Strands is a word game by The New York Times that is currently in beta, meaning it is still being tested and may be improved before its full release. The game is reminiscent of old-fashioned Word Find books, where players are given a grid of letters without a list of words to find. The challenge of the game lies in figuring out the words within the grid without any guidance. The rules of Strands involve finding theme words related to the daily theme and uncovering a special spangram that spans the entire puzzle.
In order to play Strands, players must search for words that relate to the daily theme provided. Once a word is identified within the grid, players can drag or click the letters in order and submit their guess by clicking on the last letter twice. Theme words will light up in blue once correctly identified. Additionally, players can uncover hint words by finding three words with at least four letters each, which will provide clues to the theme words. To unlock the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle, players must search for and correctly identify it.
Today’s Strands puzzle theme is “By The Dozen,” and players are tasked with finding eight themed answers related to this theme. The goal is to discover all eight answers, including the spangram, which will utilize every letter on the board. Some clue words provided to help players unlock hints for the theme words include “CAKE, HOLE, CIDER, JELLY, POWDERED, GLAZED, FROSTED.” These themed answers reflect the By the Dozen theme and may challenge players to think creatively to uncover them within the grid.
To play Strands effectively, players must be strategic in their word-finding approach. By using the daily theme as a guide, players can search for words that relate to that topic and submit their guesses accordingly. Finding hint words with at least four letters each can provide valuable clues to unlocking the theme words. Additionally, discovering the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle, can help players summarize the puzzle theme and ensure they have used every letter on the board in either a theme word or the spangram.
Overall, Strands offers a challenging and engaging word game experience for players who enjoy puzzles and word searches. With a focus on finding theme words related to the daily theme and uncovering the special spangram, players must use their logic and reasoning skills to complete the puzzle successfully. As the game is still in beta, there may be room for improvement, but the current version provides an entertaining and stimulating word game for players to enjoy. So, if you’re looking for a new challenge in the world of word games, give Strands a try and test your skills at finding words within a grid of letters.
