Keiko’s Words vs Connections
Published · Updated
Which is better, Keiko’s Words or Connections?
It depends on how you like to think. Connections hands you sixteen words and asks you to find the four hidden groups, so it rewards spotting categories and avoiding red herrings. Keiko’s Words hands you a single clue and asks for the word behind it, so it rewards association and vocabulary. If Connections’ purple group stresses you out, Keiko’s Words is the calmer of the two, because every word gets easier the longer you play.
Side by side
| Keiko’s Words | Connections | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Guess 3 secret words | Sort 16 words into 4 groups |
| Help as you go | Each wrong guess reveals an easier clue | None; four mistakes ends the game |
| Skill tested | Associations and vocabulary | Categorization and lateral thinking |
| Price (as of October 2026) | Free for the last 3 days; archive $1.99 USD/month | Free daily; archive with a NYT Games subscription |
Can you play both?
Yes, and they pair well. Both take about five minutes and both are about what words mean, from opposite directions.
See also: Keiko’s Words vs Wordle · Games like Wordle
Try today’s Keiko’s Words