In June 2023, The New York Times launched Connections, a new word-based game, which has since developed a loyal fan base across the English speaking world.
It followed the astonishing success of Wordle, a game developed during coronavirus lockdown which The New York Times purchased in January 2022 for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
Connections requires the player to identify common threads from 16 different words, which they then subdivide into four separate categories.
If you're not yet familiar with the game, Newsweek has provided some instructions below to get you started.
How To Play 'Connections'
The aim of Connections is to divide the 16 words you are initially given into four categories based on common characteristics.
Players select four words at a time and if they are linked, forming one of the four categories, the letters light up and are removed from the board.
Each of the four categories is color coded to denote its difficulty, with yellow representing the easiest followed by green, blue and purple.
Once you correctly link four words their color will be revealed, letting you know how difficult the quiz setters considered that part of the puzzle to be.
There is no time limit but players can only make up to four mistakes before the game ends, representing a loss.
The player can also shuffle the board at any time, meaning the 16 words will be randomly repositioned.
Sometimes a word can appear to belong in more than one category but there is only ever one right answer.
Connections editor Wyna Liu said that if five cards appear to belong to the same category, your best bet may well be to move onto a different category and see if you can eliminate some of the words.
"Doing so might take one of those extra cards out of contention, or at least remove a few cards from the board, making other categories easier to see," Liu said.
The answers for Saturday's Connections puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so please scroll down with caution if you want to work them out yourself.
'Connections' #328 Clues for Saturday, May 4
Newsweek has some hints to help you figure out today's Connections categories.
Yellow: These four words are all connected with pleasure.
Green: The type of words that people use a lot without really meaning anything.
Blue: Can form part of a larger mechanical object.
Purple: Often used during calculations.
'Connections' #328 Answers for Saturday, May 4
Yellow Category: ENJOY
Yellow Words: Fancy, Love, Relish, Savor
Green Category: FILLER WORDS
Green Words: Like, Literally, Um, Well
Blue Category: COMPONENTS OF A LOCK
Blue Words: Cylinder, Pin, Spring, Tumbler
Purple Category: HOMOPHONES OF UNITS OF MEASURE
Purple Words: Carrot, Hurts, Jewel, Om
Did you figure out today's puzzle? If so congratulations, but please don't be put off if not.
A new Connections challenge will be released on Sunday and Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
