Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for July 13 #862

If Wordle isn't enough and Connections leaves you puzzled, the New York Times has a new word game obsession: Strands. The NYT Strands puzzle for July 13 (No. 862) is here, and we have the hints and answers to help you unravel the grid.

Launched in early 2024, Strands quickly joined the ranks of Wordle and Connections as a daily ritual for millions of puzzle enthusiasts. The game presents a 6x8 grid of letters, with players searching for words that share a common theme. One word, called the spangram, spans the entire grid diagonally, horizontally, or vertically, and wraps all the theme words together. Each puzzle includes a unique hint that hints at the theme without giving it away.

Today's puzzle, number 862, was released on July 13. While the exact hints and answers are provided in the original CNET article, typical Strands guides offer a "theme hint" and a "spangram hint" first, followed by a list of all theme words and the spangram itself. For example, a past puzzle's theme hint might be "Cheater, cheater" with the spangram "PumpkinEater." Players can choose to reveal just one word at a time or see the entire solution.

Strands owes its popularity to the New York Times' strategy of building a suite of daily word games that keep subscribers engaged. After acquiring Wordle in 2022, the NYT expanded its games portfolio with Connections in 2023 and Strands in 2024. Each game targets different cognitive skills: Wordle tests vocabulary, Connections challenges pattern recognition, and Strands combines word-search skills with thematic deduction.

The puzzle appeals to a wide audience because it can be solved in bursts of a few minutes. The hints system encourages players to stretch their thinking before giving up. By offering hints before full answers, guides like the one on CNET walk a careful line between help and spoilers.

For casual solvers, Strands is less intimidating than a full crossword but more satisfying than a simple word search. The daily release cadence builds habit and community, with players sharing scores and discussions on social media. The NYT has also noted that Strands drives significant app engagement and subscription conversions.

As for what's next, expect the NYT to continue refining Strands with new features, like themed weeks or collaborations. Puzzle number 862 might be today's challenge, but tomorrow brings a fresh grid. For now, whether you use hints or go solo, Strands remains a delightful brain teaser for anyone who loves words.