Today's NYT puzzle hints, without the spoilers

Group the 16 words into four secret categories.

Guess the five-letter word in six tries.

Find the theme words hidden in the letter grid.

Make words from seven letters — always using the centre letter.

Place dominoes so every region's rule is satisfied.

Chain words around the square using all twelve letters.

The NYT's pocket crossword — solvable in a minute.

Connections for sports fans — from The Athletic.

Connections for football fans — from The Athletic.

Every game, one page — for when you just need to check.

Place one crown in every row, column and colour region.

Fill the grid with suns and moons — balanced, never three in a row.

Draw one path through the numbers in order, filling every square.

Guess the category from as few clues as possible.

Solve the clues, then order them into a word ladder.

Classic sudoku logic on a fast six-by-six grid.

Divide the grid into rectangles that match their numbers.

Weave the hidden words through every letter in the grid.