A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1206
hints & answers for September 29, 2026

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 September 29, 2026. 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 H, R, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HIDDEN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SECLUDED

Reveal all four words
  • HIDDEN
  • REMOTE
  • SECRET
  • TUCKED AWAY

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DELTA belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RIVER FEATURES

Reveal all four words
  • DELTA
  • DRAINAGE BASIN
  • MOUTH
  • STREAM BED

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FINDING belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS

Reveal all four words
  • FINDING
  • INSIDE
  • MONSTERS
  • TOY

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FREEZE TAG belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS

Reveal all four words
  • FREEZE TAG
  • HOME GAME
  • MODEL TANK
  • ORAL PHASE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: SECLUDED
  • Green: RIVER FEATURES
  • Blue: FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS
  • Purple: PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SECLUDED

HIDDEN · REMOTE · SECRET · TUCKED AWAY

Green

RIVER FEATURES

DELTA · DRAINAGE BASIN · MOUTH · STREAM BED

Blue

FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS

FINDING · INSIDE · MONSTERS · TOY

Purple

PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS

FREEZE TAG · HOME GAME · MODEL TANK · ORAL PHASE

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.