NEW Connections Hints and Answers for December 16: Tips to solve ‘Connections’ #554.

Connections is the latest New York Times pun it has caught the attention of the public. The game is about finding the “common threads between words.” And like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets harder and harder – so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to know today’s puzzle, you can skip to the end of this article for today’s puzzle Connections solution. But if you’d rather tackle it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to help you out.

SEE ALSO:

Mahjong, Sudoku, Free Crosswords and More: Play Games on Mashable

What are connections?

The NEW‘s latest daily pun has become a hit on social media. The Times credit associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu for helping to create the new word game and bring it to the publications’ games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and requires players to group four words that share something in common.

Each puzzle contains 16 words and each group of words is divided into four categories. These sets can consist of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Although several words seem to fit together, there is only one correct answer.

Mashable game

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Get it wrong and it counts as a mistake – players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make it easier to find connections. Additionally, each group is color-coded, with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO:

NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers for December 16

Here’s a tip for today’s Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? So try these:

Mashable Top Stories

Here are today’s Connections categories

Do you need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:

Looking for Wordle today? Here is the answer to today’s Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to come back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drum roll, please!

Today’s solution Connections #554 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Types of radio: AM, HAM, SATELLITE, WALKIE-TALKIE

  • Sort of play games: FOOD, PILLOW, SNOWBALL, WATER BALLOON

  • Snack cakes: DEVIL DOG, DING DONG, HOHO, YODEL

  • Classic Joke Staples: BAR, CHICKEN, KNOCK-KNOCK, SOUND BULB

Don’t feel down if you didn’t get it right this time. New ones are coming Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow and we will be back again to guide you with more useful tips.

SEE ALSO:

NEW Connections Sports Edition today: Tips and answers for December 16

Do you also play NYT Strands? See tips and answers for today’s Strands.

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable has games now! Check out our game hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords and more.

Not the day you’re looking for? Here is the solution to yesterday’s connections.