A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #581
hints & answers for January 12, 2025

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows January 12, 2025. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with F, F, F and I. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FAIRY TALE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FABRICATION

Reveal all four words
  • FAIRY TALE
  • FANTASY
  • FICTION
  • INVENTION

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, C, P and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHARM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WOO

Reveal all four words
  • CHARM
  • COURT
  • PURSUE
  • ROMANCE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, B, C and D. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

ASTEROIDS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CLASSIC ATARI GAMES

Reveal all four words
  • ASTEROIDS
  • BREAKOUT
  • CENTIPEDE
  • DEFENDER

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, C, D and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COIN TOSS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS FEATURING TAILS

Reveal all four words
  • COIN TOSS
  • COMETS
  • DRESS COAT
  • SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Show categories only
  • Yellow: FABRICATION
  • Green: WOO
  • Blue: CLASSIC ATARI GAMES
  • Purple: THINGS FEATURING TAILS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

FABRICATION

FAIRY TALE · FANTASY · FICTION · INVENTION

Green

WOO

CHARM · COURT · PURSUE · ROMANCE

Blue

CLASSIC ATARI GAMES

ASTEROIDS · BREAKOUT · CENTIPEDE · DEFENDER

Purple

THINGS FEATURING TAILS

COIN TOSS · COMETS · DRESS COAT · SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.