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How it works

How to play Linkbox

  1. Look for four groups of four. The 16 words split into four sets, each with something in common: a category, a phrase they all fit, or a bit of wordplay.
  2. Pick four words and press Submit. If they’re a group, they lock together and the link is revealed. If three of them belong together you’ll see “One away”.
  3. You can make four mistakes. On the fifth wrong guess the game ends and every group is shown. Guessing the same four twice doesn’t cost a mistake.
  4. Watch for the red herrings. Every grid has words that seem to fit more than one group. Only one way of sorting all 16 works.
  5. Share and come back tomorrow. Send your coloured squares to friends without giving the words away, and keep your streak going.

The colours show how hard each group is, from easiest to trickiest:

  • Green: the most straightforward group
  • Blue: a little harder
  • Orange: needs more thought or knowledge
  • Purple: the trickiest, usually wordplay
Tips

How to get better at Linkbox

Start with the purple group in your head, not your fingers. Before you tap anything, read all 16 words and ask what could hide inside them, what word could go before or after each, or what they sound like. The trickiest link is often the one that explains the odd words out.

Find the word that fits two groups. If a word could belong to two of the sets you’ve spotted, hold it back and solve the group that has no choice first. The leftover words usually settle where the double word belongs.

Think British. Linkbox is written in British English, so CRISPS are crisps, a BOOT is on a car, and a RUBBER goes in a pencil case. Seaside towns, panto, the Tube and Monopoly squares are all fair game.

Don’t rush the last group. Once three groups are solved, the final four are automatic, so the real test is the third. A careful guess there saves your streak.

Use Shuffle. Moving the words around breaks the patterns your eyes have locked on to. It only changes your screen, not the puzzle.

At a glance

Linkbox: quick facts

Updated

Price
Free. No sign-up, no email and no app to download.
New grid
Every day at midnight UK time, the same for everyone.
Grids
150 grids written in British English, each checked so only one way of sorting the 16 words works.
Mistakes
Four. “One away” tells you when three of your four words belong together.
Play more
Earlier days, practice grids, and grids you make yourself for friends.
Your streak
Saved on your device only. Nothing about you is uploaded.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Linkbox free?
Yes. Every grid is free, with no sign-up, no email and nothing to download.
How do you play Linkbox?
You get 16 words that split into four groups of four. Pick four words you think belong together and press Submit. Find all four groups before you make four mistakes.
When does the new Linkbox come out?
At midnight UK time, every day. Everyone gets the same 16 words, so you can compare scores with friends.
What does “One away” mean?
Three of the four words you picked belong to the same group, but one doesn’t. Swap one word and try again.
What do the colours mean?
They show how tricky each group is: green is the most straightforward, then blue, then orange, and purple is the trickiest, usually wordplay such as hidden words or words that go before another word.
Is Linkbox like the New York Times Connections game?
It’s the same kind of puzzle, finding four groups of four, but Linkbox is Altto’s own game with its own grids, written in British English with UK words and culture. It isn’t connected with the New York Times.
How does the streak work?
Solve the day’s grid on consecutive days to build your streak. Playing an earlier day’s grid later doesn’t count towards it. Your streak is saved on your device.
Can I play earlier grids?
Yes. Open More grids to play any day you missed, plus a set of practice grids you can try straight away.
Can I make my own Linkbox?
Yes. Open “Make a Linkbox for a friend”, type four groups of four words and what links each one, and send the link. Your friend sees the 16 words mixed up, with the answers hidden.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Every grid is family-friendly. Some groups need general knowledge or a feel for wordplay, so older children will get the most from it.