How to Play Wordle, Connections, and Other NYT Games

The New York Times Games app has some of the most popular puzzles on the internet — Wordle, Connections, Strands, and more. Here is how to find them and play every day.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Find the games — no account needed to start
2.Play Wordle
3.Play Connections
4.Share your score
5.Sign in to save your streaks

Find the games — no account needed to start

~19s

On your phone browser or computer, go to nytimes.com/games. You will see all the games listed. You can also download the free "NYT Games" app from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Quick Tip

You do not need a subscription to play Wordle, Mini Crossword, Connections, or Strands. These are free every day.

Play Wordle

~24s

Tap "Wordle" on the games page. Type any five-letter word as your first guess using your keyboard. After each guess, the tiles change color: green = right letter, right spot. Yellow = right letter, wrong spot. Gray = letter not in the word. Use the color clues to narrow down your guesses. You have six tries.

Quick Tip

Starting words with common letters like CRANE, SLATE, or ADIEU give you the best chance of hitting early clues.

Play Connections

~23s

Tap "Connections." You will see 16 words. Your job is to find four groups of four words that share something in common. Tap four words you think belong together, then tap "Submit." The categories range from obvious (yellow = easiest) to tricky (purple = hardest). You get four mistakes before the game ends.

Warning

The purple category often has a surprise twist — read all 16 words before committing to your first guess.

Share your score

~15s

After finishing any game, tap "Share" to copy your result as a grid of colored squares. You can paste it into a text message, email, or social media post. This is how people compare their results without giving away the answer.

Sign in to save your streaks

~15s

Create a free NYT account at nytimes.com to save your daily streaks across devices. Without an account, your streak resets if you clear your browser. Signing in with Google or Apple is the fastest option.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Play Wordle, Connections, and Other NYT Games

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New York Times Games has become one of the most popular ways to start the day for millions of people. The collection includes Wordle, Connections, Strands, the Mini Crossword, and the full NYT Crossword — all playable on your phone or computer.

Wordle is the most famous: every day there is one five-letter word to guess. You have six tries. Each guess shows you which letters are correct (green), right letter but wrong position (yellow), or not in the word at all (gray). The whole game takes about 5 minutes and the word is the same for everyone worldwide each day — making it fun to compare results with friends and family.

Connections is another fan favorite: you are given 16 words and have to group them into four categories of four words each. It sounds simple but often has surprising twists.

Strands is newer: you find words in a grid of letters connected to a daily theme.

Most NYT Games are free to play on the web at nytimes.com/games. A NYT Games subscription ($6.99/month or $40/year) removes ads and unlocks the full Crossword archive. But Wordle, the Mini Crossword, Connections, and Strands are free every day.

Many people play these games as part of their morning routine, and sharing scores via text or social media is a popular tradition.

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