Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNeed a nudge on the Wednesday, May 28, 2025, NYT Connections puzzle? These progressive hints for game #717 start with broad clues and reveal the full groups only after a clear spoiler warning.
Hints for Connections #717
Try each clue before moving to the next. The complete categories and word sets follow below.
- To bring together.
- These are parts of a popular object for active individuals.
- Think movies.
- Removing a letter makes the connection clearer.
Category hints
- One group is about ways to connect things.
- One group contains bicycle components.
- One group concerns Best Picture winners from 2000 onward.
- For the wordplay group, add one letter to music genres.
Spoilers: the complete answers
Stop here if you still want to solve the puzzle yourself. The four groups for Wednesday, May 28, 2025, game #717, are:
- CONNECT: BRIDGE, JOIN, LINK, UNITE.
- PARTS OF A BIKE: CHAIN, PEDAL, SADDLE, WHEEL.
- BEST PICTURE WINNERS SINCE 2000: CHICAGO, CRASH, GLADIATOR, MOONLIGHT.
- MUSIC GENRES PLUS A LETTER: BLUEST, POPE, ROCKY, SKAT.
How the trickiest group works
The purple category uses word additions: BLUES gains T to make BLUEST, POP gains E to make POPE, ROCK gains Y to make ROCKY, and SKA gains T to make SKAT. The resulting words are not all music genres; the connection is that each begins with a genre plus one extra letter.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#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
Why the movie category is easy to misread
The category is specifically Best Picture winners since 2000, not winners from any year. ROCKY may seem plausible if you reach for a broad Oscar-related connection, but it does not belong in this date-bounded group. The exact category boundary is the key.
About the puzzle
Connections asks players to sort sixteen words into four groups of four. It can be played through NYT Games on desktop or mobile; TechRadar describes access as free. Play Connections on NYT Games.
Quick Recap
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
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.
Sources
- Parade’s May 28, 2025 guide, with progressive hints and the answer groups.
- TechRadar’s May 27, 2025 guide, which identifies the puzzle as game #717 and confirms the categories and answers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
