The New York Times’ Strands puzzle for August 13, 2026 centers on intense and passionate emotions. Players working through today’s grid will encounter words that describe fervent feelings and strong sentiments tied to the theme of “coming in hot.”
Strands distinguishes itself from other word games through its innovative mechanics. Letters must be connected through adjacent spaces—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—and paths can shift direction to create unusual formations. Every letter in the grid contributes to solving the puzzle, and a special “spangram” ties all solutions together thematically while spanning the entire grid in a single direction.
Today’s puzzle includes six words centered on passionate intensity: Heated, Fierce, Zealous, Intense, Fervent, and Torrid. The spangram, which runs horizontally across the grid, is “Firebrand.” Players seeking assistance can use the hints provided, or consult the complete word list to help progress through the challenge at their own pace.
Unlike quicker games such as Wordle, Strands typically demands more time investment, offering players a more substantial brain-teasing experience that can take ten minutes or longer to complete.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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