Jupiter from We Know the Devil
Connections

The New York Times Tech Guild is on strike and asking people to boycott the paper’s online puzzles. I stopped doing Wordle a while ago as it was no longer finding it satisfying but I usually do the mini crossword and Connections.

If you usually do them and too and are lacking a daily puzzle here is a Connections/Only Connect/puzzle grid of my own devising below. You can also play in on Puzzgrid.

Grove Paradise Park Cave
Windy Seaside Beach Hills
Night Turquoise Street Coast
Forest Altar Radiant Mushroom

Inspired by BCJ doing the same which I saw via Mike Egan.

Hint

It is Sonic the Hedgehog-themed.

Hint 2

All the answers are the names of Sonic the Hedgehog levels.

Answers

Cave, Forest, Hills, Grove
Radiant, Beach, Altar, Coast
Mushroom, Windy, Turquoise, Seaside
Park, Paradise, Night, Street

Explanation

Sonic levels named Green ___.
Sonic levels named Emerald ___ or ___ Emerald.
Sonic levels named ___ Hill.
Sonic levels named Casino ___.

Extra comment (spoilers)

I wanted to do a group with the levels Mecha Green Hill Zone, Neo Green Hill and Green Hills Zone with the hints being “Mecha, Neo, s” but I don’t think there’s a fourth level with a name that’s a variation on Green Hill Zone to make a group.