Blending elements from some of the most beloved word games, Strands is the latest addition to the New York Times Games Section, ready for you to try out! This fresh, engaging game offers word enthusiasts a new challenge: uncover words connected to a specific theme before the day ends. If you’re a fan of word games, Strands is sure to become your new favorite daily puzzle.
How to play Strands NYT
To play Strands, players are challenged to uncover words hidden within a 6×8 grid containing 48 letters. Each word discovered will be related to a theme provided at the beginning of the game. The objective is to find all the words connected to this theme before the day ends. The total number of words you need to find is also displayed, guiding you toward completing the puzzle.
Strands is a daily game, much like Wordle. Every 24 hours, a new grid of letters, along with a fresh theme and set of solution words, is released. To win, players must uncover all the hidden words related to the day’s theme within the grid. The letters in the grid will remain in the same position throughout the puzzle, ensuring a consistent challenge as you work to find every hidden answer.
To solve words in Strands, players can connect letters by moving horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to an adjacent space. You can link together as many unselected letters as needed to form words, but only dictionary words with more than three letters will be accepted as valid answers.
Letters can be selected by clicking on each letter in sequence or by clicking and dragging over the desired letters. Players are free to enter either themed or non-themed words at any point during the game.
When you find and enter a valid non-theme word, its letters will revert to their normal (unhighlighted) state, and the hint bar will increase by one-third. For every three non-theme words discovered, you’ll earn a hint. You can enter as many non-theme words as you like, but you must use the hint button before you can start earning additional hints.
After earning the ability to gain a hint, you can click the hint button to reveal the letters of a themed word, which will be circled on the grid. However, the challenge doesn’t end there—you’ll need to solve an anagram using the circled letters to uncover the themed word. All the circled letters are part of the anagram, so it’s just a matter of arranging them in the correct order to solve the word.
Once you’ve solved a themed word using a hint, the dotted circles around each letter will be filled in with blue, revealing the word on the grid. By the end of the game, all themed words will be displayed, covering every letter on the grid without any overlap.
The most important—and often the most challenging—term in the game is the spangram. This word describes the puzzle’s theme in greater detail and will stretch between two opposite sides of the board (either top to bottom or left to right). The spangram may even consist of two separate words. For example, if the spangram is METAL, it might be surrounded by themed words like ROBOT, ARMOR, and SCREWS.
Once you’ve completed a level, every letter on the grid will be colored blue or yellow, signaling the end of the game. A results screen will then appear, summarizing your performance. On this screen, a lightbulb icon will be displayed for each hint you used, blue circles will mark when themed words were found, and a yellow circle will indicate when the spangram was discovered. The order of your guesses will be displayed from left to right on the top row, continuing in the same manner on subsequent rows.
To beat Strands, it doesn’t matter how many non-themed words you guess or how many hints you use. However, experienced players might aim to complete the game without using any hints, which will trigger a “Perfect!” message, or with as few hints as possible for an added challenge.
At the end of the game, a results-sharing button is provided, allowing players to share and compare their game overview with others. This feature adds a competitive element for those who want to go beyond simply solving the day’s puzzle.
NYT Strands tips, tricks and strategy
Whether you’re new to Strands or have tackled multiple levels, understanding the game’s best practices can greatly enhance your experience. To assist you, WordsRated has compiled key strategies and tips to consider and implement as you play.
Look between solved letters
After finding two or more themed words on the grid, you might notice a stream of unidentified letters running between them. These letters often form a sequence that connects in only one possible way. If you encounter such a situation, use it to identify another themed word.
To solve this, determine which letters in the stream could start or end the solution. Identifying common word endings can simplify the process, helping you figure out the rest of the word more easily.
Earn and use hints
In Strands, you earn one-third of a hint for each non-themed word of 4 letters or more that you find. This means that discovering three such non-themed words will allow you to click on the hint button and reveal letters for one of the themed words.
Once the hint bar is filled, additional non-themed words will no longer contribute to it. Therefore, it’s a good strategy to use your hints as soon as they become available, to maximize their usefulness throughout the game.
Remember the theme
While it might be tempting to jump straight into finding words, take a moment to consider the theme of the day. Reflect on the theme and try to think of relevant words that might appear on the grid.
Finding themed words early in the game offers several advantages. First, you’ll be closer to completing the puzzle, and second, you’ll reduce the number of letters you need to work with. This makes it easier to identify remaining answers as the grid becomes less cluttered.
Additionally, themed words are typically longer than non-themed ones, as they eventually cover all 48 squares on the grid. Focusing on longer words can increase your chances of finding and solving the puzzle more efficiently.
