NYT Connections Hints for October 31: Halloween Puzzle Features Goldilocks, Cinderella, Popeye, and Ms. Pac-Man

Today’s NYT Connections Hints for October 31 bring a spooky twist to the popular New York Times word game. Puzzle #873 arrives just in time for Halloween — and it’s an all-graphic edition featuring classic costume-inspired categories. Fans of the game had to identify connections using only images instead of words, making this a festive and challenging change from the usual format.

The October 31 puzzle, created for Halloween, was filled with iconic imagery that evoked fairy tales, cartoons, and retro video games. According to Gael Cooper’s coverage for CNET, all four connection groups could easily double as Halloween costume ideas, adding to the theme’s playfulness and visual appeal.

NYT Connections Puzzle #873 — Full Hints and Answers

Players received four sets of clues, ranked by difficulty: yellow for the easiest, green for medium, blue for harder, and purple for the toughest. Below are the official hints and the confirmed answers for each group:

• Yellow Group Hint: And it was just right.
• Answer: Goldilocks — bear, bed, chair, porridge.
• Green Group Hint: Dancing at the ball.
• Answer: Cinderella — mouse, pumpkin, slipper, wand.
• Blue Group Hint: I yam what I yam.
• Answer: Popeye — anchor, cap, pipe, spinach.
• Purple Group Hint: Wokka-wokka!
• Answer: Ms. Pac-Man — bow, cherries, ghost, pellets.

Each set of pictures connected to a pop-culture reference, blending nostalgia and challenge. The Goldilocks set represented the fairy tale’s familiar props, while Cinderella’s items tied to her transformation story. Popeye’s nautical icons were easily recognizable to fans of classic cartoons, and Ms. Pac-Man brought a retro-gaming flavor to finish the Halloween edition.

Halloween-Themed Challenge and Reactions

The Halloween-themed NYT Connections #873 earned praise online for its creativity and visual twist. Many players described it as “delightfully tricky,” especially the purple Ms. Pac-Man category, which stumped several solvers before the bow and cherries connection clicked. Social media reactions highlighted how the game’s visual edition made players rethink their usual solving strategies.

For some, the shift from words to images was a test of lateral thinking, while others saw it as a refreshing break from text-heavy puzzles. The special edition also coincided with the Times’ recent addition of the official Connections Bot, which now tracks player scores, streaks, and perfect-game stats — similar to the Wordle Bot.

Overall, NYT Connections #873 blended pop culture, nostalgia, and festive flair, making it one of the most memorable holiday editions of the year.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What was the theme of today’s NYT Connections puzzle?

The October 31 puzzle was Halloween-themed, featuring all-picture clues tied to famous characters like Goldilocks, Cinderella, Popeye, and Ms. Pac-Man.

Q2: How many categories are there in NYT Connections?

Each puzzle has four categories: yellow (easy), green (medium), blue (hard), and purple (tricky).

Q3: What made today’s puzzle unique?

It was an all-graphic edition — players matched pictures instead of words for each category.

Q4: Which category was the hardest today?

The purple Ms. Pac-Man category proved the toughest, as many players struggled to link the arcade-themed images.

Q5: Who writes about NYT Connections puzzles?

Journalist Gael Cooper frequently covers NYT word games like Connections, Wordle, and Strands for CNET.