Strands is a lesser-known game from the New York Times games app that can be just as challenging and entertaining as Wordle and Connections. Recently moving out of beta, Strands is gaining more attention and fans. The rules for Strands involve using a daily theme to look for words related to that topic, with the goal being to find all the theme words and a special spangram that summarizes the puzzle theme. Players must find hint words to uncover the theme words, and once all the letters on the board are used in theme words or the spangram, the puzzle is complete.
To play Strands, players must use today’s theme to search for words that connect to that topic. If a word is found, the player must drag or click the letters in order and click on the last letter twice to submit the guess. Theme words will light up in blue and stay that way once correctly guessed. Hint words provide clues to the theme words, and finding three of them will reveal a theme word. If players can’t solve it, they can find three more hint words to highlight the letters of the theme word in order. The spangram, a special word that spans the entire puzzle, must also be found to complete the game.
Clues and hints are provided to help players solve the Strands puzzle each day. The theme for the puzzle is revealed, and players are given a clue related to that theme. Additionally, players must find hint words by uncovering hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. Once three words of four letters or more are found, a theme word is revealed. Any words with four or more letters can be used to unlock hints, and the goal is to find all the theme words and the spangram to complete the puzzle.
For the most recent Strands puzzle, the theme was “Wake up and…” which could clue Starbucks lovers into the solutions. Players were tasked with finding words related to this theme, such as POSE, PEEL, BLACK, LATTE, MOCHA, and more. Each of these words tied into the theme and contributed to the completion of the puzzle. The spangram for this particular day was COFFEE ORDER, which required players to connect specific letters in the puzzle to form the word.
Strands may not receive as much attention as other New York Times games, but its challenges and entertainment value make it worth exploring for puzzle enthusiasts. With the recent move out of beta and inclusion in the official Games app, Strands is gaining more fans and interest. By following the rules and clues provided for each daily puzzle, players can immerse themselves in the world of Strands and enjoy the satisfaction of completing each challenging puzzle.
