For the second day in a row I'm a little frustrated with Strands. You can decide for yourself if you agree with my opinion, but it may well be one of those games where a hint helps.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle Today, NYT Connections Today, and Quordle Today pages for tips and answers for those games.
SPOILER WARNING: Today's NYT Strands info is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #98) – track #1 – today's topic
What's the topic of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands topic is… Way to grow!
NYT Strands Today (Game #98) – Clue #2 – Keywords
What are some good keywords today?
Play any of these words to unlock the game's hint system.
• RATE
• WAVE
• PASSED
• WITHERED
• SIDE
• CAREER
NYT Strands today (game #98) – clue #3 – spangram
What's a clue for today's spangram?
• You will also need green fingers
NYT Strands today (game #98) – clue #4 – spangram position
What are the two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
• First: left, 4th row
• Last: right, 5th row
Well, the answers are below, so DON'T SCROLL FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands Today (Game #98): The Answers
The answers to today's Strands game number 98 are…
- SEEDS
- WATER
- SUNLIGHT
- LAND
- SPACE
- LOVE
- PROTECTION
- SPANGRAM: GARDEN
- My rating: Frustrating
- My score: a track
Creating a Strands puzzle must be difficult. I do not know how to do it; Even once you come up with the answers, the challenge of fitting them all into the grid, in a way where they are tessellated and where the letters can't be used any other way, must be a real headache. Probably harder than figuring it out, to be honest!
I say all this to mitigate the fact that I really don't think this Strands puzzle works. It's not the first time I've felt this way either. Strands is usually excellent, but sometimes he just misses the mark. The game instructions state that the spangram “describes the theme of the puzzle.” Meanwhile, today's key topic was “This is how you grow!” So what is the topic? Is the verb 'garden', like doing some gardening? That's the closest answer, but the answers – including LOVE and PROTECTION – don't really work in that case. Does it really take LOVE to dedicate yourself to the garden? Someone who does it for a job doesn't necessarily LOVE it. AND THE SPACE? You can almost justify all of them, but it's a stretch. It's one of those puzzles where in the end you're left grimacing at how it had to be forced, instead of smiling at the clever way it was done and accepting that yes, they outdid you today, or at least made you think: in instead of guessing random words.
Maybe this is all a bit bitter of me, because I needed a clue to finding LOVE, but I suspect I won't be the only one feeling a little dissatisfied today.
As was your day? Send me an email and let me know.
Answers from yesterday's NYT Strands (Saturday, June 8, Game #97)
- BEACH
- TO CAMP
- POPSICLE
- CARNIVAL
- LEMONADE
- HOPSCOTCH
- SPANGRAM: SUMMER
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's new word game, after Wordle and Connections. It is currently in Beta and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I have a complete guide on how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check it out if you're struggling to beat it every day.