Take your time
As Strands is a daily game, you have plenty of time to identify the themed words. Many players use their downtime, whether before or after work, to tackle a new level.
For those who prefer to play at different times throughout the day, Strands automatically saves your current game progress with each login. This feature allows you to return to the game as often as needed, giving you time to contemplate possible solutions in the background while you switch between tasks.
Games like Strands NYT
If you’re a regular player of Strands and are seeking a new gaming challenge, there are several other free games you might enjoy. Below, WordsRated has listed some popular options that share similarities in gameplay style, offering a fresh experience while still engaging your word-solving skills.
- Wordle – In this popular game, players must guess a mystery 5-letter word within a maximum of 6 attempts. Each guess provides feedback with letters changing color to gray (incorrect), yellow (correct but misplaced), and green (correct and in the right place), helping players refine their guesses.
- The Mini – This game offers daily bite-sized crossword puzzles that must be solved against the clock. Players use hints and previously placed letters on the grid to find all the missing words.
- Connections – Players are given a 4×4 grid of 16 terms and must sort them into groups based on their hidden associations. Strong deduction skills are required to solve each level within a limited number of turns.
- Wordiply – In this game, players search for the longest possible words that include a provided letter combination in the exact sequence. With five turns to use, players are ranked based on their length score (as a percentage of the longest possible word) and their letter score (the total number of letters used).
When will Strands be on the NYT app?
As of April 2024, Strands is available only as a beta game through the New York Times website and not yet through their official games app. While further details are not yet available, players can anticipate that the mobile version will be released once the game completes its beta phase and is fully integrated into the NYT Games collection.
FAQ’s
1. What is Strands?
Strands is a board game where players navigate a dynamic map, complete quests, and strategize to achieve their goals. The game combines elements of exploration, resource management, and tactical decision-making.
2. How many players can play Strands?
Strands is designed for 2 to 4 players.
3. What is the objective of the game?
The objective is to complete quests, gather resources, and outmaneuver your opponents to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game.
4. How do you set up the game?
- Lay out the game board.
- Shuffle and place quest cards on the board.
- Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding pieces.
- Distribute starting resources and cards as indicated in the setup instructions.
5. How does a turn work?
On your turn, you perform the following steps:
- Move: Move your character according to the movement rules.
- Action: Take an action such as completing a quest or gathering resources.
- Draw: Draw cards if required.
- End Turn: Pass the turn to the next player.
6. What are quests?
Quests are objectives that players can complete to gain victory points and rewards. Each quest has specific requirements and can be found on quest cards.
7. How do you complete a quest?
To complete a quest, you must fulfill its requirements, which can include collecting certain items, reaching specific locations, or defeating enemies.
8. What are resources, and how do you collect them?
Resources are items needed to complete quests or perform actions. You collect them by exploring the board, completing quests, or using specific abilities.
9. Can you trade resources with other players?
Yes, trading resources is allowed and can be strategic for advancing your objectives or completing quests.
10. How does combat work in Strands?
Combat involves rolling dice or using cards to determine the outcome of encounters. The rules for combat are detailed in the rulebook and vary depending on the situation.
11. What happens if you can’t complete a quest?
If you cannot complete a quest, you may be able to discard it or attempt to complete a different one. Refer to the quest card or rulebook for specific instructions.
12. Are there any special abilities or powers?
Yes, each player may have unique abilities or powers that can affect gameplay. These are outlined on character cards or special ability cards.
13. How do you win the game?
The game ends when a set condition is met (such as all quests completed or a certain number of turns have passed). The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner.
14. What are victory points, and how do you earn them?
Victory points are earned through completing quests, gathering resources, and achieving other game objectives. They are used to determine the winner.
15. Can you use strategy to affect other players?
Yes, players can use various strategies to impact others, such as blocking their paths, competing for the same resources, or using special abilities.
16. How do you handle player elimination?
Strands typically does not include player elimination. If a player is significantly behind, they can still participate in the game and have opportunities to catch up.
17. Are there expansions or additional rules?
Check the game’s rulebook or official website for information on expansions and additional rules that can enhance or alter gameplay.
18. What should you do if you lose a game piece?
If a piece is lost, check with the game manufacturer for replacement parts or consider using a substitute that fits the game’s requirements.
19. How long does a typical game of Strands last?
A game of Strands usually lasts between 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the number of players and familiarity with the rules.
20. Where can you find more information or help with the game?
For more information, refer to the game’s rulebook, visit the official website, or join online forums and communities dedicated to Strands.
