Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Need help with NYT Connections for Friday, February 20, 2026? This is puzzle #985. Start with the spoiler-safe group hints below; the four categories and all 16 answers are farther down. February 20, 2025 was a different puzzle, #620.
Hints for Connections #985
Each hint points toward a group without giving away its four words. The clues below follow the puzzle’s color order, from yellow to purple.
- Yellow: An immediate solution.
- Green: Lunar links.
- Blue: Property trading game pieces.
- Purple: Connected to a name that rhymes with “back.”
How to approach the puzzle
Look for a shared idea that accounts for four words, not just a pair that seems related. Connections deliberately includes words that could fit more than one category, so consider alternate meanings before submitting a group. If a clue feels broad, use the colors as a rough guide: yellow is easiest and purple is trickiest, according to the New York Times Connections help article.
For this grid, the hints suggest testing both literal and cultural associations: something that solves a problem, links to the moon, belongs among classic Monopoly tokens, or can follow the name “Jack.”
Spoilers: categories and answers for #985
Stop here if you want to solve the grid before seeing the full answers.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | QUICK FIX | EASY ANSWER, MAGIC WAND, PANACEA, SILVER BULLET |
| Green | ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOON | ECLIPSE, GREEN CHEESE, TIDE, WEREWOLF |
| Blue | ORIGINAL MONOPOLY TOKENS | BOOT, IRON, THIMBLE, TOP HAT |
| Purple | WHAT “JACK” MIGHT REFER TO | CHEESE, DONKEY, PLAYING CARD, SOCKET |
The puzzle’s 16 words were MAGIC WAND, ECLIPSE, TOP HAT, DONKEY, TIDE, PLAYING CARD, WEREWOLF, BOOT, SILVER BULLET, IRON, CHEESE, GREEN CHEESE, SOCKET, PANACEA, THIMBLE, and EASY ANSWER. The solution and clue set were published by TechRadar’s February 19, 2026 guide to game #985.
Rank #2
When does Connections reset, and can you play old puzzles?
The daily puzzle releases at midnight in the player’s timezone. The New York Times says Connections is free to play on its supported platforms. Its archive goes back to June 12, 2023, but access is for All Access and Games subscribers; archived games affect statistics, not streaks, and a completed archived puzzle cannot be replayed. See the NYT Connections help article for the game’s rules and archive details.
Quick Recap
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.
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 glitches
