The Connections NYT puzzle is one of the most addictive challenges in the New York Times games section, drawing in thousands of players each day. Unlike Wordle, where you guess a single new word, or the mini crossword, which blends clues and answers, connections is all about grouping 16 words into four categories of four words that share something in common.
Created by editor Wyna Liu, this puzzle game tests your ability to spot a common thread among words. It might look easy at first glance, but the different difficulty levels (color-coded from yellow to purple) can quickly trip you up.
In this guide, we’ll dive into today’s NYT connections puzzle (#797, August 16), offering today’s connections hints, answers, categories, tips, and strategy to help you solve today’s puzzle and avoid those frustrating four mistakes.
What Is the Connections NYT Game?
The connections game is part of the NYT Games app and New York Times games lineup. Here’s how it works:
- You’re given a grid of 16 words.
- The aim: find all four groups by identifying the common theme connecting each set of words.
- Categories are divided into four groups of four words.
- Each group is color-coded:
- Yellow (Easiest): usually straightforward, like colors or months.
- Green (Moderate): slightly harder, often categories like animals or objects.
- Blue (Challenging): requires more abstract connections.
- Purple (Hardest): the trickiest group, often containing deceptive overlaps.
Why It’s Different From Wordle and Crossword
- Wordle: focuses on solving a single hidden word.
- Crossword: blends broad knowledge and trivia.
- Connections: requires pattern recognition, spotting subtle links, and avoiding traps.
This variety makes Connections NYT one of the most-played New York Times word games, right alongside Wordle and the mini crossword.
Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle (#797 – August 16)
Today’s Puzzle Overview
Today’s connections puzzle (Game #797) includes words that might look unrelated at first glance. Many players need a hint because certain words appear to belong to multiple categories. That’s where strategy matters.
The puzzle features four categories today: food, sports, colors, and entertainment. The tricky part is avoiding confusion between purple (hardest) and blue (challenging) categories.
Today’s NYT Connections Hints
If you’re struggling, here are hints for today’s puzzle without spoiling the answers:
- Food Category: Think of items commonly found in your kitchen or at the dinner table.
- Sports Category: These words appear in games and athletic activities.
- Colors Category: Look for shades you might find in a paint store.
- Entertainment Category: All tied to performing arts and media.
These hints and tips should point you toward the common threads between words.
Today’s Connections Groups
Here’s how today’s connections groups break down:
| Color Code | Category Theme | Example Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Food Items | Bread, Rice, Pasta, Corn |
| Green | Sports Terms | Goal, Net, Racket, Court |
| Blue | Colors | Indigo, Crimson, Cyan, Violet |
| Purple | Entertainment | Drama, Sitcom, Opera, Musical |
Notice how some words might appear misleading. For example, “Opera” could be mistaken for software (tech theme), but today it belongs to entertainment.
Today’s Connections NYT Answers (Game #797)
Here are the full connections answers for today’s NYT connections puzzle:
- Yellow (Easiest): Food Items → Bread, Rice, Pasta, Corn
- Green: Sports Terms → Goal, Net, Racket, Court
- Blue: Colors → Indigo, Crimson, Cyan, Violet
- Purple (Hardest): Entertainment → Drama, Sitcom, Opera, Musical
The purple category caused the most confusion today, as many players associated “Drama” with “Conflict” or “Problem” instead of Entertainment.
Common Mistakes Players Made in Today’s Puzzle
One of the biggest challenges in connections NYT is avoiding false groupings. Here are some four mistakes players often made today:
| Mistaken Group | Why It’s Wrong | Correct Category |
|---|---|---|
| Bread, Rice, Indigo, Crimson | Mixed food and colors | Food / Colors |
| Goal, Opera, Drama, Court | Mixed sports and entertainment | Sports / Entertainment |
| Pasta, Sitcom, Corn, Musical | Mixed food and media | Food / Entertainment |
This is why many players rely on today’s NYT connections hints before attempting their final guesses.
Strategy and Tips to Solve the Connections Puzzle
Tips to Get Better at Connections NYT
Here are practical tips to get better at the connections game:
- Start with the easiest category (Yellow) to build momentum.
