Connections Unlimited launched by the New York Times in June 2023, is a word association game designed by associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu. Players are presented with a 4x4 grid of 16 words and must group them into four sets of four, each sharing a specific theme. The categories are color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest). With only four mistakes allowed, the game tests both vocabulary and the ability to spot subtle connections. Unlike traditional crosswords, Connections relies on creative thinking, making it a refreshing challenge for puzzle lovers.
The September 7 puzzle offered a delightful mix of straightforward and tricky categories, with words that could fit into multiple groups, creating playful confusion until the correct connections emerged. Below are the answers and themes for puzzle #819, along with insights into the groupings.
Words: Aerial, Arabesque, Roundoff, Split
Connection: These are all gymnastics maneuvers requiring strength, agility, and precision. For example, an aerial is a cartwheel without hands, while an arabesque involves balancing on one leg with the other extended behind. This category was the easiest, as the words are closely tied to the physicality of gymnastics, a nod to stars like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles.
Words: Ariel, Aurora, Merida, Tiana
Connection: Each word is the name of a Disney princess from iconic animated films. Ariel is from The Little Mermaid, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Merida from Brave, and Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. This group leaned on cultural knowledge, likely familiar to fans of Disney films, making it a moderately accessible category.
Words: Arial, Georgia, Impact, Verdana
Connection: These are all typefaces commonly used in digital and print media. Arial and Verdana are sans-serif fonts, while Georgia is a serif font, and Impact is known for its bold, condensed style, often seen in memes. This category might have tripped up players unfamiliar with typography, but those with design knowledge likely spotted it quickly.
Words: Angular, Areal, Linear, Volumetric
Connection: These adjectives describe concepts in geometry. Angular relates to angles, areal to areas, linear to lines, and volumetric to volume. This was the toughest category, requiring a grasp of mathematical terminology. The word areal might have been particularly confusing, as it resembles aerial (from the yellow group) and Arial (from the blue group), adding a layer of wordplay.
Connections stands out for its ability to blend logic and creativity. The September 7 puzzle, with its mix of gymnastics, Disney, fonts, and geometry, offered something for everyone—athletic enthusiasts, pop culture fans, designers, and math buffs. The game’s daily reset keeps players coming back, and its social media buzz (despite some tweets being unavailable) shows its cultural impact.
