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.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren
Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren

NYT Strands today (game #205) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Spacing out

NYT Strands today (game #205) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • TRAM
  • RAIN
  • SNORE
  • BORE
  • BONE
  • CUMIN

NYT Strands today (game #205) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

Time and space

NYT Strands today (game #205) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First: top, 4th column

Last: bottom, 6th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #205) – the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 205 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #205, are…

  • MARTIAN
  • CYBORG
  • DROID
  • MUTANT
  • ROBOT
  • ALIEN
  • SPANGRAM: SCIENCEFICTION

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

I probably found this Strands game to be even easier than most given that I’ve been reading SCIENCEFICTION, as the spangram would have it, for about four decades. But even if I hadn’t I doubt I would have struggled too much here. Some of the words are slightly, well, basic for the topic – as I said, I read a lot of sci-fi and MUTANTS and MARTIANS really don’t crop up that much compared to plenty of other themes, such as time-travel, space flight, AI and the cyberverse. But as a child’s guide to the genre, it just about works.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Monday 23 September, game #204)

  • HAMSTER
  • MUSKRAT
  • SQUIRREL
  • CHINCHILLA
  • PORCUPINE
  • SPANGRAM: RODENTS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and 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.

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