NYT Connections Puzzle #1201 Guide: Hints and Answers for September 23

NYT Connections returned with puzzle #1201 on September 23, challenging players to sort 16 words into four thematic groups of four.

The New York Times released NYT Connections in June 2023 as a free-to-play puzzle game available worldwide on desktop and mobile. Each day, the game presents a grid of 16 words. Players have four attempts to identify the four groups by finding the words' commonalities. The groups are color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest). A single solution exists for each puzzle, though some words carry double meanings that can make grouping tricky.

For puzzle #1201, the four groups were: Yellow (things used to become a vampire): CAPE, FACE PAINT, FAKE BLOOD, FANGS. Green (things that have springs): BOBBLEHEAD, POGO STICK, SNAKES IN A CAN, TRAMPOLINE. Blue (things associated with pointing): CREATION OF ADAM, FOAM FINGER, I'M WITH STUPID SHIRT, UNCLE SAM. Purple (the hardest group): BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR.

Players can use the hints above to work through the puzzle independently before consulting the full answers. Puzzle difficulty varies daily, so some solutions may feel more intuitive than others depending on wordplay and lateral thinking required.

NYT Connections resets daily at midnight in each player's local timezone, giving players 24 hours to complete each puzzle. The game maintains a streak counter, encouraging daily returns and consistent engagement with the puzzle format.