Strands is a word puzzle game that is part of the New York Times Games app, along with popular games like Wordle and Connections. Although it may not receive as much attention as its siblings, Strands can be just as challenging and entertaining. Recently moving out of beta, Strands now has its spot in the official NYT Games app, potentially attracting more players. The game involves finding theme words related to a specific topic and using hint words to uncover these theme words. Players must also locate a special theme word called the spangram that spans the entire puzzle.
To play Strands, players need to use the theme of the day to identify words that relate to that topic. By dragging or clicking on the letters in order, players can construct words and submit their guesses by clicking on the last letter twice. When a theme word is correctly identified, it will light up in blue. Hint words are other words found in the puzzle that provide clues to the theme words. Finding three hint words will reward the player by showing a theme word, and if they are unable to unscramble it, finding three more hint words will highlight the theme word’s letters in order. The goal is to use every letter on the board in either a theme word or the spangram.
In today’s Strands puzzle, the theme is “Get out of here!” with a clue hinting at a new home time. Players are encouraged to find hidden words that fit the theme, and for assistance, any found words of four letters or more will reveal a theme word. The answer for the day’s puzzle includes words like FOAM, TAPE, TRUCK, BOXES, CRATE, DOLLY, STRAP, and BUNGEE. Additionally, the spangram for the puzzle is “MOVING DAY,” which players can identify starting with the letter M that is four letters down on the first row on the left, and winding across the puzzle to complete the word.
As players engage with Strands, they work towards solving the puzzle by locating theme words, hint words, and the spangram that encompasses the entire board. The challenge lies in deciphering words related to the theme and strategically using hint words to unlock the puzzle’s secrets. With the game now officially part of the NYT Games app, fans of word puzzles can enjoy the unique gameplay experience offered by Strands. By mastering the rules and techniques of Strands, players can enhance their word-solving skills and enjoy the satisfaction of completing challenging puzzles.
