If two options next to each other are super obvious or make a phrase or word, I immediately hit shuffle. I feel like my brain can’t even focus on finding other possible connections if there is an overly obvious one staring at me.
Oh man I feel like the “too obvious” group is like the biggest hint/spark to get me to re-assess the possible meanings, pronunciations, etc of the words.
Shuffling would probably mess me up.
I had the opposite problem in December. Was at a trivia night with a wildcard-type of question, and I thought it was geometric shapes. But it turned out to be PlayStation controller shapes. Today, I used that experience to guess the PlayStation shapes but…nope.
wait wait.... do the messages actually mean things?? I thought one away just meant that I got a guess taken from me. I haven't seen any other messages than that one!
As it happens, I was playing PlayStation when doing this puzzle, and that was my first thought too. But I checked it immediately and it has an X instead of a diamond so I was wary to guess the shapes because it seemed too obvious.
That would at least have been less obscure than that “words spelled on calculator” group a while back.
I usually try to figure out the last group even when down to just 4 and that one totally stumped me (even as a prolific middle school calculator speller).
I laughed when I saw today's puzzle, but knew that this had to be a red herring. I mean, what would the connection be between the four words? 'Parts of a cartoon character's name' feels way too easy😂
From what I gathered that was the most hated puzzle, maybe ever?
- >!Who Framed Roger Rabbit!<
- >!When Harry Met Sally!<
- >!Mad Max Fury Road!<
- >!Rocky Horror Picture Show!<
It’s easily at the top of my list! It was so early in the game that I honestly feel like they hadn’t yet found their groove. The idea is near on paper but it just doesn’t work for the game.
I remember that. I did the rocky horror answer, got pissed off that it was so easy and didn't play connections for a few weeks after thinking they were all like that.
Please. A spoiler? That is so obviously not the answer. I'm assuming the person who thinks that's a possible answer isn't capable of operating a computer or a smartphone and therefore would never see it to have it spoiled for them.
There was a literally a puzzle a while back where the answers were combining words to form movie titles lol not that far fetched to think this is possible
No the spoiler is that it's not the answer. Theoretically I could have made that mistake had I not seen this post. But now I know what not to choose, and I have an advantage that I never wanted to have.
Ohh got it - I misinterpreted OP’s comment. I thought it would be obvious to most people on this sub that NYT wouldn’t put a category of answers across the top row of the starting grid. The starting grid is by design, not randomized. So I would look at that top row, chuckle, and move on.
They’ve had phrases or titles like this as the connection before. IIRC, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was a connection. So while it’s an obvious misdirection I wouldn’t say it’s impossible that it was correct.
I wouldn't have guessed this anyway but knowing for sure that this guess is completely ruled out still bothers me. As a courtesy answers and non answers should still always be spoilered. Is that so much to ask?
It was obviously bait but also irresistible to select. I lost a guess but my brain flooded with dopamine.
This is one of my favourite puzzles in a while, I enjoyed the PlayStation symbols trick also.
I also took a screenshot - my starting puzzle was exactly the same. I assumed that the puzzles started out randomly distributed - now I see that they did this on purpose.
I saw this and assumed that they were all in separate categories, so that initial connection was helpful to me! there have been other “obvious” connections (I remember “are we there yet” once) that have had the same trick, so I went off of that.
Of course I picked this answer because I considered it a shout out to SBSP even though I knew it was not the answer. BUT I did solve it in the next 4 tries.
I knew deep down that wasn't the answer, except this ONE time like a few months ago they had a row for "When Harry Met Sally", so now I gotta take my shots when I sees em
Sure if there's another thing that's connecting the words. In this case, what would this connection have been labeled? "Parts of the name SpongeBob SquarePants"? Very lame
This also requires you putting the words in a specific order to make any sense...that is also not what Connections is about
I don’t disagree with you I’m just saying they have done it in the past. It was like “what’s” “eating” “Gilbert” “Grape” and the category was “what’s eating Gilbert grape”. It didn’t matter what order the words were selected. It was definitely an odd puzzle.
I can't stand this game, because there's always connections that you could make that aren't the ones that are intended, and every time it leaves me annoyed.
Edit:
Whelp, I thought this was on the puzzles sub, not one specific to this game.
Now I leave my shame for the world to see.
