Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times that launched in beta on June 12, 2023, and has become the paper's second-most-played game after Wordle. The game, edited by Wyna Liu, challenges players to sort a 16-word grid into four hidden categories, with difficulty levels color-coded from yellow (easiest) to purple (hardest) and frequent "red herrings" and wordplay like homophones. Liu drew inspiration from cartoonist Robert Leighton, and the format has been compared to the "Connecting Wall" segment of the British quiz show Only Connect. The puzzle has featured special editions, including emoji-based and symbol-based versions for April Fools' Day in 2024 and 2025, and a special tile for its 1,000th edition on March 7, 2026. A sports-themed spin-off, written by Mark Cooper, launched in beta on September 24, 2024, and officially debuted on February 9, 2025, during Super Bowl LIX, later adding NFL team puzzles and a soccer version for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.