Waking up and opening the New York Times Games app feels like a ritual for millions of us. It’s that brief window of time before the coffee kicks in where we try to prove we're smarter than a grid of sixteen words. Some days, it's a breeze. Other days, like today, the NYT Connections hints January 29 puzzle feels like it was designed by someone who genuinely wants to see us fail. It is frustrating. It’s also brilliant.
The beauty of Connections lies in its deception. You see a word and your brain immediately hooks it to another. But Wyna Liu—the puzzle's editor—knows exactly how your brain works. She plants those red herrings specifically to drain your four lives before you've even realized what hit you. If you’re staring at the screen today feeling like the words are written in a foreign language, don't worry. We've all been there.
Why Today’s Connections Is Tripping Everyone Up
The January 29 puzzle relies heavily on "lateral thinking." This isn't just about knowing what words mean; it’s about knowing how they behave in different contexts. One word might be a noun in one category and a verb in another. This "parts of speech" pivot is the oldest trick in the book, yet we fall for it every single time.
Honestly, the crossover today is brutal. You might see words that look like they belong to a specific hobby or industry, but they’re actually linked by a much weirder, more abstract thread. This is why you can't just click the first four related words you see. You have to look for the "leftovers."
The Yellow Category: The Literal Foundation
Usually, the yellow group is the "gimme." It's the straightforward connection that doesn't require a PhD in linguistics. Today, the yellow category focuses on STRENGTH OR STABILITY.
Think about things that hold something up or provide a base. If you're looking at words like PILLAR, POST, STAKE, or COLUMN, you’re on the right track. These are all physical objects used for support. It’s simple, but it’s easy to overlook if you’re trying to find a more complex meaning.
Don't overthink this one. If the words literally describe a vertical support beam, they belong together. It's the "straight man" of the puzzle today, providing a solid (pun intended) start so you can focus on the real headaches coming up in the purple and blue sections.
Breaking Down the Green Category
Green is usually one step up in difficulty. It often involves a specific "theme" like movies, sports, or a common phrase. For the NYT Connections hints January 29 set, the green category revolves around TERMS IN A SPECIFIC GAME.
💡 You might also like: Is The First Descendant Ines Actually Real? The Truth Behind the Rumors
Specifically, we’re looking at POKER.
- ANTE
- BLUFF
- CHIP
- FOLD
Now, here is where the red herrings live. "Chip" could easily go with "Potato" or "Computer." "Fold" could be about laundry. "Bluff" could be a geographical feature. This is the "overlap" that kills your streak. When you see these words, ask yourself: Is there a more specific category they fit into? In this case, the gambling/poker connection is the strongest bond.
Blue Category: A Bit More Abstract
Blue is where things get "clever." It’s not just a theme; it’s a linguistic pattern. Today’s blue category is about WORDS THAT FOLLOW A SPECIFIC PREFIX OR SUFFIX.
This is a favorite tactic of the NYT editors. They take four words that seemingly have nothing in common—maybe CAKE, WALK, SPACE, and BACK—and hide the fact that they all follow the word FIRE.
(Note: These are illustrative examples of the type of connection, though the actual January 29 puzzle uses HEAD as the connector).
- STRONG: Headstrong.
- WAY: Headway.
- PHONE: Headphone.
- START: Headstart.
When you see words like "phone" and "strong" in the same grid, your brain doesn't naturally put them together. You have to mentally cycle through common prefixes. Try "Air-," "Back-," "Home-," and "Head-." Eventually, the pieces click.
The Dreaded Purple Category: The Final Boss
The purple category is the reason people throw their phones across the room. It’s often meta. It might be "Words that are also names of 70s rock bands" or "Words that contain a hidden color."
For the NYT Connections hints January 29, the purple group is a classic "FILL IN THE BLANK" or "REVERSE WORDPLAY." The connection today? ___ OF THE ____.
Think about phrases like GHOST OF THE OPERA (Wait, no, that's Phantom). Let’s try STATE OF THE UNION, SIGN OF THE TIMES, LADY OF THE LAKE, or PRIDE OF THE FLEET.
Purple is almost always easier to solve by process of elimination. If you can lock in yellow, green, and blue, purple just falls into place. But if you're trying to solve purple first? Good luck. You’re playing on "Hard Mode."
Tactics to Save Your Streak
If you're down to your last mistake, stop clicking. Seriously. Close the app for ten minutes. Your brain gets stuck in "neural ruts" where you keep seeing the same false patterns over and over. When you come back with fresh eyes, that "poker" connection might jump out at you instantly.
✨ Don't miss: Finding Every Ocarina of Time Skulltulas Reward Without Losing Your Mind
Another trick? Shuffle the board. The default layout is designed to group red herrings near each other. Shuffling forces your brain to re-evaluate each word in isolation. It breaks the visual spell the editor has cast on you.
Common Misconceptions About Connections
A lot of players think the categories are always nouns or always verbs. They aren't. A category can be "Verbs that are also types of fruit" (like Blackberry or Plummet—okay, maybe not plummet, but you get the idea).
Also, don't assume the difficulty is always Yellow -> Green -> Blue -> Purple. Sometimes, the purple category is actually the most obvious to you personally because of your specific hobbies or background. If you’re a professional poker player, today’s green category is your yellow.
Actionable Steps for Today's Puzzle
- Identify the Supports: Look for the four words that describe a physical post or pillar first. This clears the "Yellow" category and thins the herd.
- Check for Poker Terms: Once the pillars are gone, look for the betting terms. "Ante" and "Fold" are the big giveaways here.
- The "Head" Test: Try adding the word "Head" in front of the remaining adjectives. If "Strong" and "Way" are there, you've found your Blue.
- Eliminate the Rest: Whatever four words are left—no matter how nonsensical they seem—are your Purple category. Trust the process.
The most important thing to remember is that Connections is a game of patience. The NYT Connections hints January 29 puzzle is a test of how well you can resist the obvious answer in favor of the right one. Take your time, shuffle often, and don't let the red herrings win.
Go back into the grid now. Look for those vertical supports. Find the poker stakes. See if you can spot the "Head-" words. You’ve got this.