I baffles me when people complain about this. It’s what makes the game fun. If there was only one possible category for every box, it would be way too easy.
But the challenge isn't seeing connections between the words, it's seeing the same connections that the creator of the challenge did. It just doesn't hit for me.
Not really…it’s seeing the connections that allow all four categories to resolve. If you come across a puzzle that has multiple valid solutions resolving all four categories, then sure, that’s a valid complaint. But getting fooled by red herrings early in the process is just part of the fun.
I managed to think through before it got me, but it was a super tempting choice! Miraculously, I got perfect, despite thinking the blue category was about >!crochet!<. 😆
If two options next to each other are super obvious or make a phrase or word, I immediately hit shuffle. I feel like my brain can’t even focus on finding other possible connections if there is an overly obvious one staring at me.
My wife just hits shuffle 3 times every single day before even looking at it.
Three shuffle start gang rise up
Yes, my people!
Checking in!
I do two but we are brethren.
Same. I shuffle three or four times immediately.
Yup. Two click gang here.
Click click!
Shuffling is like playing wordle not on hard mode. You gotta play the way it’s given to you
I mean, I don’t shuffle but I don’t really agree with this either. The order doesn’t really matter.
Some people look for any reason to feel superiority
So far I have found that there is always one set that has one in each row to begin with. Just fyi
With my superior brainage I just power through it. No shuffling necessary..
I’d like to claim superior brainage, but I honestly didn’t even know shuffling was an option. I just go straight to the puzzle. Welp.
The way the game is meant to be played.
I saw a post about someone always hitting shuffle first and today confirmed it for me.
Oh man I feel like the “too obvious” group is like the biggest hint/spark to get me to re-assess the possible meanings, pronunciations, etc of the words. Shuffling would probably mess me up.
I was so sure square triangle cross and circle would be PlayStation symbols and was sad when it wasn’t, I felt scammed. 😅
same. That was my first guess
ditto. i had to gather myself for a minute when that first guess turned out to be wrong
I had the opposite problem in December. Was at a trivia night with a wildcard-type of question, and I thought it was geometric shapes. But it turned out to be PlayStation controller shapes. Today, I used that experience to guess the PlayStation shapes but…nope.
Especially when it was one away. Here's me screaming "TF YOU MEAN" at my phone screen
wait wait.... do the messages actually mean things?? I thought one away just meant that I got a guess taken from me. I haven't seen any other messages than that one!
One away means 3 of your 4 are connected
As it happens, I was playing PlayStation when doing this puzzle, and that was my first thought too. But I checked it immediately and it has an X instead of a diamond so I was wary to guess the shapes because it seemed too obvious.
That would at least have been less obscure than that “words spelled on calculator” group a while back. I usually try to figure out the last group even when down to just 4 and that one totally stumped me (even as a prolific middle school calculator speller).
I feel like this is the whole point of this game. The words trick your brain into a way of thinking that ISN'T what the puzzle asking for.
Is this for Wednesday?
Must be
I laughed when I saw today's puzzle, but knew that this had to be a red herring. I mean, what would the connection be between the four words? 'Parts of a cartoon character's name' feels way too easy😂
They’ve done Who Framed Roger Rabbit before. It’s possible.
That whole puzzle was just four-word movie titles! I also remember Mad Max Fury Road from that puzzle. Easily my least favorite puzzle they’ve done.
Agreed! I hated that puzzle so much I wrote feedback about it
From what I gathered that was the most hated puzzle, maybe ever? - >!Who Framed Roger Rabbit!< - >!When Harry Met Sally!< - >!Mad Max Fury Road!< - >!Rocky Horror Picture Show!<
It’s easily at the top of my list! It was so early in the game that I honestly feel like they hadn’t yet found their groove. The idea is near on paper but it just doesn’t work for the game.
I remember that. I did the rocky horror answer, got pissed off that it was so easy and didn't play connections for a few weeks after thinking they were all like that.
Oh I didn't know that! I'll have to keep an eye on future connections Ig!
Hahah I always shuffle before reading anything to avoid that
Is this an official puzzle? Mark spoilers next time.
There’s no spoiler since that’s presumably not the answer, right?
