The article provides an overview of “Strands,” a word-search game offered by the New York Times. “Strands” challenges players to find words by linking letters in various directions—up, down, left, right, or diagonally, allowing for dynamic patterns as words can change direction. All letters in the grid contribute to an answer, with a common theme connecting each solution. Additionally, players must identify the “spangram,” a significant word or phrase that reflects the day’s theme and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
Unlike simpler games such as “Wordle” and “Connections,” “Strands” does not provide a word list and only gives a vague hint, making it a more complex puzzle. For those who might be struggling or pressed for time, hints are available to assist in completing the puzzle at a comfortable pace.
The theme for the current day revolves around gaming, with terms commonly used in that context. The spangram for the day is presented horizontally and is “GamePieces.”
The word list for April 18 includes the following:
– Checker
– Domino
– GamePieces
– Battleship
– Tile
– Token
– Knight
Interested readers seeking more online games can explore additional options on Mashable’s Games page, which also features Mahjong, Sudoku, and crosswords. For those looking to solve previous puzzles, a solution for the Strands puzzle from April 17 is available. Moreover, Mashable provides various other games and puzzles for those who wish to explore further.