Solving NYT Connections #673 – A Fun Puzzle with a Gen X Twist
Hey everyone! So if you’re anything like me, your daily brain boost includes tackling Connections , the word game that’s seriously taken off thanks to The New York Times. And today's edition — puzzle #673 for April 14 — had a clever and nostalgic twist that I absolutely loved, especially if you're into pop culture or grew up in the Gen X era.
Let’s dive into it! If you're unfamiliar with Connections , the goal is to group 16 words into four groups of four, all based on a common theme. It sounds simple, but trust me, the purple category alone can throw you for a loop.
For April 14’s puzzle, the categories ranged from intuitive to brain-bending — here's a breakdown, but don’t worry, I’ll ease into the spoilers.
We start with the Yellow group , which was the most straightforward: all the words had to do with restriction. The words were block, check, dam, and stop . Once you spot that shared theme of holding something back or putting a limit on it, it clicks. Nice confidence boost right at the start.
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Then comes the Green group — this one was kind of fun. The theme? Ticketed events. So think about things you’d typically buy tickets for: concert, game, movie, and play . It felt like a night out, just in puzzle form.
Now, here’s where things got nostalgic for me — the Blue group theme was all about The Oregon Trail game. Yes, the one that dominated computer labs in the '90s. The words? Dysentery, ford, hunt, and oxen . I mean, how can you not get flashbacks to your virtual family tragically dying of dysentery on that trail west? That hit hard and funny at the same time.
And finally, the Purple group — always the trickiest. The clue was "What 'Ford' might refer to." A bit abstract, right? But once you crack the code, it’s super satisfying. The words were actor, car, director, and president . That’s right — Harrison Ford, Ford vehicles, film director John Ford, and President Gerald Ford. A surprisingly diverse set of references for one name, but that’s Connections for you!
I have to give a shoutout to Gael Fashingbauer Cooper from CNET, who not only covered the puzzle but pointed out how delightfully Gen X some of the answers were — especially that Oregon Trail set. If you've read her books like Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? or The Totally Sweet '90s , this puzzle probably felt like a sweet little throwback.
Also, if you're looking to up your Connections game, The New York Times has a new "Connections Bot" — it tracks your stats and even gives you a score breakdown. Perfect if you're a bit of a word nerd like me and want to see how you’re progressing.
So, there you have it — puzzle #673 cracked and explained. Whether you guessed them all or needed a few hints, it’s all part of the fun. Tomorrow’s another round, and I’m already looking forward to it. Let me know if you got stuck on any groups or if that Oregon Trail clue made you laugh as much as I did. Happy puzzling!
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