Meet Wyna Liu, the mastermind behind the addictive word game Connections, who is here to share her wisdom on how to up your game.
Initially a crosswords editor at The New York Times, Liu was instrumental in the development of Connections. During a 2021 brainstorming session at NYT, the idea was born to create engaging games for their platform. Thus, The Connections was brought to life, with its beta version going live on June 12, 2023.
Reflecting on the immense success of Connections, Liu, who recently celebrated her first year at the company, expressed her joy at creating something that resonates with players worldwide, becoming the second most popular game on NYT after the global phenomenon, Wordle.
In Connections, players unravel a common theme among 16 words grouped into four categories, each with four words. The game presents a challenge with each color representing a different difficulty level, and players have four chances before being stumped.
Liu’s game development process involves incorporating player feedback and continually refining the experience. She strategically places words on the board, sometimes creating deceptive clusters to keep players on their toes.
When designing the weekly puzzles, Liu draws inspiration from daily life and suggestions from readers. Her meticulous approach involves maintaining a spreadsheet of ideas and always keeping a notebook close for sudden bursts of creativity.
She advises players to avoid premature guesses and strategically deduce word categories to maximize success. With a gentle reminder to avoid impulsive moves, Liu recommends taking your time and exploring different word groups before making crucial decisions.
Remember, patience is key in mastering Connections—strategic thinking will always trump hasty decisions in this game of skill and deduction.