Strands is a brand-new daily puzzle from the New York Times that offers a trickier take on the classic word search. You’ll need a keen eye to solve it!

How to Play Strands

In Strands, your goal is to find the “theme words” hidden within a grid of letters. Here’s how to navigate the game:

  1. Finding Theme Words: Manipulate the letters by dragging or tapping to craft words. Double-tap the final letter to confirm.
  2. Highlighting: If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted in blue and will no longer be selectable.
  3. Non-Theme Words: If you find a word that isn’t a theme word but is at least four letters long, it helps too! For every three non-theme words, you’ll receive a hint—one letter from a theme word will be revealed for you to unscramble.
  4. Spangram: Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word that touches two opposite sides of the board and describes the puzzle’s theme. Finding the spangram will highlight it in yellow.
  5. Goal: Complete the puzzle quickly while minimizing the use of hints!

Hint for Today’s Strands Puzzle

Today’s theme is “Spacing out”.

Hint: Beyond science.

Today’s Spangram

The spangram, which will guide you toward the theme, is:

SCIENCEFICTION

Today’s Strands Answers

Here are the theme words you’re looking for:

  • ALIEN
  • DROID
  • ROBOT
  • CYBORG
  • MUTANT
  • MARTIAN

Good luck, and enjoy solving today’s Strands puzzle! If you need more help, feel free to ask.

TOPICS: NYT Strands