Strands is released at midnight in your time zone. To accommodate players around the world, we publish two Strands Sidekicks each day, based on Eastern Standard Time. If you find yourself on the wrong Sidekick, check your puzzle’s number, and go to this page to find its corresponding Sidekick post.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns.

Strands is a tricky take on the classic word search from NYT Games. If you're stuck and cannot solve today's puzzle, we've got help and hints for you here.

Strands Sidekick No. 506. Scroll down for hints and conversation about the puzzle for Tuesday, July 22, 2025. By New York Times Games

When you finish one of The New York Times’ Strands puzzles, you’ll now see stats and details about your streak. I love Strands but had to break my daily habit for my own sanity, so please don’t judge me on my poor stats.