skills to the fullest. By exploring them, we celebrate the clever design and complexity that make Connections such an engaging and beloved game.

Top Creative Puzzles

1. The April Fool's Day puzzle cleverly used emojis to represent categories, adding a playful twist that delighted players. According to a Gameplay newsletter, this puzzle became the most played Connections since its launch.

2. The 1st Anniversary puzzle combines some of the most popular topics and adds fun with a new concise words challenge.

3. The two-letter puzzle on August 12, 2023 - a unique challenge consisting of only 2-letter word groups.

Additionally, on April 6 a special tribute puzzle for Will Shortz ingeniously incorporated wordplay, reflecting admiration and support for him. 

Top Toughest Puzzles

To identify the toughest puzzles, we relied on Google Trends, tracking spikes in searches for " Connections hint." Whenever a puzzle left players scrambling for extra help, it was clearly a significant challenge.

May emerged as the peak of puzzling in the game, featuring the most headscratchers, such as those on May 2, May 18, and 24. Previously, such level of intensity was only reached on March 22.

May 24 Puzzle

From CONDUITS FOR WATER REMOVAL to THINGS TO CRACK, every category packed a punch. What exactly is SCHMALTZ anyway, and is it really used beyond the kitchen? And what connects SMILE with KNUCKLES (the plural form adding more mystery to a group of singulars )?

May 18 Puzzle

With categories like ANIMALS WHOSE NAMES ARE TWO ANIMALS and THINGS WITH SPRING/S, the game threw players for a loop. The kicker? Composed words like BULLDOG and CATFISH blurred the lines between categories, leaving everyone scratching their heads. 

May 2 Puzzle

From HIGHLY SKILLED aces to JOAQUIN PHOENIX MOVIES like JOKER, it was a whirlwind of brain teasers. But what perplexed users the most were the composed words like ROCKETRY and RAPTURE - WORDS STARTING WITH MUSIC GENRES.

The March 22 puzzle presented a different kind of challenge. The sports theme was notably tricky, given the mix of lesser-known Olympic sports, jumping animals, or the special meaning of sett/setting in volleyball. 

Closing Thoughts

Reflecting on a year of Connections, it's clear this game has not only captivated players but also honed their linguistic and cognitive skills. As the most fun and engaging game in the NYT's collection, Connections has quickly caught on with a new audience, drawn by its blend of challenge and enjoyment.

As we celebrate its first anniversary, we look forward to many more years of wordplay and mental gymnastics. Keep solving, keep learning, and may the connections you make bring you joy and satisfaction. Here’s to another year of Connections! 🧠🎂🥂