The New York Times Connections
The New York Times Connections

NEW YORK — The New York Times Connections puzzle for May 23, 2026, numbered 1077, featured four categories with the following groupings according to official solutions published by the newspaper and multiple review sites.

The yellow category, rated as the easiest, was "hairdos." The words were beehive, bouffant, chignon and pompadour.

The green category was "more readily." The words were first, preferably, rather and sooner.

The blue category was "Marvel characters." The words were Daredevil, Hawkeye, Nightcrawler and Wolverine.

The purple category, typically the most challenging, was "words after 'The' in 'Star Wars' movie titles." The words were Empire, Force, Last and Phantom.

The 16 words presented in the grid were: beehive, bouffant, chignon, pompadour, first, preferably, rather, sooner, Daredevil, Hawkeye, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Empire, Force, Last and Phantom.

Game Mechanics and Solving Process

Connections presents players with 16 words that must be sorted into four groups of four based on shared themes. Players select four words at a time and submit their guess. The game provides feedback with colored tiles: yellow for the easiest category, green for the next, blue for the third and purple for the most difficult.

Mistakes are limited to four before the puzzle ends. Many players aim for a perfect game by identifying all categories without errors. The May 23 puzzle allowed solvers to connect hairstyles, synonyms for preference, comic book heroes and Star Wars subtitles.

Previous Day Comparison

The May 22, 2026, puzzle No. 1076 had these categories: "reach back out" with check in, follow up, reconnect and touch base; "the way things are done" with convention, custom, social norm and unwritten rule; "places with conveyor belts" with assembly line, baggage claim, checkout lane and revolving sushi bar; and "starting with name homophones" with carry-on, El Niño, loosey-goosey and tailor-made.

Popularity of Connections

Since its launch, Connections has grown alongside Wordle as part of The New York Times Games portfolio. Millions of players engage daily, often sharing results on social media using emoji grids that preserve the color sequence without spoiling specific words. The game resets at midnight in each time zone.

The May 23 edition fell on a Saturday, when many players reported having additional time to solve. Community discussions highlighted the Marvel category as recognizable for fans of the franchise and the Star Wars purple group as a strong closer for those familiar with the film series.

Strategies for Solving

Common approaches include scanning for obvious clusters such as proper nouns or repeated themes. In the May 23 puzzle, the Marvel superheroes provided a clear blue category for many. Hairstyle terms also stood out due to their specific cultural associations.

Players often start with words that have multiple potential meanings. "Rather" could relate to preference or degree, while "Phantom" linked directly to the Star Wars category once other groups were identified. Sites recommend eliminating confirmed categories before tackling harder ones.

Companion Features and Hints

The New York Times publishes a Connections Companion article that includes hints and discussion for each daily puzzle. For No. 1077, the companion provided progressive reveals and context for the categories. Third-party sites like CNET and The Word Finder offered additional pre-solve hints and post-solve confirmations.

Broader NYT Games Ecosystem

Connections runs parallel to Wordle, which on May 23, 2026, had the answer CHUCK. Other daily games include Spelling Bee, Strands and the Mini Crossword. Subscribers gain access to archives and ad-free play, while basic access remains free for the core daily puzzles.

In 2026, The New York Times has maintained steady updates to its games without major rule changes to Connections. The puzzle format encourages vocabulary building and lateral thinking. Difficulty varies, with Saturday puzzles sometimes featuring pop culture references like those in the May 23 edition.

Community Engagement

Solvers frequently discuss challenging categories on forums and social platforms. The Marvel and Star Wars themes in puzzle 1077 resonated with overlapping fan bases. Some players noted the hairdos category required specific knowledge of vintage and formal styles.

Performance statistics shared by users include streak lengths and perfect solve rates. The purple category in many puzzles, including potential connections in the May 23 Star Wars group, often separates casual players from dedicated ones.

Historical Context

Connections was created by Josh Wardle's team and integrated into The New York Times offerings. Puzzle numbering reached the 1070s by mid-2026, reflecting consistent daily releases since launch. Each edition contributes to an expanding archive of thematic word groups.

The May 23, 2026, solution highlighted diverse knowledge areas — fashion, language nuances, comic books and film — typical of the game's appeal. Official answers are confirmed directly from The New York Times after the daily reset.

Players who missed the May 23 puzzle can access the solution through the NYT Games site or companion articles. The game continues to attract new and returning users with its mix of accessibility and challenge.

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