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Today's Strands confused me. Am I stupid? Maybe. Is the game stupid? Sometimes. Can both of these things be true? Definitely. See what you think, then scroll down for the answers and my commentary.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.
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 #102) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Good times ahead
NYT Strands today (game #102) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- APPLE
- MAPLE
- RACE
- HEAR
- RATTY
- SOAR
NYT Strands today (game #102) - hint #3 - spangram
What is a hint for today's spangram?
• Check the guestlist
NYT Strands today (game #102) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
• First: top, 2nd column
• Last: bottom, 4th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #102) - the answers
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The answers to today's Strands, game #102, are…
- FAVOR
- HEARTY
- ANIMAL
- BOAT
- FOUL
- CRASHER
- POOPER
- SPANGRAM: AFTERPARTY
- My rating: Hard
- My score: Two hints
I am a bit… baffled by this. Even after solving it I'm not entirely sure what the theme here is. I think it's words that go after party – which works for some of them, like ANIMAL, CRASHER and POOPER. But I have no idea what a PARTY FOUL or PARTY HEARTY is. Literally zero idea. But maybe I'm just not a party person. In fact, I know I'm not.
I was so nonplussed by what was going on that I found the first two words on the list entirely by accident, used hints for the next two, then found all of the rest by default based on the way the letters fell. Unsatisfying – and it's made me even less likely to want to go to a party now.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday 12 June, game #101)
- JELLY
- CIDER
- HOLE
- GLAZED
- FROSTED
- CAKE
- POWDERED
- SPANGRAM: DOUGHNUTS
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's currently in Beta 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.