In an effort to engage word puzzle enthusiasts, The New York Times has launched a beta version of a brand new game called Strands. Similar to a word search, Strands offers a unique twist by incorporating a theme and a special word called a "spangram."

The game presents players with a six by eight grid of letters, where the objective is to find a group of words that have something in common, with clues provided to indicate the theme. Once a theme word is identified, it remains highlighted in blue for easy tracking. Additionally, players are tasked with finding the spangram, which connects two opposite sides of the board and reveals the common element shared by the words. The spangram is highlighted in yellow once discovered.

Every letter in the grid is used once in the theme words and spangram, and players can connect letters vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, with the flexibility to switch directions in the middle of a word. Those playing on a touchscreen device can simply double tap the last letter to submit their guess.

For those in need of a little assistance, three valid words of at least four letters that are not part of the theme will unlock the Hint button, which highlights the letters making up one of the theme words. The level of difficulty varies from day to day, with puzzles focusing on filling missing words in phrases, discovering synonyms, or identifying homophones.

Today's Strands puzzle, for example, had the theme of different ways of walking. The words STRUT, MARCH, STROLL, AMBLE, TRUDGE, TREK, and SAUNTER all fell into the theme, with STRUT signaling the left side and MARCH guiding towards the right side as the spangram.

Although currently in beta, the future of Strands will depend on the level of engagement, as it requires regular participation to continue being available. The New York Times hopes that this new word game will captivate puzzle lovers and offer a refreshing challenge that keeps players coming back for more.

For those interested in Friday's Strands hints, spangram, and answers, they can be found on The New York Times' website. Additionally, the blog offers hints and solutions for future puzzles, catering to those who may need a little extra help.

So, if you're up for a linguistic challenge, be sure to dive into the world of Strands and see if you can unravel the connections between the words and discover the hidden spangram that ties them all together.