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

Strands invites players to locate words concealed within a letter grid, but with an intriguing twist: words can curve and alter direction. Letters may connect in any orientation — upwards, downwards, sideways, or diagonally — and the words frequently create unique patterns. Each letter in the puzzle contributes to a solution. Each puzzle revolves around a specific theme, with a distinctive word or phrase known as the “spangram” that unifies the theme. The spangram spans the grid either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

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In contrast to other NYT games like Wordle or Connections, Strands does not include a list of words. Rather, it provides an enigmatic clue to assist your hunt, rendering it a more elaborate — yet satisfying — brain exercise.

If you find yourself pressed for time or simply need a hint to get started, we have all the clues and solutions available for you to tackle today’s Strands puzzle at your own convenience.

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Today’s NYT Strands Theme: Star Wars: A New Hope
Hint: The words are memorable lines from beloved sci-fi films.

Theme Explained:
All the words in today’s puzzle originate from the opening lines of Star Wars movies.

Spangram Hint:
Today’s spangram travels diagonally across the grid.

Spangram Answer:
Opening Crawl

Word List for May 4:

– Long
– Time
– Galaxy
– Space
– Opening Crawl
– Planet
– Empire
– Rebel

Looking for more daily puzzle enjoyment? Head over to Mashable’s Games page for additional hints and answers. Whether you’re a fan of Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, or other word games, we’ve got something to delight every puzzle enthusiast.

Missed the puzzle from yesterday? Get up to speed with the May 3 Strands solution here.