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This is the archived NYT Connections puzzle for Thursday, October 16, 2025, game #858—not the current daily puzzle. Choose how much to reveal: start with spoiler-light nudges, then uncover the category clues and full answer sets below.
How to play this Connections puzzle
Connections gives you 16 words to sort into four groups of four, with each group sharing a theme. The links can be direct categories or depend on a less literal connection.
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Spoiler-free hints for game #858
Try these broad clues before looking at a category name or answer:
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- A group of baked fruit sweets.
- Words describing irritable or touchy moods.
- Animals you might catch on a line.
- Familiar phrases that follow the word “banana.”
One-word reveals
If you need a little more help, one representative tile from each group is: TART, SOUR, FLUKE, and BOAT. The words are listed in the order of the groups below.
Category clues
- Yellow: Fruit desserts
- Green: Crabby
- Blue: Fish
- Purple: “Banana ____”
Complete answers for Connections #858
Spoilers: these are the full four sets.
- Yellow — FRUIT DESSERTS: COBBLER, CRISP, CRUMBLE, TART
- Green — CRABBY: CROSS, PRICKLY, SORE, SOUR
- Blue — FISH: CHAR, FLUKE, PIKE, SKATE
- Purple — BANANA ____: BOAT, BREAD, SLUG, SPLIT
Why the groupings can be tricky
The puzzle’s decoys come from words that seem to fit more than one idea. SPLIT may look like it belongs with the fruit desserts, but it completes “banana split.” TART could suggest a sharp or irritable mood, yet it belongs with the desserts; SOUR is the mood word in the crabby group.
The purple category works by completing familiar phrases: Banana Boat, Banana Bread, Banana Slug, and Banana Split. The other three groups rely on dessert names, descriptions of moods, and fish.
Rank #2
Why some guides dated this puzzle October 15
The puzzle is labeled for Thursday, October 16, 2025, and is game #858. Some guides appeared on October 15 because the next day’s puzzle became available at midnight local time. The daily release follows the player’s time zone, so the date shown can depend on where you play.
For the original puzzle, visit NYT Games: Connections.
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.
