NYT’s Strands Puzzle Challenges Players with Daily Word Searches

NEW YORK — The New York Times‘ latest puzzle game, Strands, continues to captivate word game enthusiasts with its innovative twist on the classic word search. Launched in 2022, Strands challenges players to find theme-related words and a special ‘spangram’ that connects across the game board.

Strands is available on the NYT Games app alongside other popular puzzles like Wordle and Connections. Each day, players are presented with a six by eight grid of letters. The objective is to identify a group of words that share a common theme, guided by a daily clue. Theme words are highlighted in blue, while the spangram, which spans at least two sides of the board, is highlighted in yellow.

“The spangram adds an exciting layer of creativity to the game,” said a spokesperson for the NYT Games team. “It’s a unique feature that keeps players engaged and challenged.”

Players can connect letters vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, and switch directions mid-word. On touchscreen devices, double-tapping the last letter submits the guess. Finding three valid words of at least four letters unlocks a hint button, which highlights letters of a theme word.

The difficulty of Strands varies daily, with themes ranging from synonyms and homophones to phrases and proper names. On January 22, 2025, the theme was ‘Pixar,’ with the spangram ‘ANIMATION.’ Theme words included titles of popular Pixar movies.

The NYT has a long history of puzzle innovation, beginning with its first crossword in 1942. Over the decades, the newspaper has introduced a variety of games, including the Mini Crossword in 2014 and the global phenomenon Wordle in 2022. Strands is the latest addition to this legacy, offering fresh, daily challenges that appeal to a wide audience.

“Strands has quickly become a favorite among puzzle enthusiasts,” said Kris Holt, a writer who covers video and word games. “Its unique design and engaging gameplay make it a standout in the NYT’s puzzle collection.”

For those seeking hints or answers, the NYT provides daily guides and spoilers. However, the true joy of Strands lies in the thrill of discovery and the satisfaction of solving each day’s puzzle.