Paragraph 1: Introduction and Weekend Plans
The author welcomes readers to the weekend, expressing hopes for relaxation and enjoyment. A quiet weekend is anticipated, highlighted by a planned dinner at a restaurant. The author looks forward to a busy final work week of the year, punctuated by the release of the new Indiana Jones game and the ensuing flurry of video game news from events like The Game Awards and Day of the Devs. This sets a leisurely tone, contrasting the calmness of the weekend with the expected busyness of the coming week. The mention of the game release and upcoming events adds a touch of personal interest and hints at the author’s professional involvement in the video game industry.
Paragraph 2: Introduction to NYT Connections
The focus shifts to the New York Times’ daily word game, Connections. The game mechanics are explained: players are presented with a 16-word grid and must group the words into four categories of four, based on semantic relationships. The color-coded groups (yellow, green, blue, and purple) increase in difficulty, with purple often involving wordplay. The game ends after four incorrect guesses. The author emphasizes the social aspect of sharing results and the existence of an archive for subscribers, providing access to past puzzles. The author also mentions their own archive of hints and solutions for past games, available through their blog.
Paragraph 3: Hints and Clues for the Day’s Connections Puzzle
The article presents the 16 words for the December 7th puzzle: SUN, FLY, HORN, WINGS, ASSOCIATE, LEGS, FELLOW, BOW, STORM, CHUM, RELATE, LIBERTY, BAIT, EQUATE, LURE, and AFFILIATE. Hints are offered for each color-coded group to guide players: yellow – what Connections enthusiasts do; green – useful for water-based hunting; blue – challenging W.N.B.A. opponents; and purple – where "boat" and "sighted" would fit. These hints are designed to nudge players towards the connections without revealing the answers immediately.
Paragraph 4: Revealing the Connections Groups
The article moves closer to the solutions by revealing the categories without specifying the words within each group. The yellow group connects to the idea of "thinking together," the green group relates to "ways to attract fish," the blue group comprises "W.N.B.A. teams," and the purple group follows the pattern "long____." This provides a more explicit framework for players while still requiring them to correctly place the words within each category.
Paragraph 5: The Solutions and the Author’s Gameplay Experience
The final answers are revealed: yellow (AFFILIATE, ASSOCIATE, EQUATE, RELATE), green (BAIT, CHUM, FLY, LURE), blue (LIBERTY, STORM, SUN, WINGS), and purple (BOW, FELLOW, HORN, LEGS). The author shares their personal gameplay, detailing their thought process and struggles, particularly with the blue group related to W.N.B.A. teams. A successful guess based on a hunch is highlighted, emphasizing the element of luck sometimes involved in solving the puzzle.
Paragraph 6: Closing Remarks and Personal Recommendations
The article concludes with a mention of the author’s blog for future Connections hints and solutions. The author then shares a personal recommendation – a YouTube channel featuring humorous Scottish football commentary by Allaster McKallaster. This lighthearted recommendation, along with the mention of "deep-fried gazpacho soup," adds a playful and personal touch. The author encourages readers to follow their blog for more word game and video game content, and to connect on Bluesky, further solidifying the connection with the audience.
