Leave it to The New York Times to create a word game that’s both challenging and addictive! Connections continue to captivate puzzle lovers with its clever categories and thought-provoking gameplay. For those tackling today’s puzzle on January 5, 2025, we’ve covered you with hints and the final answers to help you through.
If today’s game left you scratching your head, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Let’s dive into how the game works, today’s hints, and the answer that has everyone talking.
How to Play Connections
The beauty of Connections lies in its simplicity, but don’t let that fool you—it’s harder than it looks! The game presents players with a grid of 16 words, and the challenge is to group the words into four distinct categories of four words each.
Each category is ranked by difficulty:
- Yellow: Easier categories to solve.
- Green: Moderate level of difficulty.
- Blue: More challenging than the previous levels.
- Purple: The trickiest category to figure out.
Once you identify a group of four related words, you click “submit.” If your guess is correct, the group’s category color appears, and you move on to the next group. But beware—one wrong guess could throw off your entire strategy!
Connections Hints for January 5
Before revealing the answers, here are some helpful hints for today’s game:
- Words that evoke a sense of stillness or quiet.
- Terms that describe how you might make money or profit.
- Control functions commonly found on electronic devices.
- Items or actions associated with a type of percussion.
Use these hints to guide your guesses—but if you’re still stuck, keep reading for the solution.
Behind the Scenes: How Connections Is Created
Connections editor Wyna Liu recently shared her insights into the game’s development process in an interview with Slate. According to Liu, creating the boards is as much a creative journey as it is a structured process.
“I have a notebook where I keep category ideas,” Liu explained. “When I sit down to make boards, I’ll take one of those ideas and start spinning off them. Sometimes, it goes in surprising directions. I feel like that’s one of the most joyful things about making games.”
Liu’s unique approach ensures that each puzzle is fresh, challenging, and filled with unexpected connections that keep players engaged.
Connections January 5, 2025: The Answer
If you’ve been puzzling over today’s game, here’s the solution you’ve been waiting for:
Categories and Words
- Hardly Bustling:
- CALM
- QUIET
- SLEEPY
- SLOW
- Earn:
- GROSS
- MAKE
- NET
- YIELD
- Remote Control Functions:
- HOME
- MUTE
- STOP
- VOLUME
- Words Before “Drum”:
- EAR
- KETTLE
- OIL
- SNARE
Why We Love Connections
Connections is more than just a word game—it’s a brain workout that challenges players to think creatively and spot relationships between seemingly unrelated words. Each board is a small masterpiece, reflecting the thought and creativity that go into its design.
Whether you play daily or just dabble occasionally, Connections offers a satisfying mix of logic, language, and a little bit of luck.
What Did You Think?
Did today’s puzzle stump you, or did you breeze through it? Share your experiences and strategies in the comments below—we’d love to hear how you approached today’s game,
