Sort 16 words into 4 hidden groups. Unlimited puzzles, any time.
- Free
- Unlimited
- Easy · Medium · Hard
- No sign-up
Connections Unlimited - Free Word Puzzle Game
Connections Unlimited is the free, unlimited version of the popular word-grouping puzzle. Every round you get 16 words and sort them into 4 groups of 4, each sharing a hidden theme.
Play as many rounds as you like in Easy, Medium or Hard mode. No account, no download - just open the page and start connecting.
Unlimited puzzles
Keep playing after the daily puzzle is done, with fresh boards added regularly.
Three difficulties
From relaxed Easy boards to devious Hard wordplay for seasoned solvers.
Fast on any device
A light page that opens quickly on phones, tablets and desktops.
Dark and light themes
Dark by default for comfortable play, with one tap to switch to light.
Share your grid
Copy a spoiler-free colour grid and challenge your friends.
Free, no sign-up
No account, no download and no subscription. Open the page and play.
The Four Colour Groups Explained
Every puzzle hides four categories. Once you solve one, it is revealed in a colour that hints at how tricky the link was, which helps you decide what to tackle next.
Colour guide
- Yellow - straightforward. A plain, literal theme such as types of fruit or things in a kitchen.
- Green - easy to medium. Still fairly direct, but may need a second look, like words that follow the same word.
- Blue - trickier. Often relies on a less obvious meaning of the words, trivia or pop culture.
- Purple - hardest. Wordplay territory: hidden words, homophones, missing letters or shared patterns.
Quick facts
- 16 words on every board.
- 4 groups of exactly four words each.
- 4 mistakes allowed before the round ends.
- Unlimited rounds in Easy, Medium and Hard.
The colour order is a guide, not a rule. Red herrings can make an “easy” group the last one you find.
How to Play Connections Unlimited
Study All 16 Words
Before selecting anything, read every word on the board. Some words have multiple meanings, so what seems obvious at first might belong to an unexpected group. Take a breath and look for patterns before you tap.
Discover the Shared Theme
Look for the thread connecting exactly four words. Themes can be straightforward (types of fruit, capital cities) or lateral (words that follow "day", homophones, hidden phrases). The hardest purple group often relies on wordplay.
Select Four Words & Submit
Tap or click the four words you believe share a theme. When all four are highlighted, press Submit. If correct, the group reveals its colour and category. You have four mistakes in total, so save guesses for when you are confident.
Easy, Medium or Hard: Which Should You Play?
Choose a difficulty with the buttons in the game. Each new puzzle uses the level you have selected, so you can change it whenever you like.
Easy
Clear themes and fewer red herrings. Ideal for learning the format, warming up or playing with family.
FIG · PLUM · PEAR · LIMEMedium
A balanced mix of literal and lateral links. The best starting point if you have played similar word games before.
FLY · WORK · PLACE · TRUCKHard
Overlapping categories, deliberate decoys and heavy wordplay. Built for solvers who want a real fight.
BLOOM · CHAIR · BRAIN · STALEStrategies to Solve Every Board
A few habits separate a lucky guess from a clean sweep. Try them on your next round.
- Read all 16 words first. Do not tap anything until you have scanned the whole board. Patterns often only show up when you see every word at once.
- Start with certainty. Solve the group you are most sure about. Removing four words makes the rest of the board far easier to read.
- Hunt for decoys. If five or more words seem to fit one theme, at least one belongs elsewhere. Work out which word has a second home.
- Check other meanings. Many words are both a noun and a verb, or have two unrelated meanings. Ask what else each word could be.
- Shuffle the board. A fresh layout breaks the visual order of the tiles and can reveal links your eye skipped.
- Do not guess when torn. If a fourth word could fit two groups, find a different group first. Mistakes are limited, so save them.
- Leave purple for last. The hardest group is often easiest by elimination once the other three are solved.
Common Types of Connections
Most categories fall into a handful of families. Recognise them and the board opens up.
Words that go with a word
Four words that can all follow, or precede, the same word.
FIRE ___ : FLY · WORK · PLACE · TRUCKSound-alikes
Homophones that sound the same but are spelled differently.
WEEK · WEAK · WAIT · WEIGHTHidden words
A smaller word tucked inside each longer word.
CHAIRMAN · MACHINE · BEARD · COLLEGEDrop a letter
Remove the first letter and each word becomes a new one.
BLOOM · CHAIR · BRAIN · STALEWords that are names
Everyday words that double as first names.
ROSE · HOLLY · IVY · DAISYCommon decoys
Words with several meanings that tempt you into the wrong group.
BAT · BARK · BOW · SEALWhy Word Puzzles Make a Great Daily Habit
A workout for vocabulary and lateral thinking
Word-grouping puzzles ask you to hold several meanings of a word in mind at once. That switch between literal and figurative thinking is what makes a good board satisfying, and it is a fun way to meet new words and phrases.
Short sessions that fit any day
A round takes a few minutes, so it fits a coffee break, a commute or the gap before a meeting. Because puzzles are unlimited, you can play one round or ten, and stop whenever you like.
Better with friends
Puzzles are more fun when you can compare notes. Share the game with friends, trade tips on tough categories and challenge each other to finish without a mistake.
Play More Free Word Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules of Connections Unlimited?
Find four words that share a hidden connection, select them and press Submit. Each puzzle has 16 words split into four colour-coded groups: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue and Purple (hardest). You are allowed four mistakes per puzzle. Solve all four groups to win.
How is Connections Unlimited different from NYT Connections?
The New York Times publishes one Connections puzzle per day. Connections Unlimited gives you unlimited puzzles with selectable Easy, Medium and Hard difficulty so you can keep playing whenever you want. It is an independent fan project and is not affiliated with The New York Times.
What are the best tips for solving Connections?
Start with the group you are most sure about, watch for red herrings that fit several groups, think laterally about slang, pop culture, wordplay and hidden words, use Shuffle to see new patterns, and avoid guessing when two groups feel equally likely.
Can I share my results on social media?
Yes. After completing a puzzle, tap Share Results to copy a colour-coded emoji grid to your clipboard and paste it into X, Instagram Stories, WhatsApp or anywhere your friends play.
Is Connections Unlimited free to play?
Yes, it is completely free. No account, subscription or download is required. Open the site in any modern browser on desktop or mobile and start playing.