New York Times Introduces Strands: The Latest Word Game Craze

The New York Times has recently added a new word game to its digital offerings, called Strands. This innovative puzzle, which is currently in its beta phase, has drawn interest as it provides a fresh challenge for word game enthusiasts, promising to sustain its presence if it garners sufficient daily engagement.

The structure of Strands involves a six by eight grid of letters. Players are tasked with identifying a collection of words that share a common theme, with hints provided to aid in uncovering the connections. Once a theme word is identified, it becomes highlighted in blue.

A unique feature of the game involves finding a special word termed a “spangram.” This central word links two opposite sides of the board and is key to understanding the theme shared by the other words. Notably, while regular theme words cannot include proper names, spangrams can. Upon discovery, the spangram appears highlighted in yellow.

The New York Times has designed the game with varying levels of complexity, aiming to surprise players with unexpected themes. Tracy Bennett, the editor of both Wordle and Strands, has stated, “Just as she varies the difficulty of Wordle puzzles within a week, Bennett plans to throw Strands solvers curveballs every once in a while.”

Recent puzzles have featured themes like “Dream Teams,” with examples of theme words including “ROSTER” and “DRAFT,” tied to sports terminologies. Some players, including the author of the original description, express unfamiliarity with specific terms such as “WAIVER,” indicating the accessibility yet occasionally niche nature of the puzzle.

As Strands gains player momentum, it joins the ranks of other New York Times word games like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections, offering daily linguistic challenges to its audience. With the game now fully integrated into the New York Times’ digital platform, both desktop and mobile users can participate.