Strands

GAME #523

Today's Theme

Vision

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How to Play Strands

Each puzzle has a hidden theme, and every letter on the board belongs to a theme word. Your goal is to find all of them.

Drag through letters to spell a word. You can move in any direction, including diagonally. When you find a theme word, it lights up blue and locks in place.

There's also one special word called the spangram. It describes the theme and stretches all the way across two opposite sides of the board. Find it and it turns yellow.

If you get stuck, you can earn hints by finding real words that aren't theme words. Every three of those unlocks a hint that shows you where one theme word is hiding.

You've solved the puzzle when every letter on the board has been used. A new puzzle drops every day!

Tips & Strategies for Strands

Take the theme seriously before you start tracing

The theme is not just a fun title, it is the key to the whole puzzle. Before you start connecting letters spend a moment actually thinking about what words genuinely relate to the theme. Players who treat the theme as a hint tend to find the first couple of theme words quickly, and from there the remaining letters guide you toward the rest.

Use non-theme words to bank hints early

You earn one hint for every three valid non-theme words you find. In the early stages of a puzzle it is worth deliberately hunting for any word you can find, theme-related or not, just to build up a hint reserve. Having two or three hints sitting unused when you get stuck is a much better position than needing one and having none.

Leave the spangram for last

The spangram spans the entire board from one edge to the opposite edge and it describes the overall theme. It is almost always the hardest word to find and the hardest to trace. If you try to find it first you will often waste time. Solve the individual theme words first and the spangram usually becomes visible once most of the board is cleared.

Every letter belongs to exactly one word

This is easy to forget in the middle of a puzzle but it is the most important rule. There are no leftover letters and no letter belongs to more than one word. When you get stuck look at the unclaimed letters as a group and ask yourself what they might form together. The shape and position of the remaining cells often gives the answer away.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the spangram in Strands?

The spangram is a special word that describes the overall theme of the puzzle. It must span two opposite sides of the board — touching both the left and right edges, or both the top and bottom. When you find it, it lights up yellow instead of blue. It is usually the trickiest word to find, so saving it for last is a solid strategy.

How do hints work in Strands?

You earn hints by finding valid words that are not theme words. Every three non-theme words you discover unlocks one hint. A hint reveals the location of one hidden theme word on the board. You can bank multiple hints and use them whenever you need them, so it pays to keep exploring even when you feel stuck.

Do I have to use every letter on the board?

Yes — every single letter on the board belongs to exactly one theme word or the spangram. There are no leftover letters. This means that once you place a word correctly, those cells are locked in, and the remaining letters give you a clearer picture of what is still hiding. The puzzle is complete only when every cell has been claimed.

Is a new Strands puzzle available every day?

Yes! A brand-new Strands puzzle with a fresh theme is published every day. You can also browse previous puzzles from the game menu if you want to work through ones you missed or play a second one on the same day.