Need a nudge for NYT Connections #965, dated Saturday, January 31, 2026? Start with the progressive hints below and stop before the answer key if you want to solve it yourself. A clear spoiler warning marks the full reveal.
How to use these hints
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. TechRadar describes the game as allowing up to four mistakes; it also says the game is playable on the NYT Games site and that a subscription includes access to the puzzle archive. These are TechRadar’s descriptions of the game and access, not details verified directly on the original puzzle page.
Reveal only as much as you need. The clues move from a single-word nudge to a broad category clue, then the category names and complete sets.
Progressive hints for Connections #965
One-word nudges
In yellow-to-purple order, the one-word hints are: MIXER, ROLLER, WISHBONE, and DRESS.
#1 Best Overall
- The game where _______ minds think alike!
- Prepare yourself for Blank Slate, a game of addicting predictions! How well can you put your finger on what everyone's thinking?
- Pick a Word Cue card, write the word you think best completes the phrase, and try to match it to anther player's word without giving a single hint
- Easy to learn, quick to play, and fun for the whole family; just grab a slate, write a word, and get ready to make a match. Great for large groups or small gatherings!
- Includes: Scoreboard, 8 dry-erase slates, 250 doubled-sided word cue cards, rules
Broader category clues
- Bring a present.
- Choose your color first.
- Check the alphabet.
- A common word to replace them.
Alternative clues
- Types of event.
- Tools for decoration.
- Unified by an outline of a letter.
- Think of a word that rhymes with “lift.”
Spoiler warning: full answer key below
The complete groups for the January 31, 2026 puzzle are below. Stop here if you still want to solve it without seeing the answers.
Connections answers for January 31, 2026
Forbes, TechRadar, and Parade identify this as Connections puzzle #965 and report matching groups. The original NYT puzzle page was not directly verified, so these puzzle details are attributed to those guides.
Rank #2
- STRATEGIC THINKING: Elevate the fun with this game, where players strategically choose word combinations, making it perfect for party games for adults and family, enhancing both depth and complexity.
- MULTIPLAYER FUN: Engage in multiplayer entertainment with Subtext Showdown, perfect for game nights with 3 to 6 participants, promoting communication and creative thinking in the realm of adult games for game night.
- POINTS OF PRECISION: Accumulate points by adeptly deducing associations or demonstrating telepathic synchronicity, ensuring a gratifying experience for effective communication and intuitive connections in adult board games.
- RACE AGAINST TIME: With a ticking clock, players must think quickly and make their associations before time runs out, adding an exciting element of urgency to the game.
- EXCITING PERFECT GIFT: Combine phrases from the 16 cards to form associations that friends can decode, providing an exhilarating challenge in teen-friendly card games, perfect gift for any occasion.
Yellow — Kinds of Parties
- BALL
- MIXER
- RECEPTION
- SHOWER
Green — Ways to Apply Paint
- BRUSH
- PALETTE KNIFE
- ROLLER
- SPRAY CAN
Blue — Y-Shaped Things
- SLINGSHOT
- STETHOSCOPE
- TUNING FORK
- WISHBONE
This group hinges on the objects’ shape rather than what they do: each has a Y-like form.
Purple — What “Shift” Might Refer To
- COMPUTER KEY
- DRESS
- FLUCTUATION
- WORK PERIOD
The final group uses different meanings of “shift”: a keyboard key, a style of dress, a change or fluctuation, and a period of work.
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Rank #4
- UNIQUE COOPERATIVE WORD GAME: Write one clue connecting two keywords on each clover leaf. Teammates guess which keyword pair each clue links in this inventive, laugh-out-loud word association game
- CREATIVE PARTY GAME FOR ADULTS: So Clover! challenges players to make unexpected word connections. The more creative your clues, the higher your team scores in this hilarious adult party game
- GREAT FOR WORD GAME FANS: So Clover! takes cooperative word games to the next level with a unique multi-clue clover structure that delivers fresh, surprising, and satisfying creative connections
- FAST, FUN & SOCIAL: Plays in under 30 minutes with 3-6 players ages 10 and up. So Clover! is quick to setup, with no filler, just pure creative energy and highly collaborative family fun from the very first round
- IDEAL GIFT FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES: So Clover! is the party game gift for anyone who loves wordplay and creative thinking. Easy to teach in minutes, endlessly engaging at any family game night
Rank #3
- Two teams race to identify their agents from a 5×5 grid, guided by a spymaster who knows each card’s identity
- Spymasters give one-word clues and a number to link multiple cards, encouraging creative thinking
- Teammates guess words matching the clue while avoiding the other team’s agents, bystanders, and the assassin
- Revealing the assassin ends the game instantly, adding high-stakes tension
- Teams may guess up to the clue number plus one, allowing strategic risks or revisiting old clues
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