The latest NYT Connections challenge—game #1236—was cracked, revealing four distinct categories that span parking meters to penguins.
Key points
- NYT Connections #1236 groups: coin‑receiving objects, penguin‑related terms, font endings, and three‑color items.
- The puzzle’s difficulty was labeled "Hard," with the solver making one error before completing all groups.
- Players have four allowable mistakes and can continue solving without needing the final group if they use elimination.
The New York Times released its daily Connections puzzle for Thursday, October 29, 2026 (game #1236) with a set of sixteen words ranging from "TUXEDO" to "TRAFFIC LIGHT," as reported by Yahoo Tech. Players were tasked with sorting the words into four groups, each linked by a hidden theme.
The first group, highlighted in yellow, comprised items you can insert coins into: PARKING METER, PAYPHONE, PIGGY BANK, and WISHING WELL. This matches the hint "Insert cash in these" provided in the puzzle’s clue list.
Four themed groups revealed
The green‑coded group centered on penguins, featuring ANTARCTICA, EMPEROR, TUXEDO, and WADDLE. The clue "All linked to a non‑flying bird" guided solvers toward this Antarctic avian connection.
The blue group focused on the ends of famous fonts, with GOTHIC, ROMAN, SANS, and TYPEWRITER completing the set. The hint "Type with missing words" pointed to the common suffixes of these typefaces.
How each group matches the clues
Finally, the purple group gathered items that display three colors: CALICO, CANDY CORN, NEAPOLITAN, and TRAFFIC LIGHT. The clue "Triple shade" accurately described the tri‑color characteristic of each entry.
The puzzle’s author rated the game as "Hard" and recorded a single mistake, noting that the solution required careful attention to subtle cues such as homophones and category overlaps. The article also reminded readers that the game allows up to four mistakes and can be played for free on the NYT Games website.
Reader questions
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a daily word‑grouping game from the New York Times that asks players to sort sixteen words into four themed categories, each with a different difficulty level.
How many mistakes are permitted in a Connections game?
The game allows up to four mistakes, giving players some leeway before the puzzle ends.
Where can I play NYT Connections?
The game is available for free on the New York Times Games site, accessible via desktop or mobile browsers.
Source: tech.yahoo.com
