Free connections game online: find the hidden links
Looking for a free connections game you can play online? ConnectGlyph is a daily word puzzle where you find 4 groups of 4 tiles that share a hidden theme. It's free, works in your browser, and there's a new puzzle every day.
What is a connections game?
A connections game gives you a grid of words or phrases and asks you to sort them into groups based on hidden themes. The challenge is figuring out what the groups are. Some words might look like they belong together but don't. Others share a connection you wouldn't expect.
The format got popular through the New York Times Connections puzzle. It tests a different kind of thinking than crosswords or number puzzles. You're looking for semantic relationships, wordplay, and sometimes sneaky misdirection.
ConnectGlyph is my free version of this format. Same concept: 16 tiles, 4 groups of 4, find the hidden connections. New puzzle every day at midnight UTC. Three difficulty modes. No account required. No paywalls.
How to play ConnectGlyph
The rules are simple. You see 16 tiles on a grid. Your job is to find 4 groups of 4 tiles where each group shares something in common.
1. Select 4 tiles
Tap or click 4 tiles you think belong together. Look for themes, categories, wordplay, or any connection that links them.
2. Submit your guess
Hit Submit. If you're right, the group locks in and the theme is revealed. If you're wrong, you lose a life.
3. Solve all 4 groups
Keep going until you've found all 4 connections. You get limited mistakes, so think before you guess.
The "one away" hint
ConnectGlyph gives you a helpful nudge when you're close. If you submit 4 tiles and 3 of them actually belong to the same group, you'll see "One away..." appear on screen.
This tells you that you've almost got it. One of your four tiles is wrong, but the other three are correct. Swap out the odd one and try again. It's not a giveaway, but it keeps you moving when you're stuck.
Three difficulty modes
ConnectGlyph has Easy, Medium, and Hard modes. Each one is a different puzzle for the day, so you can play all three if you want.
Easy
Straightforward categories. The connections are usually obvious once you spot them. Good for warming up or if you're new to the format.
Medium
More subtle themes. Some words could fit multiple groups. You need to think a bit harder about which connection is the "real" one.
Hard
Deliberate misdirection. Words that look like they belong together often don't. The themes might be wordplay, puns, or obscure connections.
Strategy tips for connections puzzles
After playing hundreds of these puzzles, I've noticed a few patterns that help:
Start with the obvious
If you see 4 tiles that clearly belong together, lock them in first. This reduces the noise and makes the remaining groups easier to spot.
Watch for red herrings
On harder puzzles, some tiles are designed to mislead you. If a connection seems too obvious, double check it before committing.
Use "one away" strategically
If you get "one away", don't randomly swap tiles. Think about which one doesn't quite fit. Often it's the one you were least sure about.
Think beyond the literal
Connections can be about word parts, sounds, phrases, or cultural references. "Things that can be RUNNING" might include WATER, NOSE, SHOES, and COMMENTARY.
Why play a daily connections puzzle?
Connections games train a specific kind of thinking. You're exercising semantic memory (how you store and retrieve word meanings), flexible categorization (seeing things from multiple angles), and pattern recognition.
It's also just fun. There's a real satisfaction when you suddenly see the connection you'd been missing. That "aha" moment is what keeps people coming back.
The daily format helps too. One puzzle a day means it stays fresh. You're not grinding through endless levels. You play, you solve (or don't), you come back tomorrow.
ConnectGlyph vs other connections games
There are a few connections style games out there. Here's what makes ConnectGlyph different:
I built it because I wanted a version I could play daily without hitting paywalls or having to sign up for anything. If you just want to play a quick word puzzle with your coffee, this is it.
Play ConnectGlyph now
Ready to try it? Today's puzzle is waiting. Pick a difficulty and see if you can find all 4 connections.
More free daily puzzles
ConnectGlyph is part of the GlyphVerse, a collection of free brain training games. If you like connections puzzles, you might also enjoy:
NumberGlyph
A daily number puzzle. Guess the secret number using logic and clues. Like Wordle but for digits.
Play →OpGlyph
A mental math puzzle. Fill in the operators to hit a target number. Trains arithmetic and logical thinking.
Play →HieroGlyph
A code cracking puzzle. Deduce what each glyph equals using equations. Pure logical deduction.
Play →Questions or feedback? DM me on X @numberglyph.