Such was the game's popularity that, in January 2022, it was bought by The New York Times for an undisclosed low seven-figure sum, though it remains free for players. Today, Wordle remains the newspaper's most popular word game. What drives its enduring success? Wardle attributes it to the puzzle's format of five-letter words and six guesses.

Looking for help with today's NYT Strands puzzle? Here's an extra hint to help you uncover the right words, as well as all of today's answers and Spangram.

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.