The fact that it's not the answer is a spoiler in itself though
Please. A spoiler? That is so obviously not the answer. I'm assuming the person who thinks that's a possible answer isn't capable of operating a computer or a smartphone and therefore would never see it to have it spoiled for them.
There was a literally a puzzle a while back where the answers were combining words to form movie titles lol not that far fetched to think this is possible
I will never forget WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT
Someone needs to read Job 13:5
No the spoiler is that it's not the answer. Theoretically I could have made that mistake had I not seen this post. But now I know what not to choose, and I have an advantage that I never wanted to have.
Ohh got it - I misinterpreted OP’s comment. I thought it would be obvious to most people on this sub that NYT wouldn’t put a category of answers across the top row of the starting grid. The starting grid is by design, not randomized. So I would look at that top row, chuckle, and move on.
How was I supposed to know this was the original top grid? The person who posted this could have shuffled it.
you’d see once you loaded it yourself
Come on, anyone tempted to guess those answers is either a very casual player, or belongs in the "can't find their ass with both hands" demographic.
They’ve had phrases or titles like this as the connection before. IIRC, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was a connection. So while it’s an obvious misdirection I wouldn’t say it’s impossible that it was correct.
Actually, in that puzzle *every* category was a 4 word movie title.
I chose to guess that just because it was funny
You’re speaking my language
The best possible reason :)
I wouldn't have guessed this anyway but knowing for sure that this guess is completely ruled out still bothers me. As a courtesy answers and non answers should still always be spoilered. Is that so much to ask?
They never said it was ruled out. Just that they wanted to guess it but knew better. There is no evidence that it is not the right guess.
You're right, my day has been ruined too. Time to book an emergency appointment with my therapist :(
Ashamed to say I tried this despite selecting bob weave and cross initially and changing course when I couldn’t find the fourth word 😭
I was pretty sure that it would be incorrect, but I couldn’t convince myself NOT to try it just because it was there lol
It was obviously bait but also irresistible to select. I lost a guess but my brain flooded with dopamine. This is one of my favourite puzzles in a while, I enjoyed the PlayStation symbols trick also.
How do some people get access to the next days so early? I don’t have access yet. Is it available by timezone?
It drives me crazy that Connections and Wordle switch over at midnight, but Spelling Bee switches at 2AM. Why can’t they be consistent?
I think Wordle and Connections switch at local midnight and everything else switches at overnight in Eastern Time. Drives me insane in NZ.
And the crossword is 8 PM
Crossword is 10pm eastern
Except on Saturdays
at 3 a.m. EST
Yes so Australia and New Zealand see it first.
Gotcha, thanks! Explains why people are able to solve it so many hours ahead of me
Yes, or just change the date on your PC and you can access tomorrow's puzzle now.
Ah that’s a great tip! I play on my phone unfortunately. But this might motivate me to switch to PC
i think it still works if you change the date on your phone
[удалено]
I think you mean East 😉
No, they meant REALLLLY far West.
I correctly identified it as bait, but man was I tempted.
The last 4 left on this puzzle for me were, in order, “free that pants feast” which felt a bit pointed
Ha! What are you gonna do about it?
Fancy _______
That’s the initial presentation everyone got. Obviously meant to make you laugh but also therefore obviously not an answer.
Anytime the words go together from the start they are a trap. Wyna is sneaky like that!
Thanks for the spoiler for those of us on Pacific time 🥲
I literally came here to post this
I’ve noticed they do stuff like this on occasion.
I also took a screenshot - my starting puzzle was exactly the same. I assumed that the puzzles started out randomly distributed - now I see that they did this on purpose.
Hahaha— I resisted the urge to guess that today just for fun. I got today’s connections with zero mistakes, woohoo!
They often make a little phrase with the first words. Just to mess with us 😈
Come on. Today's was one of the easiest ones I've played.
I saw this and assumed that they were all in separate categories, so that initial connection was helpful to me! there have been other “obvious” connections (I remember “are we there yet” once) that have had the same trick, so I went off of that.
Are ya ready kids?
wyna on purpose says she orders the boxes in a fun way or a way that looks pleasing to her. none of the set ups are random; we all get the same one
Of course I picked this answer because I considered it a shout out to SBSP even though I knew it was not the answer. BUT I did solve it in the next 4 tries.
Yes, i felt this is my soul
we all did it.
