NYT ‘Connections’ Today: Hints And Answers For Friday, February 14

Forbes - Feb 13th, 2025
Open on Forbes

The New York Times' daily word puzzle game, Connections, invites players to identify links between 16 words arranged in a grid, forming four groups of four. Each group is color-coded, with varying difficulty levels, and only one correct solution exists for each puzzle. The game encourages skillful deduction and word association, with players allowed to make up to four mistakes before the game ends. The game has gained popularity, allowing players to share results on social media and access an archive of past puzzles with a subscription.

Despite its release aligning with Valentine's Day, today's Connections game did not feature a noticeable love theme. Instead, players navigated through associations like soundalike words and terms of endearment, testing their linguistic creativity and problem-solving skills. The blog accompanying the game provides hints and solutions, fostering a community of enthusiasts eager to discuss strategies and share experiences, exemplified by the author’s streak of perfect games and their engagement with readers through Discord and social media platforms.

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RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a detailed and generally accurate description of the Connections game, appealing to readers interested in word puzzles. It effectively explains the game's mechanics and offers useful hints, enhancing engagement for its target audience. However, the inclusion of unrelated topics and personal opinions detracts from the article's focus and clarity, potentially confusing readers. The lack of diverse sources and transparency in hint derivation limits the article's credibility. While the article is timely and engaging for its niche audience, it lacks broader public interest appeal and impact. Improving focus and coherence would enhance its overall quality.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The article provides a detailed description of the Connections game, including its rules and gameplay mechanics. These elements are generally accurate and align with typical descriptions of word games, particularly those developed by the New York Times. However, the article includes some unrelated and potentially misleading titles such as 'RFK Jr.’s Health Secretary Confirmation Live Updates' and 'Netflix’s Best New Show Is A Surefire Emmy Contender.' These could confuse readers about the article's primary focus, which is the Connections game. The article’s personal anecdotes about Valentine's Day and the author's gaming streak add color but don't require factual verification.

5
Balance

The article is primarily focused on the Connections game, offering a detailed explanation of its mechanics and hints for solving the puzzle. While it provides a thorough exploration of the game itself, it lacks balance in terms of broader perspectives or critiques of the game. The inclusion of personal opinions about Valentine's Day and unrelated topics such as RFK Jr.'s confirmation and Netflix shows could detract from the article's focus. These elements introduce a subjective tone that might skew the reader's understanding of the primary topic.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its description of the Connections game and its rules. The step-by-step explanation of the gameplay mechanics is easy to follow and informative for readers unfamiliar with the game. However, the inclusion of unrelated topics and personal opinions creates a somewhat disjointed narrative that might confuse readers about the article's main focus. The structure could be improved by separating personal anecdotes from the core content about the game.

6
Source quality

The article appears to rely on direct knowledge of the Connections game, likely sourced from the author's experience with it. However, it does not cite any external sources or references that would bolster its credibility. The lack of diverse sources or expert opinions on the game's impact or popularity limits the article's depth. The mention of unrelated news topics without proper context or sourcing further detracts from the overall quality of the information presented.

6
Transparency

The article is transparent about its subjective nature, particularly in the sections where the author shares personal opinions and experiences. However, it lacks transparency in terms of sourcing and methodology, especially regarding the hints and solutions provided for the game. There is no clear explanation of how the hints are derived or any acknowledgment of potential biases in the author's gameplay analysis. The inclusion of unrelated topics without clear connections to the main subject also reduces transparency.

Sources

  1. https://screenrant.com/todays-connections-hints-answers-614-02-14-2025/
  2. https://www.thegamer.com/nyt-connections-answer-hints-february-14-2025/
  3. https://beebom.com/nyt-connections-hints-answers-today-february-14-2025/
  4. https://www.sportskeeda.com/mobile-games/news-today-s-nyt-connections-hints-answers-february-14-2025-all-puzzle-answers
  5. https://fortniteinsider.com/nyt-connections-answers-today-614-february-14th-2025-hints-and-solutions-2-14-25/