Strands, a word puzzle game by the New York Times, presents a unique challenge compared to its more popular siblings, Wordle and Connections. The game revolves around a central theme, with players tasked with finding related words hidden within a grid of letters. Unlike Wordle’s single-word focus or Connections’ word-grouping challenge, Strands requires players to uncover multiple theme words, along with a special “spangram” that spans the entire puzzle grid and encapsulates the overall theme. This intricate word-finding mission, combined with the satisfaction of revealing the interwoven words and the final spangram, offers a distinct and engaging puzzle experience.
Playing Strands involves a strategic blend of word recognition and deduction. Players begin by searching for words related to the daily theme. Once a theme word is identified, players select its letters in order on the grid, clicking the final letter twice to submit. Correct theme words are highlighted in blue and remain illuminated. However, not all discovered words are theme words. “Hint words,” consisting of at least four letters, provide clues towards the theme words. Finding three hint words unlocks a theme word reveal. If the revealed theme word remains elusive, finding three more hint words will highlight its letters in the correct order within the grid.
The spangram, a key element of Strands, is a theme word that stretches across the entire puzzle grid, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. It serves as a summary of the puzzle’s theme and its discovery is crucial for completing the puzzle. Ultimately, the goal is to utilize every letter on the board in either a theme word or the spangram. The interlocking nature of these words adds a layer of complexity to the puzzle, requiring players to carefully consider letter placement and potential word combinations.
The provided example demonstrates a Strands puzzle centered around the theme “Prepare to be eaten.” Using this theme, players seek related words hidden within the grid. The provided hints, “Potato, po-tah-to,” and the clue words – FORD, SOAK, DATE, BAKE, BAKES, READ, CLOSE, DOTS, POTS, MASH, PATS, TATS, FOND, FONT, FONTS, DOPE, OPEN, HALL – aid players in uncovering the hidden theme words. These clue words, when found, unlock in-game hints that reveal the theme words. While the specific clue words listed were used in this example, any four-letter (or longer) words found within the grid will contribute towards unlocking hints.
The solutions for this particular Strands puzzle are BAKED, FRIED, MASHED, FONDANT, ROASTED, and SCALLOPED. These words all relate to methods of preparing food, aligning with the “Prepare to be eaten” theme. The spangram for this puzzle is HOT POTATO, cleverly referencing a classic game and connecting to the food theme. Locating and highlighting all these words on the grid ensures every letter is used, marking the completion of the puzzle. The successful discovery of all theme words and the spangram provides a sense of accomplishment, rewarding the player’s word-finding prowess and deductive reasoning.
In summary, Strands offers a stimulating word puzzle experience that combines thematic wordplay with strategic letter identification. Players must decipher hidden theme words and the overarching spangram within a grid of letters. The use of hint words and the requirement to utilize every letter adds depth to the gameplay. The process of uncovering the interconnected words and the final spangram, much like completing a complex jigsaw puzzle, provides a satisfying sense of closure. Strands distinguishes itself from other word puzzles with its unique format and multi-layered challenge, appealing to both casual and dedicated word game enthusiasts.
