NYT Strands Puzzle Challenges Players with Email-Themed Word Search

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The New York Times’ Strands puzzle, a daily word search game, challenged players on Sunday, January 19, 2025, with an email-themed grid. The game, available on the NYT website and in the NYT Games app, requires players to find words related to a specific theme and a spangram that connects the entire board.

In Sunday’s puzzle, titled “I get the message,” players were tasked with finding eight theme words related to email, including INBOX, DRAFTS, TRASH, SPAM, STARRED, SENT, and SNOOZED. The spangram, EMAILLABEL, spanned the grid and provided the overarching theme for the puzzle.

Strands, which debuted alongside popular games like Wordle and Connections, presents players with a six-by-eight grid of letters. Players must identify words that share a common theme, with the spangram serving as the key to unlocking the puzzle’s central idea. The spangram must connect at least two sides of the board and is highlighted in yellow when found.

“The game is designed to be both challenging and rewarding,” said Kris Holt, a writer who covers video and word games. “Each day’s puzzle offers a new theme, and the difficulty can vary widely. Today’s email theme was a clever twist on something we interact with daily.”

Players can connect letters vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, and each letter is used only once in the theme words or spangram. If players find three valid non-theme words of at least four letters, they unlock a hint button that highlights letters for one of the theme words.

Sunday’s puzzle required players to think about common email features, such as INBOX and SPAM, while also identifying less obvious terms like SNOOZED. The spangram, EMAILLABEL, tied the theme together, emphasizing the organizational aspects of email communication.

“I found INBOX and SPAM pretty quickly, but the spangram took a bit more thought,” said Tim Mulkerin, a freelance writer and Strands enthusiast. “It’s a fun way to start the day, and the email theme was relatable.”

Strands, unlike other NYT games, does not have a fail state. Players can submit unlimited guesses, and the game continues until all theme words and the spangram are found. Upon completion, players receive a shareable card showing their performance, including which words they found and whether they used hints.

The NYT Games app has seen a surge in popularity since the introduction of Wordle in 2022, with Strands quickly becoming a fan favorite. The game’s creators aim to keep players engaged by introducing new themes and challenges daily.

For those looking to improve their Strands skills, Holt recommends paying close attention to the theme hint and starting with the most obvious words. “Once you find a few theme words, the rest often fall into place,” he said.