The New York Times has unveiled the hints and solutions for the Strands puzzle scheduled for October 26, 2025, featuring a seasonal theme titled “Fall-ing.” This engaging word puzzle combines elements of crosswords and word searches, inviting players to discover hidden words related to autumn.
For those looking to solve today’s puzzle, hints are provided for both the spangram and the theme words. The spangram, which encapsulates the puzzle’s essence, is identified as AUTUMN. Players can anticipate finding a range of autumn-themed words, including ORCHARDS, PUMPKINS, CORN, FOOTBALL, FOLIAGE, and HARVEST.
How the Strands Puzzle Works
The Strands game can be accessed through the New York Times website and the NYT Games app. Upon starting the game, players encounter a board filled with letters and a clue that hints at the theme of the day’s puzzle—today’s clue is centered on autumn. The primary aim is to identify words that fit the theme from the jumbled letters provided.
The spangram is crucial, as it highlights the theme and spans the entire board. In today’s case, finding AUTUMN can simplify the process of discovering other words. The letters can be arranged in various directions, including horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, with each letter used only once.
If players face challenges, they can submit non-theme words of at least four letters to gain hints. By submitting three such words, they can unlock the “Hint” button, which will reveal letters from one of the theme words.
Winning the Strands Game
Unlike other word games, Strands allows players to explore without the pressure of failing. Each guess either results in a correct identification of a word, credits toward a hint, or shaking text indicating an invalid submission. There are no time constraints, and players win by correctly identifying all theme words and the spangram.
Once the puzzle is solved, players receive a shareable card displaying their performance, with colored dots indicating the words they found and hints used. This feature enhances the competitive aspect, encouraging players to improve their skills in future puzzles.
As enthusiasts dive into the Strands puzzle today, the blend of autumnal words promises to create an enjoyable challenge for players of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, the excitement of uncovering hidden words awaits.