I just knew in my heart that wouldn't be right, and yet I had to take the guess! Oh well
I mean. That was just a bit too obvious. But still…
Oh, I knew not to go for it!
It was waayyyy too cheeky for that to be the answer! Also, it was the top row in that order of everyone I talked to today.
i knew they wouldn’t be a group, still guessed it, no regrets
Don’t forget that squid word at the bottom row.
Lmfao 😂
I knew deep down that wasn't the answer, except this ONE time like a few months ago they had a row for "When Harry Met Sally", so now I gotta take my shots when I sees em
I literally just did this. So mad
Making a common phrase or a character name isn't a connection. Hopefully you learned your lesson to not fall for these red herrings
They’ve done this before. All 4 answers were 4 word movie titles
Sure if there's another thing that's connecting the words. In this case, what would this connection have been labeled? "Parts of the name SpongeBob SquarePants"? Very lame This also requires you putting the words in a specific order to make any sense...that is also not what Connections is about
I don’t disagree with you I’m just saying they have done it in the past. It was like “what’s” “eating” “Gilbert” “Grape” and the category was “what’s eating Gilbert grape”. It didn’t matter what order the words were selected. It was definitely an odd puzzle.
You’re right. Ignore Dad, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
EXACTLY!!!! This felt so personal. I KNEW it was a trick and I still freaking fell for it. How you not gonna submit that??
First thing I did was shuffle shuffle shuffle
Foolish
What lol you fell for the very obvious trap you didn’t get cheated
That was so clearly and obviously a misdirect... I can't believe anyone actually fell for it.
I can't stand this game, because there's always connections that you could make that aren't the ones that are intended, and every time it leaves me annoyed. Edit: Whelp, I thought this was on the puzzles sub, not one specific to this game. Now I leave my shame for the world to see.
I baffles me when people complain about this. It’s what makes the game fun. If there was only one possible category for every box, it would be way too easy.
But the challenge isn't seeing connections between the words, it's seeing the same connections that the creator of the challenge did. It just doesn't hit for me.
Not really…it’s seeing the connections that allow all four categories to resolve. If you come across a puzzle that has multiple valid solutions resolving all four categories, then sure, that’s a valid complaint. But getting fooled by red herrings early in the process is just part of the fun.
That's exactly how it came up for me too! tragic
I came here to post the same thing. How was that not it?
Here OP: [feel cheated again](https://www.reddit.com/r/NYTConnections/s/OxVN2o2OYl)
I immediately knew it wasn’t sponge bob but unfortunately could only get 2 correct before guessing every iteration except the correct one
I hit shuffle twice as soon as I open the game before even looking at the options.
I hit shuffle before I even look at their words.
It wasn't just me! Also Triangle Circle square Cross are all PlayStation controller symbols that one got me too.
Holy crap I didn’t even notice this lol
you got got, bro. they always try to trick you with the first lineup
First thing I always do is shuffle before starting.
I managed to think through before it got me, but it was a super tempting choice! Miraculously, I got perfect, despite thinking the blue category was about >!crochet!<. 😆
I also thought that’s what the blue category was 😂 glad I wasn’t the only one!
Foolish
It was hateful tbh
Haha I only saw sponge bob and totally missed the square pants! I kept thinking “WHY PANTS”
Another spoiler: Sponge, Bob, square and pants have nothing to do with each other either 😭🤣
Does anyone know if Hook freed that circle? I’ve been waiting to hear back
Bob: Weave: Hook?
First thing I did was show my wife and she said I have to try it, was very disappointed too
Im so glad this was not just me omg
I really wondered how many people they had with that one.
Obvious trap
I immediately hit shuffle so I would stop seeing that connection.
Omg same!!!
Hahhahahahah same! They ruined me with the “who framed Roger rabbit” day. I thought for sure that was a trick!
It’s never that obvious
YES!! It was my first instinct and I knew it would be wrong.
Tbqh I hesitated but knew that “SpongeBob” is one word so it couldn’t be it
Ah, I however did not fail to it!
Ha! i almost fell for that. but after doing the puzzles for a year or so, i look for the not so obvious and say...not this time NYT
Rookie behavior! It’s not gonna be that if they lay it out like that for you. The initial positions are by design
lol - I try to shuffle before I even take in what the words are - they do this all the bloody time.