LinkedIn Pinpoint: How to Play, Tips & Daily Answers 2026

LinkedIn Pinpoint is a daily word association game where you guess the category connecting five clue words. You start with one clue and get up to five guesses—each wrong answer reveals another clue. The fewer clues you need, the higher your score. The game resets daily and is free for all LinkedIn members.

This guide covers how to play Pinpoint, strategies for faster solving, and common category patterns to recognize.

Key Takeaways

• Five clues maximum: Each wrong guess reveals a new clue word
• No timer: Take your time to think—speed isn't measured
• Category focus: You're guessing the common theme, not the words
• Pattern recognition: Learn common category types to solve faster
• Daily reset: New puzzle at midnight Pacific Time

What Is LinkedIn Pinpoint?

According to ContentIn's Pinpoint guide, Pinpoint is a word association and deduction game launched in May 2024 as one of LinkedIn's original three games.

How Pinpoint Works

The game displays clue words one at a time. Your goal is to identify what all five words have in common. The connection might be:

• A category they belong to
• Something they all precede or follow
• A shared characteristic
• A cultural or knowledge-based link

Accessing LinkedIn Pinpoint

1. Go to linkedin.com/games/pinpoint
2. Or visit the LinkedIn Games hub and select Pinpoint
3. Available on desktop and mobile app

LinkedIn Pinpoint Rules

Basic Gameplay

1. You see one clue word to start
2. Type your guess for the connecting category
3. If wrong, another clue word appears
4. You have 5 guesses maximum
5. The game ends when you guess correctly or exhaust all clues

Scoring

Your score depends on how many clues you needed:

Clues Used	Performance
1	Perfect—guessed with minimal information
2	Excellent—quick pattern recognition
3	Good—solid deduction skills
4	Average—needed significant help
5	Close—used all available clues

Answer Validation

According to Try Hard Guides' Pinpoint coverage, the game accepts close-enough answers but can be strict about phrasing. If your guess seems correct but isn't accepted:

• Try synonyms
• Switch between singular and plural
• Rephrase (e.g., "Types of..." vs. just the category name)
• Remove trailing spaces

How to Play LinkedIn Pinpoint

Step 1: Read the First Clue

Take time to brainstorm possible categories. One word can belong to many categories, so keep your initial thinking broad.

Step 2: Make Your First Guess (or Wait)

You can guess immediately or reveal more clues first. There's no penalty for revealing clues beyond your score—if you value accuracy over points, wait for more information.

Step 3: Process New Clues

Each new clue should narrow your possibilities:

• What categories does this new word fit?
• Which of your initial theories still work?
• What new connections does this suggest?

Step 4: Refine and Guess

When you're confident enough, type your category guess. Use clear phrasing like:

• "Types of [category]"
• "[Word] endings"
• "Things you find in a [place]"
• "Names of [category]"

Step 5: Complete or Continue

If correct, celebrate and share your results. If wrong, analyze the new clue and adjust your thinking.

Pinpoint Strategies and Tips

Strategy 1: Start Broad, Then Narrow

According to daily-logic-puzzles' Pinpoint guide, think broadly first with general categories (animals, countries, tools) before narrowing down.

Example:

• First clue: "Monarch"
• Broad thinking: Royalty? Butterflies? Airlines?
• Wait for more clues before committing

Strategy 2: Look for Word Patterns

Watch for grammatical clues:

• Suffixes (words ending in "-tion," "-ness")
• Prefixes (words starting with "un-," "re-")
• Compound word components
• Rhyming patterns

Strategy 3: Don't Rush

There's no timer in Pinpoint. Each additional clue provides valuable information. A wrong guess just to save time wastes the opportunity for better information.

Strategy 4: Use Elimination

Every clue should reduce possibilities:

• If a clue doesn't fit your theory, abandon that theory
• If only one category fits all clues, that's likely the answer
• Cross-reference each word against potential categories

Strategy 5: Learn Common Patterns

According to WordUnscrambler's Pinpoint tips, certain category types appear frequently. Learning these helps you recognize patterns faster.

Common LinkedIn Pinpoint Categories

"Words That Come Before [X]"

One of the most common patterns. The clue words all precede a common word.

Example:

• Clues: Rain, Trench, Lab, Over, Winter
• Answer: "Words that come before COAT"
• (Raincoat, Trenchcoat, Labcoat, Overcoat, Wintercoat)

"Words That Come After [X]"

Similar pattern, but the common word comes first.

