Strands
Strands is a new word game by the New York Times Games, similar to a daily word search with some twists. It's designed to appeal to fans of other NYT word puzzles like Wordle and Spelling Bee, as well as classic word search games like Connections.
How to play Strands
Gameplay Basics
- Strands is a daily game with a new puzzle every day.
- Each puzzle centers around a hidden theme.
- Your goal is to find words related to this theme within a grid of letters.
- Unlike traditional word searches, words can be formed in any direction: horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
- Finding themed words will turn them blue, and filling the entire board with themed words will ultimately reveal a final "spangram" that uses all the letters.
Controls
- Web Browser:
- Click and drag across letters to form a word.
- Double-click on the last letter to submit your guess.
- Mobile App:
- Tap each letter in sequence to form a word.
- Double-tap the last letter to submit your guess.
Additional Tips
- Pay close attention to the daily clue, as it will hint at the theme.
- There's no penalty for guessing invalid words, so don't hesitate to experiment to uncover potential themed words.
- You can earn hints by making a certain number of non-themed words (usually 3 or 4 letters long). The hint will reveal the location of a single themed word on the grid.
- Consider starting at the corners of the grid, as this can help limit the possibilities for longer words.
Learning More
For a more detailed explanation with visuals, you can check out online guides and tutorials for Strands [search How to Play Strands NYT]. These resources can provide a step-by-step walkthrough and additional tips to help you become a Strands master.
