In recent years, word and logic games have seen a massive resurgence, thanks to viral puzzles like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections by The New York Times. Among these, NYT Connections has gained particular popularity for its unique mix of pattern recognition and vocabulary challenge. As the game’s fan base grew, many online publications began providing daily tips and solutions — and one of the most popular sources is Forbes Connections Hints. This article explores everything you need to know about Forbes Connections Hints, including how they work, where to find them, and how they can help improve your puzzle-solving strategy.
What Are Forbes Connections Hints?
Forbes Connections Hints refer to the daily articles published by Forbes.com that provide clues, hints, and complete answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle. These articles, typically written by tech and entertainment writer Kris Holt, are designed to help readers navigate the sometimes tricky word groupings that Connections presents each day.
Each post provides readers with an overview of the day’s puzzle, a few helpful hints toward the correct solutions, and eventually — after spoiler warnings — the complete answers. The hints are carefully crafted to maintain the game’s fun while helping those who may be stuck on a particular level.
In short, Forbes Connections Hints have become the go-to guide for many daily Connections players looking for just the right balance of challenge and assistance.
Understanding the NYT Connections Game
Before we delve deeper into what makes Forbes Connections Hints valuable, it’s helpful to understand how the Connections game itself works.
The NYT Connections puzzle presents players with 16 words. The goal is to sort these words into four groups of four, where each group shares a hidden common theme.
For example, the words might connect by:
- Synonyms (e.g., angry, mad, irate, furious)
- Category (e.g., dog, cat, rabbit, hamster — all pets)
- Wordplay (e.g., foot, hand, heart, head — all parts of the body)
- Hidden links (e.g., Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google — all tech companies)
Each puzzle has four color-coded difficulty levels:
- 🟡 Yellow – easiest group
- 🟢 Green – medium difficulty
- 🔵 Blue – hard group, often abstract
- 🟣 Purple – hardest, usually wordplay or cultural references
With only four mistakes allowed, the puzzle can quickly become challenging — which is where Forbes Connections Hints come in handy.
How Forbes Connections Hints Are Structured
Each daily post follows a consistent and helpful structure, making it easy for players to find exactly the level of help they need. Here’s a breakdown:
Introduction
Each Forbes Connections Hints article begins with a brief introduction that explains the game, along with links to the day’s puzzle on NYT Games. The writer often adds a personal note about how challenging or enjoyable the day’s task was.
The 16 Words
The article lists all 16 words from that day’s puzzle, allowing readers to follow along easily without needing to open the game.
Tiered Hints
This is the section most players love. Forbes Connections Hints offer gentle clues for each color group — typically one per group — without revealing too much.
For example:
- Yellow group hint: “These are all about greetings.”
- Green group hint: “Think of things you can tie.”
- Blue group hint: “These might all be movie genres.”
- Purple group hint: “A tricky set — all contain the same prefix.”
These hints guide players toward the solution while leaving enough challenge intact to ensure a satisfying experience.
Single-Word Reveals
If readers still can’t figure out a group, the article provides a “one-word reveal” — one item from each set to give a further nudge. This middle ground between hints and answers keeps the game engaging.
Full Solutions
Finally, after spoiler warnings, Forbes Connections Hints reveal the complete solutions. They list the four groups, their color codes, and their shared themes.
For example:
- 🟡 Greetings: Hello, Hi, Hey, Yo
- 🟢 Movie Genres: Comedy, Horror, Drama, Action
- 🔵 Tied Items: Shoelace, Rope, Knot, Ribbon
- 🟣 Prefix Words: Submarine, Subway, Subzero, Subpar
Commentary and Observations
The writer often closes the piece with reflections on what made that day’s puzzle enjoyable — discussing misleading words (called red herrings) or tricky categories that may have thrown players off.
Why Forbes Connections Hints Are So Popular
Daily Consistency
Forbes posts these hints every day, typically before or around the time the new puzzle goes live, making it a reliable companion for daily solvers.
Balanced Difficulty
Unlike outright answer dumps, Forbes Connections Hints strikes a balance between guidance and discovery. Many players prefer this structure over spoilers found on social media or forums.
Accessible Writing Style
The articles are written in a genial, conversational tone that appeals to both casual and dedicated puzzle enthusiasts.
Trusted Publication
As one of the world’s leading media outlets, Forbes lends credibility and editorial quality to its gaming content. The site also attracts readers who might not usually explore puzzle blogs.
Archived Access
Each article links to the hints from previous days, allowing players to revisit past puzzles and track their improvement over time.
Tips on Using Forbes Connections Hints Effectively
If you enjoy solving NYT Connections but occasionally get stuck, Forbes Connections Hints can be a powerful tool — but using them wisely can help preserve the fun of the challenge. Here are some tips:
- Start without looking at hints.
- Try grouping words based on prominent themes first. This keeps your critical thinking sharp.
- Use hints selectively.
- Check Forbes hints only when you’re truly stuck on a specific color group.
- Avoid scrolling too fast.
- Each section has spoiler warnings — resist the temptation to skip ahead immediately.
- Learn from the solutions.
- After checking the complete answers, study why each group worked — this will improve your future game sense.
- Track recurring patterns.
- Forbes often covers recurring themes, such as “types of bread,” “words with homophones,” or “phrases involving numbers.” Recognizing these patterns helps you anticipate future puzzles.
The Writer Behind Forbes Connections Hints
Most Forbes Connections Hints are written by Kris Holt, a technology and culture journalist who covers puzzles, games, and digital trends. Holt’s approachable writing style makes the articles both educational and enjoyable.
He often adds personality to his daily posts, discussing which color groups tripped him up or which categories were particularly clever. This human element has helped grow a loyal readership among daily NYT Games fans.
Why Forbes Covers Games Like Connections
You might wonder why a business-focused outlet like Forbes covers puzzles such as Connections and Wordle. The reason is simple: audience engagement.
Casual gaming and mental fitness content attract millions of daily readers. Covering puzzles like Connections keeps Forbes relevant to a broader audience beyond finance and entrepreneurship. It also allows them to connect with the growing online gaming and word-game community.
Alternatives to Forbes Connections Hints
While Forbes Connections Hints are among the most popular, other sites also publish daily clues and answers, including:
- NYT official site – Offers in-game hints and past puzzle archives for subscribers.
- Tom’s Guide – Provides similar daily posts with step-by-step breakdowns.
- Today.com – Publishes quick hint summaries and difficulty analysis.
However, Forbes remains one of the best because of its clarity, structure, and balance between hints and solutions.
Conclusion: Why Forbes Connections Hints Are the Perfect Puzzle Companion
If you’re a regular NYT Connections player, Forbes Connections Hints are your ideal daily partner. They strike the perfect balance between offering assistance and maintaining the thrill of solving. With clear structure, consistent publishing, and an engaging tone, these hints make solving the puzzle both fun and educational.
