Strands, the latest word-based puzzle game from the New York Times, joins the ranks of Connections and Wordle. To complete the daily puzzle, players must detect words related to the theme for the day, known as a Spangram. You can play Strands for free on the NYT Games website, but it has not yet been added to the NYT Games mobile app.
For those who can’t kickstart their day without indulging in a round of NYT Connections or Wordle, there’s exciting news: a new addition has joined the lineup. The New York Times introduced Strands, a free-to-play word guessing game, on March 4, 2024, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite. This game injects a breath of fresh air into NYT’s timeless collection of games and promises to stimulate your mind. So, let’s embark on this journey together by delving into what Strands offers and how to play it right here.
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What is Strands, NYT’s New Word Search Game?
Many of us have experienced the frustration of Scrabble early on. Now, imagine Scrabble with an added touch of mystery—that’s Strands. It adopts the familiar word search formula and enhances it with unique elements to add an intriguing twist.
In Strands, players are presented with a 6×8 grid of random letters, accompanied by a daily theme hint. The objective is to discover a list of words related to the theme. Unlike traditional word games, the New York Times doesn’t reveal the theme outright; instead, it provides a hint. As players uncover more words within the grid, the theme gradually emerges. However, the true highlight of the game lies in the Spangram.
In NYT Strands, the Spangram serves as the cornerstone of the theme, defining what all the words have in common. It represents the actual theme of each day’s puzzle. Once successfully deciphered, the Spangram is highlighted in yellow letters.
The Spangram in NYT Strands can traverse the entire grid either vertically or horizontally. Once you’ve uncovered all the other words, including the Spangram, you’ve completed your daily challenge.
To aid players, NYT Strands offers hints along the way. Guessing any unrelated four-letter or longer words fills up the hint bar. Upon discovering three non-theme words, the hint bar turns black, indicating readiness to provide assistance. The game then highlights the relevant letters needed to form one of the main words.
Now that we have a solid understanding of NYT Strands, let’s dive into how to play it.
How to Play NYT Strands Online
During the beta phase of the game, access to it is free on NYT Games’ official website. Additionally, it has not been incorporated into the NYT Games app at this time. Thus, you must visit the provided link and follow the steps outlined below:
- As indicated earlier, you will find the letter grid on the right and a hint for today’s theme on the left side of the screen.
- Commence by connecting a group of letters together using your mouse; this can be achieved by dragging the cursor or clicking on them. On mobile devices, simply swipe your finger to connect the letters. When selecting the theme word, it will be highlighted in blue.
- Now that you understand how to connect the letters, proceed by connecting more of them together. Remember, your objective is to locate words related to the theme on the board and connect them. For example, for today’s theme “Canyon” makes sense, and you should search for similar words. As you discover more words, you’ll notice the word list growing, and the grid filling up.
- If you reach a point where you can’t find any more theme words, begin searching for unrelated words to fill the hint bar. Once finished, click the “Hint” button, and the letters will be surrounded by a dashed blue outline.
- Continue utilizing the hints provided and rely on your own reasoning to uncover all the connected words. As you approach victory, you’ll notice the NYT Strands grid narrowing down. We’re getting closer to the Spangram.
- Now, I understand that the Spangram for NYT Strands revolves around a significant theme. As I near the end of the journey, I spot a tight cluster of letters that signals I’ve found my target. I connect them all together, revealing the Spangram for NYT Strands. Once I’ve completed this task, the word is highlighted in yellow, marking my victory!
After solving an NYT Strands puzzle, you have the option to tap on the View Results button to access additional details, such as the number of hints you used. Alternatively, you can share your results by clicking on the dedicated button, which will copy an emoji-style result, similar to Wordle.
And that’s the way to play NYT Strands. Sounds easy enough? Well, it’s not. Make your life easier by sticking around and checking out the best tips and tricks for NYT Strands below:
NYT Strands Tips and Tricks
While solving NYT Strands may seem like a walk in the park, it’s not that easy. To help you along, I’ve gathered a collection of the best tips and tricks that you can use. With that said, here we go.
01. There Is No Right Path
As mentioned before, a Strands board doesn’t confine you like Sudoku, Scrabble, or similar word search games. There are no specific paths you must trace to find a word.
While initially confused about how to proceed, I realized you can drag the letters both horizontally and vertically or even zig-zag your way through. Once you get the hang of it, every corner features a word you couldn’t spot before. So keep this in mind.
02. Spangram for the Win
Though the daily motif of NYT Strands might seem perplexing, the Spangram can be your ally. Identifying this useful term early on will not only propel you forward but also provide a clue for the other theme words.
To pinpoint the Spangram, keep in mind its reach across the entire board. So, freely move your cursor from top to bottom and side to side, and you may unveil the theme rather than a singular word.
03. Feel free to utilize hints
Even if you possess a confidence akin to Mt. Everest. Recognize that NYT Strands presents a formidable challenge, so don’t hesitate to tap the hint button when you find yourself stuck.
Remember, hints will highlight a key theme word in blue. So, don’t shy away from guessing unrelated words and utilizing hints to expedite your discovery of the Spangram!
04. Avoid overanalyzing.
Once, while solving Strands with my editor, he identified the Spangram much earlier than I did. His advice to not overthink it proved invaluable, as the solution was glaringly obvious when I simplified my approach.
The lesson here? The theme words and the Spangram itself are often straightforward and commonly used. Overthinking can hinder your progress in Strands.
05. Maintain consistency
Like many endeavors, practice makes perfect. Regularly engaging with NYT Strands will enhance your proficiency. Make it a habit to play daily and watch as your reliance on hints diminishes, turning the puzzle into second nature.
If you enjoy the game as much as I do, consider spreading the word to your friends. Since the game is in beta, it relies on feedback to gauge its popularity. Let’s hope Strands garners the attention it merits and becomes a staple feature in NYT’s repertoire. Who knows, perhaps it will even find its way into the NYT Games app, offering added convenience.
That covers everything about NYT Strands. What are your thoughts on the game? Share your opinions in the comments below!