The New York Times’ Connections puzzle continues to captivate online players with its daily word-matching challenges. Created with help from associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, the game has become a viral sensation alongside other popular Times word games. Today’s puzzle, #1167 for August 21, 2026, offers a manageable difficulty level, particularly for those with knowledge of theater and performance terminology.
The gameplay mechanics remain straightforward: players must identify connections among 16 words organized into four distinct categories. Each correct grouping removes those words from the board, while incorrect guesses count against a limit of four mistakes. The puzzle board can be shuffled to help players spot patterns, and categories are color-coded from yellow (easiest) through green, blue, and purple (most challenging). Sharing results with friends on social media adds a competitive element similar to Wordle.
Today’s four categories include essential animal needs, theatrical performance cues, phrases containing “kids,” and expressions featuring “once in a.” The solutions encompass words like nutrition, oxygen, sleep, and water for the yellow category, while the green section features action-related terms including “curtain up” and “showtime.” Blue and purple categories require recognizing “comeback kids,” “karate kids,” and phrases such as “blue moon” and “once in a lifetime.”
Originally reported by Mashable →
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