Connections Becomes NYT’s Second Most Popular Game

The New York Times has solidified its position in the digital puzzle space as its latest title, Connections, climbs the ranks to become the company’s second most-played game. Since its beta launch on June 12, the game—which tasks players with sorting 16 words into four thematic categories—has seen rapid adoption.

While the viral sensation Wordle remains the undisputed leader in player engagement for the publisher, Connections has achieved significant traction. Until recently, the game was restricted to web browsers, but it is now rolling out across The New York Times and New York Times Games applications for both iOS and Android platforms.

A High Retention Puzzle

Jonathan Knight, head of games at The New York Times, noted that the title has attracted millions of players. According to the company, the game boasts a high retention rate, with approximately 90% of users completing their daily sessions regardless of whether they achieve a win or a loss.

Knight emphasized the deliberate design behind the puzzles, stating: “Each day reveals a clever, thoughtful, relevant, human-made puzzle that tries to trick you, and makes the challenge of solving it extremely rewarding.”

Strategic Growth in Gaming

The success of Connections marks the most successful in-house launch for the newspaper since the introduction of the Mini crossword. This milestone follows the recent discontinuation of Digits, a math-focused game that also operated in a beta phase.

The publisher’s focus on gaming has proven lucrative since the acquisition of Wordle last year. That purchase was credited with driving tens of millions of new users to the platform, establishing a momentum that the company is clearly looking to maintain by integrating its latest hit directly into its mobile ecosystem.