Strands, the New York Times’ word puzzle game, challenges players to uncover hidden words within a grid of letters, with a focus on a specific theme revealed through the puzzle’s title. The December 17, 2024, puzzle, titled “It’s lit!”, cleverly uses the double entendre of “lit” to refer to both the excitement associated with the game and the core theme of the puzzle: literature. Initially, the connection might be missed, but the wordplay ultimately leads to the overarching theme of literary genres.
The objective of Strands is to identify all theme-related words hidden within the grid, including a crucial word known as the spangram. The spangram is a longer word that stretches across the entire grid, connecting one side to the other. Uncovering the theme words is aided by finding other words within the grid. For every three words of four or more letters discovered, the game reveals one of the theme words, offering helpful clues toward solving the puzzle. These non-theme words serve as stepping stones towards uncovering the thematic elements.
In the “It’s lit!” puzzle, the theme words revolved around various literary genres. The solution included CRIME, FANTASY, ROMANCE, WESTERN, and HISTORICAL, all common classifications within the world of literature. These genres, identified as sections within a bookstore, provided a clear connection back to the puzzle’s title, further reinforcing the literary focus. The challenge lies in locating these words within the grid and, crucially, identifying the spangram, the linchpin of the puzzle.
The spangram for the December 17, 2024, puzzle was FICTIONGENRE. This word encapsulates the overall theme of literary genres, tying together the individual genre words and providing a comprehensive solution. Locating the spangram often requires strategic maneuvering through the grid, starting with a known letter and tracing a path that incorporates all the letters necessary to form the word. In this case, the spangram began with the letter “F” located four letters down on the first row, far left of the grid.
The process of solving a Strands puzzle involves a combination of word recognition, strategic thinking, and an understanding of the underlying theme. Players must not only identify words but also discern their relevance to the puzzle’s theme. The clue provided—”sections in a bookstore”—is crucial in directing players toward the literary focus. The incremental unveiling of theme words through the discovery of other words adds a layer of strategy, encouraging thorough exploration of the letter grid.
The successful completion of a Strands puzzle is marked by the utilization of every letter on the board within the theme and non-theme words discovered. This aspect of the game reinforces the interconnectedness of the words and the importance of thoroughly examining the grid. The “It’s lit!” puzzle, with its clever use of wordplay and connection to literary genres, exemplifies the engaging nature of Strands and its ability to challenge players while offering a rewarding experience. The puzzle demonstrates the game’s reliance on both vocabulary and strategic thinking, making it a stimulating mental exercise for word puzzle enthusiasts.
