The New York Times’ Connections puzzle for March 26, 2024 (#1019) is out, and as usual, it presents a mix of straightforward and devilishly difficult categories. This guide provides hints and the full answers to help players crack today’s challenge.
Puzzle Overview
The Connections game challenges players to group 16 words into four categories of four, based on shared themes. The difficulty lies in the often-obscure connections, requiring lateral thinking and a bit of luck. The Times has also added a tracking bot for registered players, allowing them to analyze their performance across multiple puzzles.
Hints by Difficulty
The puzzle’s categories are ranked from easiest to hardest:
- Yellow (Easiest): This group relates to obtaining food.
- Green: This involves Detroit-based sports teams.
- Blue: The theme centers on components of a traditional voting setup.
- Purple (Hardest): This category’s connection is… electrifying.
The Full Answers
Here’s how each group breaks down:
-
Yellow Group: Food Procurement Methods
- Agriculture
- Fishing
- Gathering
- Hunting
-
Green Group: Detroit Sports Teams
- Lion
- Piston
- Red Wing
- Tiger
-
Blue Group: Voting Booth Components
- Ballot
- Booth
- Curtain
- Lever
-
Purple Group: They Have Bolts
- Frankenstein’s monster
- Hardware store
- Lightning
- Lock
Past Difficult Puzzles
The Connections puzzle is designed to be challenging. Some of the toughest previous iterations include:
- Puzzle #5: “Things you can set” (mood, record, table, volleyball)
- Puzzle #4: “One in a dozen” (egg, juror, month, rose)
- Puzzle #3: “Streets on screen” (Elm, Fear, Jump, Sesame)
- Puzzle #2: “Power ___” (nap, plant, Ranger, trip)
- Puzzle #1: “Things that can run” (candidate, faucet, mascara, nose)
The Connections game intentionally throws curveballs, rewarding players who think outside the box. Tracking past puzzles may help reveal patterns in future challenges.
