In Strands, a word puzzle game by The New York Times that’s still in beta, the latest puzzle is the 10th one. The first few puzzles were pretty easy, with some players saying the hints gave away too much and the game wasn’t challenging. But things have changed now, and the puzzles are getting tougher, making some players frustrated.
Before we go on, I need to tell you that this article has spoilers and answers for the March 13, 2024 game of Strands. Here’s the link to play today’s game if you want to try it yourself. Then come back here, and we’ll talk about it together.
Okay, now let’s talk about the puzzle. The theme for the March 13 puzzle is “One thousand followers,” and the spangram is “GRAND FINALE.” In this puzzle, you need to find words that fit the theme and connect with “grand” to make phrases like “grand prize” and “grand jury.”
To understand these puzzles better, think of the theme as a crossword clue. If you’re used to solving crosswords, especially New York Times ones, you’ll have an advantage. The theme gives you a hint about what the spangram will be, which then helps you figure out what the blue words have in common.
Sometimes the theme is straightforward, like “Mark my words” with the spangram “PUNCTUATION,” and the blue words are related words like “comma” and “apostrophe.” But other times, it can be trickier, like “To put it mildly” with the spangram “EUPHEMISMS,” where the blue words are related but not obvious.
Expect these puzzles to challenge you with wordplay and fill-in-the-blanks categories. For example, in one puzzle, the theme was “FRAGILE: Handle with care,” the spangram was “BREAKABLE,” and the blue words were things like “heart” and “promise” that can be “broken.”
Overall, Strands offers a range of difficulty levels, from easy to tough, depending on the puzzle. If you enjoy wordplay and solving puzzles that make you think outside the box, you’ll love Strands. Just be prepared for a challenge! You can also play How do I solve a puzzle in Strands NYT Game?
