TrioNine
Rate itSort nine words into three hidden groups of three, with four mistakes to spare.
Every day: One shared nine-word board a day, the same for everyone on a given UTC date, with its own title ("Little builders" on 17 October 2026). The 38-puzzle collection repeats after a full cycle. New puzzle: Midnight UTC.

TrioNine is a free, small take on Connections: nine words, three hidden groups of three, and four mistakes allowed. A new board comes each day at midnight UTC, every solved group shows a short explanation, and unlimited practice rounds wait when the daily one is done.
About TrioNine
TrioNine is an independent English word game from MORROWCAT LABS, launched on October 1, 2026. Each board holds nine word tiles that split into three groups of three, each group sharing one specific connection: a meaning, a spelling pattern or a phrase the words complete.
The daily puzzle is the same for every player on a given UTC date and carries a title, such as "Little builders", whose board mixed building materials, measuring tools and fasteners. You select three tiles and check them. A right guess turns into a coloured row with the category and a line explaining it; a wrong one costs one of four mistakes, and "One away" tells you two of your three belong together. Repeating the same wrong guess costs nothing.
With nine words instead of sixteen, a round is short and the red herrings are fewer, which makes it a gentle way into this kind of puzzle or a quick warm-up before a bigger grid. A category hint names one unsolved group, and the shared result marks the round as assisted when you use one.
The game is free with no account. Results and a streak of daily wins stay in your browser. Past daily boards can be replayed from the archive, and a practice mode serves further rounds by difficulty. The collection is finite: 38 original boards, so the daily puzzles come round again after a full cycle.
How to play TrioNine
- Open trionine.day and choose Daily puzzle to get the day's board of nine words.
- Tap three words you think share a specific connection.
- Press Check group. A right set becomes a coloured row with its category and an explanation; a wrong set uses one of your four mistakes.
- If the game says One away, two of your three words belong together: keep your strongest pair and swap the third.
- Find all three groups before your fourth mistake, then share your result as text or as an image.
Screenshots

Tips
- Look for the narrowest link: "things with letters" is never the answer, a specific category is.
- Start with the group you are surest of; with only nine words, each solved group leaves the rest far clearer.
- A word that fits two groups is the trap: set it aside until the other words of one group are certain.
- Use the category hint only when stuck, since it marks your shared result as assisted.
Questions
What time does TrioNine reset?
The shared daily puzzle changes at midnight UTC.
Is TrioNine free?
Yes. The daily puzzle, the explanations and unlimited practice are free, and no account is needed.
How many mistakes can I make?
Four per puzzle. A correct group uses none, and repeating an identical wrong guess does not cost another.
Do the daily puzzles repeat?
Yes. The collection has 38 original boards, and the daily puzzles start again after one full cycle.
Is it the NYT Connections puzzle?
No. TrioNine has its own word groups and explanations and is not connected to the New York Times.
Ratings and reviews
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate TrioNine.
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