Bargain hunters, it's Black Friday! You might be on the hunt for amazing deals. I've already made some purchases in the sales and won't be grabbing more unless there's a killer discount. One thing I did pick up is the virtual reality headset for PlayStation 5, but I'm not having the best time with it so far. I can't figure out how to make it sit on my head properly without blurry images when I have my glasses on. Plus, I encountered a bug that made the VR version of Trombone Champ unplayable. I'll keep using the PS VR2 for a bit longer, but I'm on the verge of returning it. Now, let's move on to today's NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, November 29.

How To Play Connections

Connections is a free and popular New York Times daily word game. A new puzzle arrives at midnight every day. You can play on the NYT website or Games app. You're presented with a grid of 16 words and your task is to group them into four sets of four by identifying the links between them. These links could be things like items you can click, names for research study participants, or words preceded by a body part. There's only one correct solution for each puzzle, so be careful as some words might fit into multiple categories. You can shuffle the words to help you see the connections. Each group is color-coded. The yellow group is usually the easiest, followed by the blue and green groups, and the purple group is the most difficult, often involving wordplay. Select four words you think belong together and press Submit. If you guess wrong, you'll lose a life. If you're close, you might get a message telling you you're one word away from the correct group. But be careful not to make four mistakes or it's game over. With the help of some hints and, if needed, today's Connections answers, let's avoid that. Just like with Wordle and other similar games, you can easily share your results on social media and group chats. If you have an NYT All Access or Games subscription, you can access the Connections archive and play any previous games you missed. For the first 60 games or so, you can find my hints via Google by adding the game date to the search query.

Yellow group — major task

In this group, we have words related to significant undertakings. For example, ENDEAVOR represents a great effort or enterprise. ENTERPRISE is all about business and innovation. PROJECT implies a planned undertaking. And VENTURE suggests a bold attempt or startup. These words all have a sense of starting or engaging in something substantial.

They are the core of what it means to take on a major task. Each one represents a different aspect of the pursuit of a goal or the initiation of a significant project. Whether it's a business venture or a personal endeavor, these words capture the essence of working towards something big.

Green group — ways to measure

Here, we have words that are associated with different methods of measurement. HERTZ is a unit of frequency used to measure waves. MOLE is a unit in chemistry used to count atoms and molecules. SECOND is a basic unit of time for measurement. And VOLT is a unit of electrical potential. These words give us an idea of the various ways we measure different things in different fields.

They provide a glimpse into the diverse world of measurements and how these units play a crucial role in our understanding of the physical and natural world. From the smallest particles to the flow of electricity, these units help us make sense of the quantitative aspects of our lives.

Blue group — diamond regulars, but not at this time of year

In this group, we have words related to the world of baseball. NATIONAL refers to the national league. RAY is the name of a team. TIGER is another team. And TWIN represents a pair of teams. These are the regulars in the baseball diamond world, but not during a specific time of the year.

They bring a sense of the baseball season and the teams that are part of it. Even when they're not actively playing, these names remain associated with the sport and its traditions. It's a reminder of the excitement and competition that baseball brings.

Purple group — “band,” “true” (twice!) and “six” would fit in here

This group is a bit more of a wordplay challenge. BOARDWALK could be related to a board or a walkway, similar to a band. CURB can refer to a curb or a restraint, like a true boundary. GAME can be associated with a game or a set, similar to a six-pack. SILICON is often associated with the technology industry, which can be seen as a band of innovation.

These words have a certain playfulness and connection that requires a bit of thinking outside the box. They show how words can have multiple meanings and associations, and how wordplay can add an extra layer of fun to the game. It's a reminder that language is a rich and flexible tool.

What Are Today’s Connections Answers?

The yellow group is undertaking, with ENDEAVOR, ENTERPRISE, PROJECT, and VENTURE. The green group is units, including HERTZ, MOLE, SECOND, and VOLT. The blue group is M.L.B team member, consisting of NATIONAL, RAY, TIGER, and TWIN. And the purple group is the first words of HBO shows, namely BOARDWALK, CURB, GAME, and SILICON.

It's interesting to see how these words come together to form distinct groups. Each group has its own theme and connection, and it's a challenge to figure them out. But with a bit of thought and some hints, we can solve the puzzle and enjoy the game.

I thought ENDEAVOR, ENTERPRISE, NATIONAL, and HERTZ would form a group of car rental companies, but I was wrong. Realizing my mistake, I swapped out NATIONAL and HERTZ to get the correct yellow group. I had a hunch about TWIN and TIGER and it took a moment to see the connection. RAY was an easy addition, and I had to recall the existence of the Washington Nationals. I initially thought GAME would go with the greens, but I was wrong. After some trial and error, I got the purples and greens for a second straight win. The shows referenced are Boardwalk Empire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Game of Thrones, and Silicon Valley. My clue mentioned Band of Brothers, True Detective, True Blood, and Six Feet Under. A MOLE is used to measure a number of molecules or atoms, and I learned something new today.

That's all for today's Connections clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog for hints and the solution for Saturday's game if you need them. There are so many great theme songs for HBO shows, and the one from True Blood was a perfect fit. If you're interested, follow my blog for more coverage of Connections and other word games, as well as some video game news, insights, and analysis. It helps me a lot! Also, follow me on Bluesky! It's a lot of fun.