Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's lit!
NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- STAIR
- LAST
- CART
- FIRST
- SWEET
- LATE
NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #3 - spangram
What is a hint for today's spangram?
• Book types
NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 4th row
Last side: right, 4th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #289) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #289, are…
- CRIME
- FANTASY
- ROMANCE
- WESTERN
- HISTORICAL
- SPANGRAM: FICTION GENRE
- My rating: Easy
- My score: 1 hint
According to Writer’s Digest there are 114 FICTION GENREs and sub genres – and that’s not including WESTERN (a genre of literature set in the American Old West frontier and typically set from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth century).
Alternative genres today’s Strands could have included: Fabulist, Dark fantasy, Biopunk, Supernatural Menace, and Bangsian Fantasy (stories speculating on the afterlives of famous people). Oh, and Wuxia (fantasy tales set within the martial arts traditions and philosophies of China). I suspect if any of those had been included I might have struggled more than I did here.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 16 December, game #288)
- SMOG
- SPORT
- BRUNCH
- ZORSE
- ATHLEISURE
- ANKLET
- SPANGRAM: PORTMANTEAUX
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
