Strands Word Game by The New York Times Gains Popularity

The New York Times has introduced a new word game called Strands, which has been gradually gaining traction among puzzle enthusiasts. The game, currently in beta testing, is the latest addition to the publisher’s range of popular word games, including Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections.

Strands is a variant of the traditional word search and challenges players daily with a six by eight grid of letters. The objective is to identify a group of words that share a common theme, with guidance provided by a theme-related clue. Upon discovering a theme word, it will remain highlighted in blue, while another word, the spangram, links opposite sides of the board, staying highlighted in yellow. Unlike theme words, spangrams can be proper nouns.

According to The New York Times, “Some themes are fill-in-the-blank phrases. They may also be steps in a process, items that all belong to the same category, synonyms or homophones.” Tracy Bennett, the game’s editor, has promised to keep players on their toes by varying difficulty levels similarly to other puzzles on the platform.

In today’s game, the word “DUMPLINGS” served as the spangram, with various wrapped foods such as “GYOZA,” “WONTON,” “PIEROGI,” “EMPANADA,” “SAMOSA,” and “RAVIOLI” as theme words. The theme, “All wrapped up,” required players to think beyond conventional wrapped foods. A contributor described the puzzle as particularly challenging, necessitating hints to uncover all the answers.

Marc McLaren, Global Editor in Chief at TechRadar, and an avid word game aficionado, has detailed his experiences with Strands, highlighting its engaging yet demanding nature. Having authored numerous articles on word games, McLaren remains enthusiastic about the expansion of the New York Times’ gaming lineup.

Strands is anticipated to be a permanent fixture if it consistently attracts a robust player base, offering daily opportunities for word game fans to test their skills. The potential launch of Strands beyond its beta phase marks a significant step in The New York Times’ continuing endeavor to diversify its digital gaming offerings.