If you’ve arrived here, it’s likely that you’re seeking some assistance with Strands — the New York Times’ inventive take on the classic word search puzzle.

Strands invites players to discover words concealed within a grid of letters. Unlike a typical word search, words in Strands can twist and turn in any direction — vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and even change direction mid-word. Every letter in the grid contributes to the answer, and all the words share a common theme. Additionally, the puzzle features a unique word or phrase known as the “spangram,” which embodies the theme and spans the grid either horizontally or vertically.

RELATED: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Discover games on Mashable

What distinguishes Strands from other NYT games like Wordle or Connections is its intricate nature. The game provides merely a vague hint and does not include a word list, resulting in a more drawn-out — and often more fulfilling — challenge.

Short on time or feeling puzzled? No problem — we have all the hints and solutions you need to solve today’s Strands puzzle at your leisure.

RELATED: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 15
RELATED: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 15

Today’s NYT Strands Theme: Animal Drives
Hint: The words are all related to cars.

Theme Explained:
Each word in today’s puzzle represents the name of a car model inspired by an animal.

Spangram Direction:
Today’s spangram runs horizontally throughout the grid.

Spangram Answer:
Automobiles

Strands Word List for May 15:

– Bronco
– Jaguar
– Rabbit
– Automobiles
– Impala
– Beetle
– Mustang

Craving more daily puzzle enjoyment? Head to Mashable’s Games page for hints, solutions, and fresh challenges. Whether you enjoy Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, or other mind-benders, we’ve got something available for everyone.

Seeking yesterday’s puzzle instead? Check out the May 14 Strands solution here.