What is Strands?
Strands is a daily word search game from The New York Times. Players must find theme-related words in a letter grid by connecting adjacent letters to form words.
This is an innovative game that combines word search with theme deduction.
Strands Game Rules
- Letter Grid: The game provides a 6×8 letter grid
- Theme Hint: Each puzzle has a theme (often a pun or wordplay)
- Connect Letters: Form words by connecting adjacent letters (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally)
- Theme Words: Find all words related to the theme
- Spanagram: A special word that:
- Describes or summarizes the entire theme
- Spans from one side of the grid to the other
- Uses letters that don't overlap with other theme words
- Use All Letters: All letters must be used exactly once
How To Play Strands
Let's walk through an example:
Example Grid
C A T S D O
H E E S E G
E R R Y P S
S Y B L U E
Theme Hint: "Berry good" (pun: very good / berry good)
Finding Theme Words
Players need to find berry-related words:
✅ CHERRY — Cherry
✅ BLUEBERRY — Blueberry (might need a larger grid)
✅ STRAWBERRY — Strawberry
Spanagram: BERRIES — Word that summarizes the theme
Strands Strategy Tips
- Understand the Theme: Carefully consider the theme hint's meaning and possible puns
- Look for Long Words: Theme words are typically longer (5-10 letters)
- Spanagram First: Finding the Spanagram can help understand the theme
- Systematic Search: Start searching from different areas of the grid
- Letter Paths: Notice letter connection paths, avoid dead ends
- Hint System: Use hints if you get stuck
Hint System
If you find 3 valid words that aren't theme words, the game gives you a hint:
- Reveals some letters of a theme word
- Helps you continue when stuck
Example Theme Types
Strands themes are often creative:
- 🎭 Puns: "Raining cats and dogs" (animal names)
- 🎨 Categories: "Primary colors" (color names)
- 🎵 Cultural References: "Beatles songs" (Beatles song titles)
- 🎪 Wordplay: "Sounds like..." (homophones)
Where To Play Strands?
Official game website:
👉 https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands
New puzzle updates daily. Free for New York Times subscribers.