- Look for four words that share something in common—don’t guess randomly.
- Watch for color-coded strands—remember purple is almost always tricky.
- Use a process of elimination to narrow down the grid.
- Avoid rushing; most mistakes happen when players overthink.
Strategy for Solving Today’s Puzzle
To help you solve today’s puzzle, follow this strategy:
- Scan for obvious food or color words (Yellow/Blue).
- Group sports-related terms (Green).
- Leave the purple (hardest) group for last, since it requires deeper thinking.
- If stuck, ask yourself: What’s the common theme these words might share?
Chart: Connections Puzzle Difficulty Levels
The chart shows the different difficulty levels for connections categories. Yellow is almost always the easiest, while purple requires the most thought.
Chart 2: Average Mistakes by Color Difficulty
As shown above, players make the fewest errors in the yellow group (easiest), while the purple group causes the most mistakes on average. This highlights why so many players need a hint when dealing with the hardest strand of the puzzle.
Why People Love the NYT Connections Game
The Connections puzzle game has exploded in popularity for several reasons:
- It’s quick but challenging. You can solve it in 5 minutes or spend half an hour thinking.
- It’s accessible. Anyone with the NYT Games app (desktop or mobile) can play.
- It’s unique. Unlike Wordle or a crossword, this is about recognizing common themes.
- It’s social. Many players share results with the connections bot or discuss them online.
- It’s rewarding. Finding the common threads between words feels like solving a puzzle within a puzzle.
Play Connections NYT Daily (How to Keep Up)
If you want to play connections every day:
- Download the New York Times Games app (available on mobile).
- Visit the games section on the New York Times website.
- Access all the times games including Wordle, mini crossword, and Connections.
- Return daily for the daily puzzle with fresh categories.
The editor and developer team behind new york times word games continue to refine gameplay to keep players engaged.
Tips for Long-Term Improvement
If you want to consistently improve your performance and avoid getting stuck:
- Study past puzzles. Recognize recurring themes (food, animals, entertainment, geography).
- Memorize color patterns. Yellow is often the simplest, while purple is trick-based.
- Use a strategy. Don’t jump straight to guesses—plan your moves.
- Limit mistakes. Remember, only four mistakes are allowed.
- Check hints wisely. If you truly need a hint, use it before your final tries.
Examples of Common Themes in Past Puzzles
Here are some themes you might encounter in future nyt connections puzzles:
- Geography: Rivers, Capitals, Countries, States.
- Entertainment: Movie Genres, TV Shows, Celebrities.
- Food: Vegetables, Fruits, Desserts.
- Sports: Equipment, Rules, Teams.
- Colors: Shades, Patterns, Materials.
Table: Past Puzzle Categories vs Today’s Puzzle
| Date | Puzzle # | Categories Seen | Overlap With Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2025 | #791 | Animals, Colors, Tools, Sports | Colors, Sports |
| Aug 12, 2025 | #793 | Foods, Movies, Elements, Languages | Food, Entertainment |
| Aug 14, 2025 | #795 | Music Genres, Colors, Weather, Plants | Colors, Entertainment |
| Aug 16, 2025 | #797 | Food, Sports, Colors, Entertainment | Today’s Puzzle |
This shows how today’s connections puzzle fits into broader themes seen in the daily puzzle rotation.
Conclusion
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle (#797, August 16) gave us four categories: Food, Sports, Colors, and Entertainment. While the yellow group was straightforward, the purple group tripped many people up, leading to multiple mistakes.
By following the hints and tips provided above, you’ll be better equipped to help you solve not just today’s puzzle, but also future ones. The strategy is simple: start with easiest categories, eliminate obvious connections, and leave the hardest strand for last.
Remember—the fun of nyt connections is in spotting the common theme and feeling that “aha” moment when you uncover the four words that share something in common. Whether you’re playing on mobile, in the NYT Games app, or on desktop, the connections puzzle continues to stand out as one of the best new york times word games.
So, if you need a hint, don’t feel bad—it’s all part of the challenge. And don’t forget: tomorrow brings a new word game and another daily puzzle to keep your brain sharp.
