Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns.

You can find the Strands game on the New York Times website and in the NYT Games app.

The New York Times Strands, launched after popular games like Wordle, presents a daily puzzle challenging players to find theme-related words and a Spangram. On July 6, 2025, the theme is "My hero!",