Strands NYT FAQ

Strands NYT is a word search puzzle game originally created by the New York Times. Players must find themed words and a special 'spanagram' on a 6×8 letter grid containing exactly 48 letters. Unlike traditional word searches, you must use every single letter exactly once, and words can change direction mid-word, creating curved and zigzag patterns. Each puzzle has a specific theme that connects all the words you need to find.

Strands NYT combines the best elements of multiple puzzle types. Like Spelling Bee, you form words from letters; like Connections, you find thematically related words; and like Crosswords, you work within a grid system. The unique twist is that words can change direction mid-word, you must use all 48 letters exactly once, and there's a special spanagram that reveals the puzzle's theme. This makes Strands more strategic than Wordle and more spatial than Spelling Bee.

Yes! Our Strands game is completely free to play. You can access all 182+ puzzles, use the hint system, and enjoy unlimited Strands gameplay without any subscription, payment, or ads. Unlike the official NYT Strands which requires a subscription, you can play as many puzzles as you want for free.

A spanagram (also called spangram) is the most important word in every Strands puzzle. It's a special theme word that describes the puzzle's theme and spans the entire grid either horizontally or vertically. The spanagram is typically longer than other theme words and serves as the key to understanding the puzzle's theme. Finding the spanagram often helps you solve the rest of the puzzle by revealing what topic you're looking for.

Every Strands puzzle uses a 6×8 grid containing exactly 48 letters. Words are formed by connecting adjacent letters in any direction: up, down, left, right, or diagonally. The key innovation is that words can change direction mid-word, creating curved and zigzag patterns. You must use every single letter on the board exactly once to complete the puzzle - no letters can be left unused.

Yes! This is what makes Strands unique among word games. Words can change direction mid-word, meaning you might start going right, then turn down, then go diagonally. This creates curved and zigzag patterns that are impossible in traditional word searches. Words can bend and curve in any direction as long as each letter is adjacent to the next.

The Strands hint system lets you earn hints by finding valid English words (4+ letters) that aren't theme words. Each hint reveals the location of letters in a theme word by highlighting them with a dashed border. This system helps you solve challenging puzzles without giving away the answers directly. You typically need to find 2-3 non-theme words to earn one hint.

1) Start by looking for the spanagram since it reveals the theme and spans the entire grid. 2) Once you know the theme, look for obvious theme words related to that topic. 3) Use the hint system by finding non-theme words to get letter positions. 4) Work systematically through the grid, especially focusing on less common letters. 5) Pay attention to word endings and common letter patterns. 6) Remember that words can change direction mid-word.

Yes, finding the spanagram first is usually the best strategy. The spanagram reveals the puzzle's theme and often uses many letters, making it easier to spot other theme words. Since the spanagram spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically, it's often one of the longer words and can be identified by its length and position. Once you know the theme, you can think of related words to look for.