A Year of Strands: The Trickiest Puzzles, Biggest Trends, and Key Patterns

When Strands launched on March 4, 2024, its debut puzzle, Mark My Words, was a perfect introduction—solvers had to uncover punctuation marks hidden in a jumble of letters. Clever, approachable, and a hint of the wordplay to come.

Nine months later, on December 4, Strands dropped what many called its hardest puzzle yet. The theme? Strikingly similar, but this time, it left players completely stumped.

From playful punctuation to pure brain-benders, Strands has kept solvers swiping for words for a full year. To celebrate its first anniversary, we analyzed all 365 puzzles—exploring themes, word patterns, and recurring trends—to uncover what truly defined Strands in its debut year.

What We Found Out:

• Strands has found its own spot alongside Wordle and Connections. While it’s not as widely played as these daily favorites, it still draws a strong audience. It’s also significantly more popular than Spelling Bee (which limits free play). The Mini, part of the crossword family, makes direct comparisons tricky.
• The most common puzzle themes fall into Language, Literature & Culture and Media, Entertainment & Leisure—a trend that mirrors other NYT Games. Notably, many of the toughest Strands answers have come from the Language, Literature & Culture category.
• The most frequently repeated word? BACON. As for Spangrams, HOMOPHONES has been used three times—mirroring its popularity as a recurring trick in Connections.
• Most puzzles consist of six or seven theme words, with an average word length of 6.57 letters. The longest theme words? TORTOISESHELL and TYRANNOSAURUS (13 letters). The longest Spangram? HUNGRYCATERPILLAR (17 letters).
• Common word endings: E is the most frequent one-letter ending ( 523 times), ER leads two-letter endings ( 158 times), and ING dominates among three-letter endings ( 56 times).

How Big Is Strands? Comparing It to Other NYT Games

Every day, Strands challenges solvers with a new word hunt: a 6×8 letter grid and a theme to uncover. The goal? Find the Spangram—a key word or phrase that serves as the puzzle’s main answer, always touching two opposite sides of the board. Then, discover the theme words that fit within that category. Stuck? Finding non-theme words earns you hints.

In a way, Strands feels like a blend of other NYT Games: it has the word-search feel of Spelling Bee, the category-spotting of Connections, and the clue-driven solving of a crossword. But with its signature spangram mechanic and hidden word paths, it offers a distinct challenge that sets it apart.

One year in, how big is Strands compared to its NYT Games siblings? While exact player numbers aren’t public, search interest gives us a useful proxy for measuring its reach.

The chart above shows that when Strands launched, it quickly captured public interest, with search activity surpassing that of Spelling Bee within its first month. Although this initial surge tapered slightly, current interest remains more than double that of Spelling Bee. Comparatively, while Wordle and Connections maintain higher search volumes, Strands' growth trajectory mirrors that of Connections, despite being approximately four times smaller in search interest and nearly ten times smaller than Wordle.

It's important to note that while Google Trends offers accessible insights into public interest, it serves as a proxy measure. Other metrics, though not publicly available, might provide more precise data, but the general trends are well-reflected through this tool.

Themes, Trends, and Patterns

Before diving into the themes and categories, explore our interactive table featuring all 365 Strands puzzles. You can search by words, Spangrams, dates, or categories and even sort the table.

Breaking Down the Themes

When we first analyzed the first 100 Strands puzzles, we identified key theme categories—now, with a full year of puzzles, we’ve expanded and refined that approach. To make sense of 365 puzzles, we categorized them into eight broad themes, ensuring a balanced distribution while keeping every topic well-represented. Any themes with fewer than ten puzzles were grouped into a Variety Pack, capturing the unique, one-off topics that didn’t fit neatly elsewhere.

Here’s how we broke it down:

• Language, Literature & Culture: A mix of mythology, astrology, literature, and cultural expressions.
• Media, Entertainment & Leisure: From party games and music to movies and print media, this category captures what entertains us.
• Nature, Gardening & Environment: Everything from bird songs to weather patterns, tied to the natural world.
• Food & Drinks: A straightforward category covering everything culinary.
• Fashion, Beauty & Style: Merging fashion, style, and self-care, this category spans clothing, accessories, fitness, and grooming.
• Education & Science: From mathematics and spaceflight to biology and chemistry, this group centers on learning and discovery.
• Variety Pack: A catch-all category for unique themes that didn’t fit elsewhere.

When looking at puzzle categories, the Variety Pack takes the top spot, but since it’s a mix of smaller themes, the real heavyweights are Language, Literature & Culture (73 puzzles), Media, Entertainment & Leisure (72 puzzles), and Food & Drinks (50 puzzles).

