For a global sensation, Wordle has remarkably humble origins; it was first invented during the coronavirus lockdown by New York-based software developer Josh Wardle, who simply wanted a game "for me and my partner to enjoy.

Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays. Unlike its larger sibling, the NYT Mini crossword is free to play on the New York Times website or NYT Games app.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

Connections puzzles often incorporate homophones, wordplay and other clever twists, ensuring they are rarely straightforward.