Connections Hints: Oct 9, 2025

This page shows spoiler-layered hints for the NYT Connections puzzle published on Oct 9, 2025 (2025-10-09). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full group breakdown when you're ready.

Meta: Puzzle #889

Puzzle #889 · 2025-10-09

Step through today’s Connections hints

Start with broad themes, then reveal more detail about the groups and tiles only when you need it. The final button shows today's full group breakdown.

Puzzle reference: Connections #889 for 2025-10-09, edition main, with a standard four-group board. Spoiler categories and tiles stay collapsed until you open the hint layers below.

Hint 1 – overall theme

There are 4 groups in today’s puzzle.

Themes include: FANTASY, KINDS OF ROCKS, NEWS ARTICLE FEATURES and 1 more.

Hint 2 – group titles

Here are the category names for each group. Try matching the tiles in the official game to these themes before you reveal any tiles.

FANTASY
KINDS OF ROCKS
NEWS ARTICLE FEATURES
TITLE FIGURES IN CLASSIC VIDEO GAMES

Hint 3 – group tiles

Reveal the tiles for each group. If you only want a partial nudge, stop after reading one or two groups and go back to the official puzzle.

FANTASY

INVENTION

FANCY

FICTION

FIGMENT

KINDS OF ROCKS

FLINT

LIMESTONE

MARBLE

SLATE

NEWS ARTICLE FEATURES

CAPTION

DATELINE

LEDE

PHOTO

TITLE FIGURES IN CLASSIC VIDEO GAMES

GORILLA

HEDGEHOG

PLUMBER

PRINCESS

Reveal full answer

This is the full breakdown of today's Connections puzzle: group titles and all tiles, grouped together.