Hints and the complete solution for the New York Times Strands puzzle published on February 20, 2026, have been made available online. The daily word game, which presents a unique challenge to players worldwide, requires finding a series of words based on a thematic clue.

The puzzle for this date was described as being approachable for players who are “rough around the edges,” a phrase that served as the day’s thematic hint or “spangram.” The objective in Strands is to locate words related to this theme within a grid of letters. Words can be formed from letters connected in any direction, including horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Gameplay Mechanics and Daily Structure

Strands is a word search variant developed by the New York Times. Unlike traditional word searches where a list of words is provided, Strands gives players a broad thematic hint. Players must then discover several words connected to that theme, along with one special word known as the spangram. The spangram typically spans the entire grid and encapsulates the puzzle’s core concept.

Each puzzle has a defined level of difficulty, and players can use a hint system if they encounter difficulties. The hints range from gentle nudges about the theme to more direct clues about word locations. The full solution reveals all theme words and the spangram, allowing players to check their work or understand the puzzle’s construction.

Context and Publication

The hints and answers for the February 20, 2026, puzzle were published by various online outlets following the puzzle’s daily release on the New York Times Games platform. The publication of solutions is a common practice for many puzzle games, serving as a resource for players who wish to learn or who are unable to complete the challenge independently.

The New York Times Games section hosts several popular intellectual puzzles, including the crosswords and Wordle. Strands represents one of its newer offerings, designed to engage users with a different style of word logic and pattern recognition. Its rules are distinct from the newspaper’s other games, focusing on thematic discovery rather than definition-based clues.

Player Engagement and Accessibility

Puzzles like Strands are analyzed and discussed in dedicated online communities. Players often share their solving strategies, time to completion, and thoughts on the daily theme’s difficulty and creativity. The availability of hints and answers supports broader accessibility, ensuring that the puzzle remains an enjoyable activity for solvers of varying skill levels.

The game’s design encourages daily engagement, with a new puzzle releasing at midnight in the player’s local time zone. This consistent schedule contributes to its integration into the daily routines of many enthusiasts. The puzzle’s structure, which does not penalize players for incorrect guesses, is noted for its low-pressure approach to word gaming.

Looking ahead, the New York Times is expected to continue its daily publication of the Strands puzzle. Future puzzles will follow the established format, presenting new thematic challenges and spangrams for the global player base. The routine release of hints and solutions by third-party sites is also anticipated to continue, providing a consistent reference for the game’s community.

Source: Mashable