The NYT Connections Puzzle #867 challenged solvers on October 25, 2025, with a grid that proved deceptively difficult. The daily word association game from The New York Times featured 16 words that masked four hidden categories, each requiring lateral thinking and cultural awareness. While some players quickly identified the easier groupings, others were stumped by the more obscure connections—especially the purple category, which demanded knowledge of Oscar-winning biopics.
Puzzle Breakdown and Category Reveals
Puzzle #867 included the following confirmed categories:
- Yellow (Easy): SWINDLE
- Words: FLEECE, HOSE, HUSTLE, SHAFT
- Green (Moderate): DIGITAL WATCH FEATURES
- Words: ALARM, DATE, LIGHT, STOPWATCH
- Blue (Hard): CONFER
- Words: ACCORD, AWARD, GRANT, VEST
- Purple (Very Hard): BEST ACTOR-WINNING BIOPICS
- Words: CAPOTE, LINCOLN, MILK, RAY
The yellow category was quickly solved by many players, as the words were commonly associated with deception. The green group also proved manageable, with recognizable features of digital watches.
However, the blue and purple categories caused widespread confusion. “VEST” in the CONFER group was particularly misleading, as its usage in that context is rare. The purple group required recognition of films where actors won Academy Awards for portraying real-life figures—a niche but critical detail.
Quotes & Reactions: Solver Feedback and Expert Insight
Puzzle editor Wyna Liu, speaking via NYT Games, noted: “Connections is designed to reward both vocabulary and cultural knowledge. Today’s puzzle leaned heavily on film history and less common word usage.”
On Reddit’s r/NYTPuzzles thread, one user posted: “I was one away for 20 minutes. The biopic category was brutal unless you’re an Oscar buff.”
Another solver added: “I got SWINDLE and WATCH FEATURES quickly, but the last two took forever. VEST threw me off.”
Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) saw similar reactions, with many players sharing screenshots of near-misses and expressing frustration over the purple group.
Game Difficulty and Player Trends
Puzzle #867 ranked high in difficulty based on solver feedback and completion rates. The “One Away” feature, which alerts players when they’ve nearly solved a category, was triggered frequently today, especially in the blue and purple groups.
The biopic theme required recognition of films like:
- Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
- Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis)
- Milk (Sean Penn)
- Ray (Jamie Foxx)
These titles reference real-life figures portrayed in Oscar-winning performances, making the category both culturally rich and challenging.
What’s Next: Future Puzzles and Game Features
NYT Connections continues daily with new puzzles released at midnight ET. Players can access past puzzles via the NYT Games archive, available to subscribers.
Hints and difficulty ratings are expected to be refined in future updates, based on player feedback. The game remains one of the most popular additions to the NYT Games suite, alongside Wordle and Spelling Bee.
