Looking for a different day?
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, October 26 (game #602).
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #603) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Witch way?
NYT Strands today (game #603) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- WOOD
- CRAM
- RANT
- ROAR
- DIME
- NATION
NYT Strands today (game #603) – hint #3 – spangram letters
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• Spangram has 7 letters
NYT Strands today (game #603) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: top, 3rd column
Last side: bottom, 4th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #603) – the answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #603, are…
- AMULET
- POTION
- CHARM
- WAND
- INCANTATION
- CAULDRON
- SPANGRAM: WIZARDY
- My rating: Hard
- My score: Perfect
This game wasn’t really “tricky”, but it felt appropriate seeing as we are in spooky season and today’s spangram was WIZARDRY.
In fact this round was very light on tricks. Remember when we had the rainbow-themed edition of strands with each word highlighted in a different color? I was expecting something similar here, maybe the words WIZARDRY vanishing before our very eyes? Or at least a dash of purple and yellow.
This wasn’t my only disappointment. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person to spot “Dracula” first, only to discover that not only did it not feature in the game but it also didn’t qualify as a non-game word. Curses on all your hearses.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, October 26, game #602)
- PUMPKINS
- CORN
- FOLIAGE
- FOOTBALL
- HARVEST
- ORCHARDS
- SPANGRAM: AUTUMN
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

