Strands Sidekick is a companion page that offers daily support for the New York Times puzzle called Strands. The page welcomes word lovers and explains that its purpose is to help solvers navigate each day’s puzzle by offering hints and a space to discuss strategies. Users are invited to scroll down to view hints for the current game or to visit the comments section where they can share stories, creative writing, or simply connect with other solvers.
Daily Release Schedule
The Strands puzzle itself is released at midnight in each player’s local time zone. To make the puzzle accessible to a global audience, the Sidekick publishes two separate posts each day, both aligned with Eastern Standard Time. This dual‑posting strategy ensures that players in different regions can find the correct Sidekick for their local release without confusion.
If a solver lands on the wrong Sidekick, the page reminds them to check the puzzle number and directs them to a link that will lead them to the appropriate Sidekick post for that particular puzzle.
Difficulty Ratings
Difficulty ratings for each Strands puzzle are calculated by averaging the opinions of paid testers. These testers can choose from three levels: easy, moderate, and challenging. A link to learn more about the testing process is provided, and the current puzzle’s difficulty is noted as moderate.
The page also invites solvers to compare their own scores with the published difficulty rating. If a player feels that the puzzle’s difficulty differs from what they experienced, they are encouraged to share that perspective in the comments.
Hint System
Hints are available to guide players toward solving the puzzle’s theme words. By clicking or tapping on each hint, a solver can reveal either the first letter or the direction of travel for up to three theme words. This feature is designed to provide targeted assistance without giving away full solutions.
Community Interaction
Community interaction is a key part of the Sidekick experience. The comments section is moderated for civility and encourages participants to be kind to one another. Solvers can also use the space to exchange creative writing, swap stories, and discuss strategies.
Technical Support and Feedback
Technical issues are addressed through a dedicated settings menu where users can tap “Report a bug.” The page emphasizes the importance of following community guidelines, including respectful communication, and highlights that comments are moderated to maintain a friendly environment.
For additional feedback, solvers can email the New York Times Games team at crosswordeditors@nytimes.com. The page also directs users to the Games team’s Instagram account for solving tips and behind‑the‑scenes content from editors.
Additional Resources
Finally, the Sidekick encourages solvers to explore related games by linking to Wordle Review, Connections Companion, and the Spelling Bee Forum. These resources provide additional opportunities for word‑play enthusiasts to engage with other puzzles offered by the same publisher.
Steve Lopez is a Senior Editorial Columnist and Health & Public Policy reporter for News Raise. Steve focuses on healthcare advancements, medical technologies, and public health policies.
