A new puzzle is challenging Wordle fans, and Sunday's Strands is no exception. The NYT Strands puzzle for Sunday, June 21, 2026, has players scrambling for hints, and Forbes has published the solution. Here's everything you need to crack the code.
Forbes contributor Erik Kain posted the hints and answers for the June 21 Strands puzzle, revealing the Spangram and the complete word list. The article offers an extra clue to help players uncover the theme before giving away the full answers. For many daily puzzle enthusiasts, these hints are a lifeline when the grid seems impenetrable.
NYT Strands launched in early 2024 as the latest addition to the New York Times' growing suite of word games, following the massive success of Wordle and Connections. The game presents a 6x8 grid of letters; players must find theme words and a single Spangram that describes the puzzle's theme. The daily release has built a loyal following of word game aficionados who rely on sites like Forbes for hints when they get stuck.
The June 21 puzzle carries the theme "That's Included!" — a hint that the words relate to something integral or bundled. According to the Forbes post, the Spangram for this date is a key word that encapsulates the theme, and the full word list includes seven additional words. Exact spellings and placements are provided in the article to help players finish quickly or confirm their guesses.
This daily hints-and-answers ecosystem illustrates how NYT games have become a cultural touchstone. Unlike Wordle, which has a single daily word, Strands demands pattern recognition and thematic thinking. The Forbes post is part of a broader trend of independent journalists and bloggers covering these puzzles, offering free help to millions of players who might otherwise spend hours stuck on one puzzle.
Strands continues to evolve, with occasional special events or themed weeks. As the puzzle's popularity grows, competition among hint providers will likely intensify. Players can expect more detailed walkthroughs and strategy guides in the months ahead, solidifying Strands as a staple of the daily puzzle diet.
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NYT Strands Answers Today: Hints & Clues For Sunday, June 21 (That’s Included!)
Looking for help with today's NYT Strands puzzle? Here's an extra hint to help you uncover the right words, as well as all of today's answers and Spangram.
Erik Kain, Senior Contributor
Forbes
2 min read
3/10
Key Takeaways
- NYT Strands launched on March 4, 2024, and now releases a new puzzle every day at midnight Eastern Time.
- The June 21, 2026 puzzle includes one Spangram and seven theme words, all hidden in a 6x8 letter grid.
- Forbes' Erik Kain provides both a gentle hint ('That's Included!') and the full answer list, including the Spangram word.
- Strands puzzles typically have a single connecting theme, requiring players to find words that share a conceptual link.
- The game has become the third most-played NYT game after Wordle and Connections, with millions of daily active users.
Frequently Asked Questions
NYT Strands is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times, similar to Wordle but with a 6x8 grid where players find theme words and a Spangram that summarizes the puzzle's theme. It launched in March 2024.
Players connect letters in the grid to form words that relate to a given theme. They must find all theme words and the special Spangram. The game provides hints when stuck.
The Spangram is a single word or phrase that touches two opposite sides of the grid and describes the overall theme of that day's puzzle.
Several sites like Forbes publish daily hints and answers for NYT Strands. The official NYT Games app also provides limited hints during play.
The theme for Strands on June 21, 2026 was 'That's Included!' indicating that all theme words relate to something integral or bundled into a larger whole.
Most Strands puzzles contain one Spangram and between six to eight theme words, for a total of 7-9 words to find.
Original source
www.forbes.com
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