It’s no surprise these categories dominate—NYT Games fans are already drawn to similar themes in Connections and crosswords. Wordplay, pop culture, and food-related topics consistently engage solvers, making them natural focal points for Strands as well. The game may have its own unique twist, but it clearly caters to the same puzzle-loving audience.

These top categories also lean heavily on American culture and trivia, naturally favoring U.S.-based solvers. While this can be frustrating for players across oceans, it’s also been a learning experience for many. For those integrating into American culture—or simply curious about it—Strands, along with Connections and crosswords, has become an unexpected crash course in everything from classic literature to TV references to beloved foods.

The Words We See Again and Again

Most Repeated Words

To uncover the most common words in Strands, we built an interactive word cloud—hover over a word, and you’ll see how often it appeared. Some clear favorites stand out:

• BACON leads with six appearances.
• LOVE and WATER follow closely, each appearing five times.
• Words like CHEESE, COMIC, CRUNCH, DANCE, FANTASY, HEART, QUEEN, RICE, SCARF, and TOMATO all made four appearances.

Whether tied to food, emotions, pop culture, or fashion, these recurring words highlight the playful yet familiar themes that define Strands.

Spangram Repeats

Spangrams, however, are far less likely to repeat. Out of 365 puzzles, only a handful appeared more than once:

• HOMOPHONES (3 times)
• ILLUMINATION, TITLES, COCKTAILS, and NEWSPAPER (each 2 times)

This rarity suggests that Strands prioritizes fresh, clever wordplay, ensuring each puzzle feels unique.

How Strands Constructs a Puzzle

How Many Words Per Puzzle?

Most Strands puzzles feature 6 or 7 theme words, with the total count ranging from 4 to 8 and an average of 6.3.

• Puzzles with only 4 words are incredibly rare—just three exist so far. These tend to feature longer, more intricate words that require strong pattern recognition.
• Puzzles with 8 words are more frequent but still uncommon, appearing in 29 instances.
• This variation adds to the game’s dynamic nature, ensuring solvers encounter both tightly focused and densely packed puzzles.

Word Length Trends

Words in Strands puzzles range from 4 to 17 letters, with an average length of 6.57. This includes both theme words and Spangrams.

• The longest theme words are TORTOISESHELL and TYRANNOSAURUS (13 letters).
• Words longer than 13 letters are exclusively Spangrams.
• The longest Spangram so far? HUNGRYCATERPILLAR (17 letters).
• It’s also not unusual for Spangrams to be multi-word phrases, adding an extra layer of challenge.

Common Word Endings

Patterns in Strands answers reveal some expected trends:

Most common single-letter endings:

• E (523 occurrences)
• S (320)
• R (229)

Most common two-letter endings:

• ER (158)
• LE (109)
• ON (91)

Most common three-letter endings:

• ING (56)
• TER (48)
• ION (38)

These patterns align with familiar English word structures, likely influencing both puzzle design and solving strategies.

The Hardest Puzzles of the Year

Since The New York Times doesn’t currently provide difficulty ratings for Strands, we set out to identify the hardest puzzles using a data-driven approach. Our methodology combined Google Trends data for ' Strands hint' searches (indicating how many solvers sought help), spikes in social media discussions—primarily from Reddit’s active Strands community—along with TikTok and YouTube engagement. From a shortlist of 20 puzzles that stood out, we carefully analyzed and selected the top five, balancing data with a closer look at each puzzle’s complexity. While difficulty is subjective, these five were among the trickiest, based on both player feedback and solving challenges. Here’s our list—along with why each one proved to be a serious brain teaser.

#1 December 4, 2024 – "I now pronounce you ..."

Revisit this puzzle

The hardest Strands puzzle of the year, this one had solvers scratching their heads. The Spangram, DIACRITICS, hinted at the often-overlooked marks that shape pronunciation. Finding ACUTE, CEDILLA, CIRCUMFLEX, GRAVE, TILDE, and UMLAUT required both linguistic knowledge and patience. Unlike puzzles with more familiar themes, this one challenged solvers to recognize symbols rather than words, making it a true test of wordplay prowess.

#2 March 29, 2024 – "Pardon my French!"

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This puzzle played with French loanwords, a category rich with flair. The Spangram, LOANWORDS, led solvers to words like BERET, CHAUFFEUR, BUREAU, APÉRITIF, CHIC, and LIAISON—all seamlessly woven into English. From fashion to drinks, this puzzle highlighted how French has stylishly infiltrated everyday vocabulary. A fun mix of language and culture, with just a hint of sophistication.

#3 July 21, 2024 – "S-words? (A cutting-edge theme!)"

