Strands doesn’t get as much attention as its New York Times brethren Wordle and Connections, but it can be just as challenging and entertaining. Right now, Strands is only in beta, so it doesn’t appear in the New York Times Games app yet. You need to go directly to the game. And because it’s in beta, meaning it’s still being tested, it may be improved before its full release. I delve into the Strands rules in this story.
If you’re reading this, you probably need help with the June 26 strands puzzle, so here we go. Warning: Scroll down too much too fast and you will see spoilers.
Do you need more answers? Here is the answer for today’s Wordle and here are the answers for today’s Connections.
Read more: NYT Connections turns 1 year old: These are the 5 hardest puzzles yet
Clue for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands topic is: Looking good.
But if that doesn’t help, here’s a hint: Everyone in fashion!
Keywords to unlock clues in the game
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the theme of the puzzle. If you’re stuck, find the words you can. Each time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those suggestions, but any word of four or more letters you can find will work:
- Reap, read, exhale, spit, tips, fair, dodge, dare, wait, wait, pair, match, encompass, hair, daps, spear, spears.
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that relate to the topic. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a themed word that goes from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have them all (I originally thought there would always be eight, but I discovered that the number can vary), all the letters on the board will be used. Here are the non-spangram answers:
- ELEGANT, ELEGANT, SWANK, SNAZZY, DRIPPY, DAPPER, SPIFFY
Today’s Strands Spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is FASHION. To spell it, start with the F which is six letters down on the far left and continue.
Walk down that walkway.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
How to play NYT Strands
1. Use today’s topic to find words related to that topic. Do you see one? Drag or click the letters in order. Click on the last letter twice to submit your guess. If you have found a topic word, it will light up blue and stay that way.
2. Other words you find are considered keywords that give you clues about the topic words. Find three keywords (they must have at least four letters each) and the game will reward you by showing you a theme word. But if you can’t figure it out, search for three more keywords and the game will highlight the letters of the theme word in order.
3. Hunt the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle, although it can flow across or from top to bottom. Summarize the theme of the puzzle.
4. When you are done, you will have used each letter on the board, either in a topic word or in a spangram. Theme words fill the entire board and do not overlap.
