The New York Times Connections Puzzle #873 for Friday, October 31, 2025, arrives with a fun Halloween twist.
This edition centers around classic fairy tales and video game characters, offering a festive mix of nostalgia and challenge.
🧩 Category Hints
The puzzle’s hints were arranged by difficulty level — from Yellow (easiest) to Purple (hardest):
| Color | Hint | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | “And it was just right” | Easiest |
| 🟩 Green | “Dancing at the ball” | Easy |
| 🟦 Blue | “I yam what I yam” | Medium |
| 🟪 Purple | “Wokka-wokka” | Hardest |
🕹️ Category Titles and Answers
| Category | Theme / Character | Associated Words |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | GOLDILOCKS | BEAR, BED, CHAIR, PORRIDGE |
| 🟩 Green | CINDERELLA | MOUSE, PUMPKIN, SLIPPER, WAND |
| 🟦 Blue | POPEYE | ANCHOR, CAP, PIPE, SPINACH |
| 🟪 Purple | MS. PAC-MAN | BOW, CHERRIES, GHOST, PELLETS |
🧠 Connection Themes Explained
Each group connects to famous fictional or pop-culture characters, with words representing signature elements or traits from their stories and appearances.
🟨 Yellow – Goldilocks
- Represents items from the classic “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” fairy tale.
- The phrase “just right” refers to her search for perfect porridge, bed, and chair.
- Each word captures a key part of her story’s setting.
🟩 Green – Cinderella
- Highlights the most iconic elements from the Cinderella story.
- Includes her pumpkin carriage, glass slipper, wand, and mouse companions.
- These objects symbolize transformation, magic, and her fairy-tale rise to the ball.
🟦 Blue – Popeye
- Focused on the famous cartoon sailor, Popeye.
- His defining items — pipe, anchor, cap, and spinach — all tie to his nautical lifestyle and strength-boosting persona.
- The hint “I yam what I yam” is Popeye’s signature line.
🟪 Purple – Ms. Pac-Man
- Based on the arcade game legend Ms. Pac-Man.
- Includes bow, cherries, ghost, and pellets — all essential visuals from the game.
- The hint “Wokka-wokka” references the game’s iconic sound effect as Ms. Pac-Man moves through the maze.
👻 Special Halloween Edition
This puzzle was a Halloween-themed special, offering a unique visual twist.
Instead of the usual word-based clues, players faced image-based icons, making the challenge more playful and creative.
It stood out as one of the most memorable editions of 2025 — blending storytelling, nostalgia, and festive fun.
In short
NYT Connections #873 (October 31, 2025) delighted solvers with a creative Halloween theme that combined fairy-tale charm, pop-culture nostalgia, and visual gameplay — a perfect mix for the spooky season.
