If you’ve arrived here, it’s likely that you seek some assistance with Strands — the New York Times’ innovative approach to the classic word search game.

Strands offers a unique twist to conventional word searches. Rather than just locating words in straight lines, participants need to discover words that meander through the grid. Letters can connect in any orientation — upward, downward, to the left, to the right, or diagonally — and words can alter their direction mid-journey, creating distinctive shapes. Each letter in the grid plays a role in a solution, with all answers linked by a shared theme. Additionally, there’s a special word or phrase known as the “spangram” that encapsulates the puzzle’s theme and spans across the grid either horizontally or vertically.

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In contrast to other NYT games like Wordle or Connections, Strands does not provide a word list. Instead, it presents a vague clue and prompts you to uncover the remainder, making it slightly more time-consuming — and mentally challenging.

If you’re having difficulty or simply don’t have the time to tackle today’s puzzle, we’ve got your back with all the hints and solutions required to progress at your convenience.

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Today’s NYT Strands Hint: Half-and-half
The theme for today’s puzzle involves mythical creatures.

Theme Explained:
All the terms are names of beings that are fusions of two distinct entities — hybrids.

Spangram Hint:
Today’s spangram is oriented vertically.

Spangram Answer:
HybridCreature

Strands Word List for April 7:

– Merman
– Satyr
– Centaur
– Griffin
– Jackalope
– HybridCreature (spangram)

Looking for more daily puzzles and games? Head to Mashable’s Games page for hints, solutions, and fresh challenges. From Mahjong and Sudoku to crosswords and beyond, we have something for every puzzle enthusiast.

Missed yesterday’s puzzle? Catch up with the April 6 Strands solution here.