The New York Times’ Connections puzzle for January 31st (#965) has been completed. The challenge involves grouping four words together based on a shared theme. This daily game tests logic and vocabulary, and today’s categories are particularly diverse.
Decoding the Groups: From Easy to Hard
The puzzle’s difficulty is tiered, with yellow groups being the most straightforward and purple groups the most obscure. Here’s how today’s categories broke down:
- Yellow: The theme revolves around different types of parties. The correct words are ball, mixer, reception, and shower.
- Green: This group centers on methods of applying paint. The solutions are brush, palette knife, roller, and spray can.
- Blue: The connection here is Y-shaped objects. The answers are slingshot, stethoscope, tuning fork, and wishbone.
- Purple: This is the trickiest group, with the theme being what the word “shift” can mean. The correct words are computer key, dress, fluctuation, and work period.
Tracking Progress with the Connections Bot
The NYT now offers a Connections Bot, similar to the Wordle Bot, allowing players to analyze their performance. Registered users can track their win rate, perfect scores, and streaks. This feature caters to competitive players who enjoy quantifying their progress.
Why This Puzzle Matters
The popularity of Connections highlights the growing demand for quick, engaging brain teasers. The puzzle’s daily format and varying difficulty keep players coming back. The addition of performance tracking tools further incentivizes participation and encourages strategic thinking.
Ultimately, the January 31st Connections puzzle was a challenging but solvable combination of wordplay and lateral thinking. The solutions above provide clarity for those who struggled, while the bot offers a deeper level of engagement for dedicated players.
