According to a report by the New York Times, the game Strands involves a set of unique rules and guidelines for players to follow. To start playing, individuals are advised to first locate theme words that need to be placed on the game board. These theme words are highlighted in blue once identified and must not overlap with each other. The next step involves manipulating the letters on the board to form words by either dragging them into place or tapping on them. When tapping on the letters, players are required to double tap the final letter to submit their word. As the game progresses, the aim is to fill the board entirely with theme words, ensuring they are all correctly placed.
One of the key elements of the game is finding the “spangram,” which serves as a clue to the puzzle’s theme. The spangram is a specific set of words that span across two opposite sides of the board and is essential for unraveling the overall theme of the game. Once the spangram is correctly identified, it is highlighted in yellow, providing players with a visual cue. An example spangram could include words like PEAR, FRUIT, BANANA, and APPLE, among others, that are related to the puzzle’s theme.
Players can also seek hints during the game by identifying non-theme words on the board. For every three non-theme words discovered, players are rewarded with a hint that reveals the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, the new hint will display the letter order of that particular word. This feature allows players to progress through the game by gradually unraveling the theme words with the help of hints.
In today’s Strands game, the hint revolves around different parts of the day, indicating that players will encounter theme words related to various times of day. Additionally, players are informed that today’s spangram is oriented horizontally from right to left, providing a clue on how to approach the puzzle. To assist players further, the first theme word to be found is located in the top half of the board with the initial two letters of each word given as: DAN, ODA, MOD, UTW, EVT, I (SPANGRAM).
Ultimately, the goal of the game is to uncover all eight theme words, including the spangram, which is revealed to be TIMING on the specified date of Saturday, January 11, 2025. The theme words for that day include DAWN, NOON, DAYBREAK, MORNING, DUSK, TWILIGHT, EVENING, and TIMING (SPANGRAM), forming a comprehensive list for players to discover. By following the clues and utilizing hints strategically, players can successfully navigate through the game and enhance their gameplay experience.
In summary, Strands offers a challenging and engaging word puzzle experience that combines strategy, observation, and deduction to uncover the hidden theme words and solve the puzzle.
