Strands is released at midnight in your time zone. To accommodate players around the world, we publish two Strands Sidekicks each day, based on Eastern Standard Time. If you find yourself on the wrong Sidekick, check your puzzle’s number, and go to this page to find its corresponding Sidekick post.

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.

When you finish one of The New York Times’ Strands puzzles, you’ll now see stats and details about your streak. I love Strands but had to break my daily habit for my own sanity, so please don’t judge me on my poor stats.

Strands Sidekick No. 506. Scroll down for hints and conversation about the puzzle for Tuesday, July 22, 2025. By New York Times Games

Strands is a tricky take on the classic word search from NYT Games. If you're stuck and cannot solve today's puzzle, we've got help and hints for you here.

Wordle, Connections, and Strands are all free, quick games from the New York Times. Here's how they compare in time required, skills needed, and frustration factor. (Also: Where to find hints!)

By New York Times Games. June 29, 2025. Hello, fellow word lovers. Welcome to the first Strands Sidekick. Our goal here is to help you solve each day’s puzzle.