Strands is a word puzzle game that is part of the New York Times Games app, along with Wordle and Connections. Although not as popular as its siblings, Strands can be just as challenging and entertaining. Recently moving out of beta, the game is gaining more attention and fans. The rules of Strands involve using the theme of the day to look for words related to that topic by clicking or dragging the letters in order. Finding hint words provides clues to the theme words, and completing the puzzle involves using every letter on the board in either a theme word or the special spangram.
To play Strands, players utilize the theme of the day to search for words that relate to that topic. Once a theme word is found, it will light up in blue. Finding hint words, which are clues to the theme words, can help players unlock the theme words. These hint words must be at least four letters long, and finding three of them will reveal a theme word. The goal of the game is to uncover all the theme words and the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle grid.
Today’s Strands puzzle theme is “Channel surfing,” and a clue provided is “Hand me the remote.” Players are encouraged to search for hidden words related to this theme. Any words of four letters or more that are discovered can help reveal the theme words. Some example hint words that players can look for include “CRIT,” “MOOR,” “MALE,” and “COVER.” By finding three hint words, players can uncover a theme word, such as HISTORY, HALLMARK, LIFETIME, DISCOVERY, and PARAMOUNT, which are the answers for the puzzle.
One of the special features of Strands is the spangram, a theme word that spans the entire puzzle either horizontally or vertically. The spangram for the current puzzle is NETWORK, and players can start finding it by locating the N that is five letters down on the far left. The goal is to find all the theme words, including the spangram, to complete the puzzle. Once all the words are discovered, every letter on the board will be used, signifying a successful completion of the game.
The puzzles in Strands are designed to challenge players while also providing an entertaining and engaging experience. With the game now part of the official New York Times Games app, it is expected to attract more players and increase in popularity. By following the rules and utilizing the theme of the day, players can work their way through the puzzle grid, uncovering words related to the topic and ultimately completing the puzzle by finding all the theme words and the spangram. Strands offers a unique and enjoyable word puzzle experience for fans of the genre.
