NYT Strands Puzzle Challenges Players to ‘Get Smart’ with Word Search

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The New York Times’ Strands puzzle, a modern twist on the classic word search, continues to captivate players with its daily challenges. On Friday, January 24, 2025, the puzzle’s theme, “Get smart,” tested players’ wit and vocabulary with a grid of letters hiding six theme words and a spangram.

Strands, available on the NYT Games app alongside popular games like Wordle and Connections, presents players with a six-by-eight grid of letters. The objective is to find words that share a common theme, highlighted in blue, and a spangram, highlighted in yellow, which connects at least two sides of the board and reveals the overarching theme.

“The aim is to find a group of words that have something in common, and you’ll get a clue as to what that theme is,” explained Kris Holt, a Forbes contributor who covers video and word games. “The spangram tells you what the words have in common.”

Friday’s puzzle required players to identify words related to intelligence, with the spangram being “THATSGENIUS.” The theme words included “QUICK,” “BRIGHT,” “INTELLIGENT,” “CLEVER,” and “BRILLIANT.” Players could connect letters vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, with the option to switch directions mid-word.

“I had a pretty good idea about this one from the jump,” Holt shared. “It didn’t take me long to spot ‘QUICK.’ I saw ‘brain’ just above that on the right, but that wasn’t a theme word or part of the spangram.”

The puzzle’s difficulty varies daily, with creators aiming to surprise players. “Sometimes you’ll need to fill the missing word(s) in a phrase. On other days, the game may revolve around synonyms or homophones,” Holt added.

For those struggling, the game offers a Hint button, unlocked by finding three valid words of at least four letters not part of the theme. Clicking the Hint button highlights the letters of one theme word, aiding players in their search.

Strands has quickly become a favorite among word game enthusiasts, offering a fresh challenge each day. “It’s a fun way to test your vocabulary and problem-solving skills,” said Alan, a freelance tech writer and avid gamer. “I appreciate the variety and the clever themes they come up with.”

As the popularity of word games continues to grow, Strands stands out for its unique blend of strategy and creativity, ensuring players stay engaged and entertained.