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A sharp theme in more ways than one! This puzzle’s Spangram, BLADES, pointed to a lineup of legendary swords: MACHETE, KATANA, CLAYMORE, RAPIER, SCIMITAR, and CUTLASS. From swashbucklers to samurai, these words cut across history and geography. The playful clue, referencing both the "S" sound and literal sharpness, made for a clever, satisfying solve.

#4 July 14, 2024 – "Say my name"

Revisit this puzzle

This puzzle put a phonetic spin on things with the Spangram HOMOPHONES, a favorite Connections trick that always sparks frustration across different accents. The theme words—RUSTLE, PEAT, MERRY, FILL, GALE, HAIRY, ATOM, and WHINNY—all had sound-alike counterparts, making solvers think beyond spelling. With pronunciation quirks at play, this puzzle was both a challenge and a clever nod to the way English twists sounds in unexpected ways.

#5 December 29, 2024 – "Festival of Lights delights"

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A deliciously themed puzzle, this one celebrated Hanukkah foods. The Spangram, HANUKKAHFOODS, encompassed festive favorites like APPLESAUCE, BRISKET, CHALLAH, KUGEL, and of course, LATKES. The mix of sweet and savory staples made for a flavorful word hunt, reinforcing the holiday’s culinary traditions. A puzzle that felt like a warm, celebratory dinner—minus the calories.

Feasts, Festivities, and Fresh Starts: Holiday-Themed Puzzles

From Hanukkah delights to other holiday traditions, Strands had a few more puzzles that celebrated the season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve all got their own thematic word hunts, capturing the spirit of gathering, giving, and fresh beginnings. Whether indulging in a feast, peeking into a stocking, or reflecting on the year's end, these puzzles brought a festive touch to daily solving.

November 28, 2024 – "Thank goodness!"

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Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a feast, and this puzzle delivered all the essentials. The Spangram, LET'S FEAST, set the stage for a table full of classic dishes: CRANBERRIES, GRAVY, POTATOES, ROLLS, TURKEY, and YAMS. With no tricky wordplay, this was a comfort-food puzzle—warm, familiar, and satisfying. A perfect way to work up an appetite before (or after) a real-life Thanksgiving meal!

December 25, 2024 – "A Visit from Santa"

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Stockings were the star of this Christmas-themed puzzle, with the Spangram STOCKING tying together a mix of traditional treats and surprises. Solvers uncovered CANDY, COAL, ORANGE, PENS, PLUSHIE, SCARF, SOCKS, and TOYS—a blend of the sweet, the practical, and the dreaded lump of coal. Whether nostalgic or playful, this puzzle captured the small joys (and occasional disappointments) of Christmas morning.

December 31, 2024 – "Resolutions"

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As the year wound down, this Strands puzzle embraced endings—literally. The Spangram, IT’S OVER, grouped together words that signal a final chapter: CLOSURE, CODA, CONCLUSION, ENDING, EPILOGUE, and FINALE. A fitting theme for New Year's Eve, this puzzle was both poetic and reflective.

Strands’ Social Scene: A Buzz, but No Wordle-Sized Roar

While Strands hasn’t taken over the internet like Wordle or Connections, it’s built a dedicated and lively community—especially on Reddit. With 7K members and ranking in the top 9% of subreddits, r/NYTStrands keeps the conversation going with daily threads and discussions. Over on YouTube and TikTok, some puzzle influencers have picked it up, though not at the same level as other NYT hits. Interestingly, a similar (and more accessible) word search game, Word Salad, has found even greater traction on those platforms.

The biggest social stir? That mind-bending diacritics puzzle from December 4. Solvers weren’t just puzzled—they were acute-ly distressed. From grave frustration to umlauting sighs, the discussion turned into a phonetic free-for-all. Love it or hate it, that one definitely left a mark!

Beyond Year One: What’s Next for Strands and NYT Games?

Strands has found its place in the NYT Games lineup, but what could make it even better?

• An Archive, Please? Unlike Wordle, Connections, and Spelling Bee, Strands doesn’t let you play or revisit past puzzles—even with a subscription. Would an archive make it a richer experience?
• More Community & Help Features? Connections and Wordle solvers have daily discussion threads and even bots analyzing their gameplay. Should Strands get such features too?
• A Timer for an Extra Challenge? Should Strands introduce a timer mode—optional, of course—to add a competitive edge for speed solvers?

A New Game on the Horizon?

With Wordle, Connections, and now Strands, isn’t it about time for the next big NYT puzzle? The Times has a habit of dropping fresh games in the spring—could a new one be just around the corner? What surprise might they have in store for us next?