Example:

• Clues: Ball, Storm, Brush, Dance, Shower
• Answer: "Words that come after FIRE"
• (Fireball, Firestorm, Firebrush, Firedance, Fireshower)

"____ + [Category]"

Words that combine with a category to form compound words.

Example:

• Clues: Butter, House, Dragon, Fire
• Answer: "Types of flies"
• (Butterfly, Housefly, Dragonfly, Firefly)

Place-Based Categories

Things found in specific locations.

Example:

• Clues: Teller, Vault, Loan, Interest
• Answer: "Things at a bank"

Profession-Based Categories

Tools, terms, or items related to specific jobs.

Example:

• Clues: Scalpel, Suture, Anesthesia, Stethoscope
• Answer: "Medical/surgical items"

Pop Culture References

Categories based on movies, TV, music, or celebrities.

Example:

• Clues: Thor, Loki, Odin, Heimdall
• Answer: "Norse gods / Marvel characters"

Daily Pinpoint Practice

Building Your Streak

To maintain a daily streak:

• Play before midnight Pacific Time
• Submit at least one guess
• Don't just reveal clues without guessing

Improving Over Time

Pattern recognition improves with practice:

1. Play daily to encounter more category types
2. After completing, analyze why the answer worked
3. Note patterns you missed for future reference
4. Discuss puzzles with your network for different perspectives

Sharing Results

After completing Pinpoint:

1. Click "Share" to post your performance
2. Challenge specific connections
3. Discuss the puzzle in comments
4. Build relationships through friendly competition

Pinpoint Answer Resources

Where to Find Daily Answers

If you're stuck, several websites publish daily Pinpoint answers:

• Try Hard Guides - Updated daily
• Daily Logic Puzzles - Hints and answers
• Pinpoint Answer Today - Dedicated answer site

Note: Looking up answers affects your genuine score and learning. Use these sparingly when truly stuck.

Answer Timing

New Pinpoint puzzles drop at:

• 12:00 AM Pacific Time
• 3:00 AM Eastern Time
• 8:00 AM GMT
• 9:00 AM Central European Time

Pinpoint vs. Other Word Games

Pinpoint vs. Wordle

Feature	Pinpoint	Wordle
Goal	Guess category	Guess word
Clues	Words revealed	Letter feedback
Guesses	5 maximum	6 maximum
Daily puzzles	Yes	Yes
Timer	No	No

Pinpoint vs. Connections (NYT)

Feature	Pinpoint	Connections
Words shown	1 at a time	All 16 at once
Categories	1	4
Gameplay	Deduction	Grouping
Difficulty	Gradual reveal	All information upfront

Troubleshooting Pinpoint

Correct Answer Not Accepted

If you believe your answer is right but it's rejected:

• Try different phrasing
• Use singular vs. plural
• Add or remove "Types of..."
• Check for typos

No New Puzzle Available

If yesterday's puzzle still shows:

• Check your time zone—reset is midnight Pacific
• Refresh the page
• Clear browser cache
• Try the mobile app

Streak Not Updating

If your streak isn't counting:

• Ensure you submitted a guess (not just revealed clues)
• Verify you played before the daily reset
• Check that the puzzle fully completed

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I play LinkedIn Pinpoint?

You're shown one clue word at a time and must guess the category that connects all five clues. Type your guess—if wrong, another clue appears. You have 5 guesses maximum. The fewer clues you need, the better your score. There's no timer, so take your time to think.

What time does LinkedIn Pinpoint reset?

LinkedIn Pinpoint resets daily at 12:00 AM Pacific Time (midnight PT). This is 3:00 AM Eastern, 8:00 AM GMT, or 9:00 AM Central European Time. A new puzzle becomes available at reset, and your previous score is recorded for leaderboards.

Is LinkedIn Pinpoint free?

Yes, LinkedIn Pinpoint is completely free for all LinkedIn members. No premium subscription is required. The game is part of LinkedIn's Games feature designed to help professionals connect through shared experiences and friendly competition.

Where can I find LinkedIn Pinpoint answers?

Several websites publish daily Pinpoint answers, including Try Hard Guides, Daily Logic Puzzles, and Pinpoint Answer Today. However, using these resources means you don't get the genuine solving experience. They're best used when you're completely stuck after using all clues.

What are common LinkedIn Pinpoint category types?

The most common category type is "Words that come before [X]" where all clues precede a common word (e.g., rainCOAT, trenchCOAT). Other common types include "Words that come after [X]," place-based categories, profession-related terms, and pop culture references.

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