Struggling with today’s NYT Connections puzzle on March 30, 2026? These hints and answers help maintain your streak in this challenging daily word game from the New York Times.
How to Play Connections
Connections challenges players to sort 16 words into four themed groups. Each group shares a hidden connection, like characters from a story or words that precede another term. Groups carry colors indicating difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest). Players have four mistakes before the puzzle reveals solutions automatically. Deceptive links often mislead solvers.
Today’s Puzzle Words
The 16 words for March 30 are:
- TRUFFLES
- AVIS
- BUDGET
- DOLLAR
- DUMMY
- ERSATZ
- FAUX
- FRITZ
- FUTZ
- HERTZ
- MESS
- MOCK
- PLAYS
- TINKER
- TOY
- YUTZ
Progressive Hints
Start with these category clues:
- Yellow: Not the real deal.
- Green: To handle or experiment with.
- Blue: Found at the counter, keys included.
- Purple: Familiar names with a little extra spice at the start.
Additional clues: One category alters words directly. Every group features at least one ‘Z’.
One Word Per Group
For more guidance:
- Yellow: Ersatz
- Green: Futz
- Blue: Hertz
- Purple: Fritz
The Four Groups
These themes connect the words:
- Yellow: Imitation
- Green: Play Around (With)
- Blue: Car Rental Companies
- Purple: Snack Brands Plus Starting Letter
Complete Solutions
Full answers for March 30, 2026:
- Yellow – Imitation: Dummy, Ersatz, Faux, Mock
- Green – Play Around (With): Futz, Mess, Tinker, Toy
- Blue – Car Rental Companies: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz
- Purple – Snack Brands Plus Starting Letter: Fritz, Plays, Truffles, Yutz
Test these groupings to complete the puzzle. A fresh Connections challenge drops daily at midnight.
