What is Strands?
Strands is a daily word search puzzle published by the New York Times. Each puzzle hides a theme inside a grid of letters. You trace words by dragging across adjacent letters or tapping them one by one, then double-tapping the last letter to submit. Every letter on the board belongs to exactly one answer, and theme words never overlap. When you find a theme word, it turns blue. The spangram—a word or phrase that names the theme and touches two opposite edges of the board—turns yellow. The theme clue is brief and often cryptic, so discovering the category is part of the challenge. Valid off-theme words are not wasted: every three earn a hint that outlines the letters of one theme word.
How to play Strands
- Read the theme clue before tracing any letters. It tells you what kind of words to find.
- Drag across adjacent letters to form a word, or tap the letters in order and double-tap the last one to submit.
- Find any valid word with at least four letters. Every three words that do not fit the theme earn you a hint.
- A hint highlights the letters of one theme word. If a hint is already active, the next one reveals that word’s letter order.
- Find the spangram, which describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It turns yellow; theme words turn blue.
- The puzzle ends when every letter on the board is highlighted. You can then share your result or check your stats and streak.
Strands rewards solvers who enjoy decoding categories more than hunting letters. The words are all present in the grid; the real puzzle is interpreting the clue. The theme is often a pun or requires lateral reading. There is no timer and no score beyond the hints you used, so skip it if you want competitive pressure. A board takes five to fifteen minutes, longer when the clue is a riddle. The archive requires a subscription.
Reading the feedback
Feedback appears immediately in color. Theme words turn blue, and the spangram turns yellow. A valid off-theme word fills the hint meter; three such words activate the hint button. Entries shorter than four letters receive “Too short,” unknown words receive “Not in word list,” and repeats receive “Already found.” None carries a penalty. The first hint outlines the letters of a theme word. If you ask for another hint while that one is active, it shows the letters in order. The closing message records how many hints you used.
Modes
Daily puzzle
A dated Strands puzzle is released each day, and everyone gets the same one. The day’s puzzle is available without a subscription. You need a free account only to record stats and badges.
Strands Archive
Past puzzles are included with the Games subscription. Bonus puzzles that appear alongside the daily puzzle do not count toward your stats.
Tips & strategy
- Read the clue as wordplay before taking it literally. A pun may be hiding there, and chasing words that fit the grid but miss the idea can lead you off track.
- Theme words do not overlap, and together they fill the whole board. Every word you find narrows the remaining space. The shape of the unused letters can show where the next word needs to run.
- Save hints deliberately. Spell the easy off-theme words while the board is still full, so you have a hint available when the final two theme words prove difficult.
- The spangram reaches two opposite edges. Look for a long route running side to side or top to bottom. Finding it early can confirm the theme and divide the board.
- A hint remains on the board until you spell its word, and the game will not offer another in the meantime. Clear that word before collecting more off-theme words.
Popular questions
Do I need an account or a subscription?
The day's puzzle opens without either. The site asks you to create a free account to track stats, streaks, and badges. The Strands Archive is included in the Games subscription.
What is a spangram?
The answer that describes the puzzle's theme. It touches two opposite sides of the board, may be one or more words, and highlights in yellow when found. Ordinary theme words highlight in blue.
How do hints work?
For every three off-theme words you find, you earn a hint. A hint shows the letters of one theme word. If a hint is already active, the next one shows that word's letter order. You must use the current hint before getting another.
There is no limit on wrong guesses. Words must contain at least four letters. Shorter entries are marked “Too short,” strings that are not words are marked “Not in word list,” and previously entered words are marked “Already found.” A valid off-theme word counts toward your next hint.
With a free account, the game tracks your current streak, longest streak, puzzles where you found the spangram first, and puzzles solved without hints.
Older puzzles are available through the Strands Archive, which the site lists as part of the Games subscription.