Launched by The New York Times in 2023, Connections Unlimited is a free online word puzzle game that tests your vocabulary and pattern recognition skills. Each day, a new grid of 16 words appears, and your goal is to sort them into four groups of four based on a common theme. Categories range from straightforward synonyms to tricky wordplay, with colors indicating difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest).
Spoiler alert! If you haven't attempted the puzzle yet, pause here. Below are the complete answers for puzzle #826, grouped by color and theme. We've included explanations for each to help you understand the connections.
Door
Gate
Hatch
Portal
This category focuses on synonyms for an entryway or access point. For example, a "door" or "gate" lets you in, while a "hatch" is an opening on a ship, and "portal" evokes a magical or sci-fi entrance. This was the easiest group for many players, as the words directly relate to physical access.
Compass
Inset
Key
Scale
These words all describe features on a map. A "compass" shows directions, a "key" explains symbols, a "scale" indicates measurement, and an "inset" is a smaller map within the main one. This green group often requires thinking about cartography to connect the dots.
Beat
Best
Better
Top
This blue category involves verbs or words meaning to outperform or exceed. You can "beat" a record, "top" the charts, "better" your previous score, or "best" your competition. Players sometimes mix this with other competitive terms, but the surpassing theme ties them perfectly.
Downing
Fleet
Main
Wall
The trickiest purple group! These refer to famous streets: Downing Street (UK Prime Minister's residence), Fleet Street (historic journalism hub in London), Main Street (symbol of American small-town life), and Wall Street (NYC financial district). This wordplay theme is classic Connections – geographical and cultural references!
As we hit mid-September 2025, Connections continues to dominate word game trends. With over a million daily players, it's more popular than ever, thanks to its shareable results and evolving themes. Puzzle #826's mix of practical and symbolic categories kept things balanced – not too easy, not impossible.