Strands is a word puzzle game similar to a word search, but with a twist. Players are presented with a six by eight grid of letters and must find a group of words that have something in common, with a clue provided for guidance. Additionally, players must find a special word called a spangram that links two opposite sides of the board. The aim is to find theme words that remain highlighted in blue and the spangram highlighted in yellow, making sure every letter is used once in one of the theme words and spangram. If players find three valid words of at least four letters that are not part of the theme, they unlock the Hint button for assistance.
Each day, a new game of Strands is available, with varying difficulty levels such as filling in missing words in a phrase, identifying synonyms, or homophones. The official hint for Wednesday’s puzzle is “Raise a glass,” hinting at a theme related to drinks. The additional hint provided is “No beers, no wine,” to help players narrow down their options. The spangram for the puzzle is “COCKTAILS,” which sets the tone for the theme of the answers to be various cocktails. The full list of answers includes popular cocktail names such as MARGARITA, GIMLET, SPRITZ, MOHITO, and DAIQUIRI.
Despite the relatively short list of answers, the puzzle was engaging and enjoyable for players due to its clear clue and theme. The only tricky part for some players may have been remembering the spelling of DAIQUIRI, with an extra I at the beginning. Overall, solving the Strands puzzle for Wednesday may have inspired players to try making one of the listed cocktails for themselves or simply enjoy the game as a mental challenge. Players are encouraged to follow the puzzle creator on various social media platforms for more content and to check out their sci-fi novels for more entertainment.
