The New York Times Strands puzzle for December 12th (#649) centers on Shakespearean play titles. Players are tasked with identifying hidden words within a grid, ultimately revealing the overarching theme. The puzzle relies on finding four-letter words or longer to unlock in-game hints towards the theme words.
Unlocking the Theme
The core mechanic involves identifying at least three words of four letters or more to trigger a theme hint. Words like MUST, CANT, RANT, RACE, CARE, CHARD, CHANT, HARD, SIDE, and HIDE can all be used to unlock these hints. The goal is to find all theme-related words, including the “spangram” — a word that spans the entire grid.
Today’s Answers
The non-spangram answers for today’s puzzle are:
- MERRY
- SHREW
- TEMPEST
- TWELFTH
- MERCHANT
- MIDSUMMER
The spangram for this puzzle is THEBARD. Locate the letter T four rows down on the leftmost column, and trace the word horizontally across the grid.
Challenging Past Puzzles
Some Strands themes have proven notably difficult for players. The January 21st puzzle centered on dated slang was particularly challenging, with “PHAT” as the toughest word. Another tough one was from January 15th, focused on nautical terms, where words like “BALEEN” or “RIGHT” presented significant obstacles.
These puzzles demonstrate that Strands’ difficulty varies based on the theme’s niche familiarity. The game’s appeal lies in its blend of word-finding and thematic deduction.
