The New York Times continues to expand its lineup of daily puzzle games with Connections, a word challenge that asks players to find hidden relationships between seemingly unrelated words. The June 2 puzzle (#1087) offers a mix of straightforward vocabulary, British food references, heraldic terminology and a particularly tricky Purple category based on modal auxiliary verbs. Some groups are easier to spot than others, making today's puzzle a balanced challenge for both new and experienced players. This guide includes spoiler-free hints, the complete answers and a quick explanation of how the game works.
What is NYT's ‘Connections’ game
Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times that challenges players to identify groups of related words.
The game features four colour-coded categories arranged by difficulty. Yellow is usually the most accessible category, followed by Green and Blue, while Purple often relies on wordplay or less obvious connections.
Players are presented with 16 words and must sort them into four groups of four. The challenge lies in discovering the hidden relationship that links each set of words together.
NYT Connections hints for today
- Yellow: Terms associated with secrecy and confidential information
- Green: Popular potato dishes commonly served in Britain
- Blue: Elements found in traditional heraldic displays
- Purple: Two-word phrases ending with modal auxiliary verbs
NYT Connections answers for June 2, 2026
Here are the correct groupings for today's puzzle:
- Yellow – CLANDESTINE: CLOAK-AND-DAGGER, COVERT, HUSH-HUSH, TOP SECRET
- Green – BRITISH POTATO DISHES: BUBBLE AND SQUEAK, CHIPS, JACKET POTATO, MASH
- Blue – HERALDIC ACHIEVEMENTS: COAT OF ARMS, CREST, HELMET, SHIELD
- Purple – ENDING IN MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS: CAPE MAY, FREE WILL, GRAPE MUST, TIN CAN
How to play NYT Connections
The puzzle presents 16 words arranged in a grid, and your goal is to organise them into four groups of four words that share a hidden connection. A new Connections puzzle is released daily through The New York Times Games section and the NYT mobile app. Players should examine all 16 words carefully and look for obvious relationships first, as identifying one category can make the remaining groups easier to solve. Once you think you've found a valid connection, select the four related words and submit them as a group. Correct answers are locked into place automatically. Since players have a limited number of mistakes before the game ends, careful observation and strategic elimination are often the keys to success.
Other NYT games to explore
If you enjoy Connections, The New York Times also offers several other popular daily puzzle games:
- Wordle: Guess a five-letter word in six attempts
- Spelling Bee: Form as many words as possible using a specific set of letters
- The Mini Crossword: A compact daily crossword challenge
- Strands: A themed word-search puzzle built around hidden connections and patterns