The New York Times' excellent word search game is now in its Games app

Strands was initially launched in beta in March 2024. It quickly gained popularity and became the third most searched game on The New York Times, behind Wordle and Connections.

Each Strands puzzle incorporates a unique feature called the "Spangram," which is a theme word that spans across opposite sides of the puzzle, connecting two opposite ends. This special word often splits the grid into sections, offering clues about the remaining words that fit the category, and encapsulates the theme of the entire puzzle.