WORD GAME GUIDE
How to Play Word Strands: Rules and Scoring
Trace related words through touching tiles and find the theme word that crosses the grid.
Controls and allowed moves
Read the theme clue. Tap letters in order or drag across them, then select Submit word. Paths can turn and go diagonally. Every tile belongs to one intended answer. The theme word that spans the grid counts as one answer.
Solving strategy
Use the clue to think of concrete words. If it suggests a bakery, look for words like PRETZEL or MUFFINS. Once a word is found, its tiles stay marked. The open areas make the remaining paths easier to see.
Worked example
To trace FLOUR, choose F, L, O, U and R in order. If O is diagonally below L and U is to its left, both steps are allowed. Lifting your finger after a drag leaves the selection ready to submit.
Common mistakes
A valid English word can still be outside the theme. If the letters fit the clue but the selected path does not count, look for a different occurrence. A straight-line word search follows different rules.
Daily score calculation
Your score is the percentage of theme answers you find, scaled to 1,000 and rounded down. Finding six of eight earns 750. The spanning word is worth the same as any other answer.
Daily play and practice
Play free without an account. Sign in before starting a new ranked daily puzzle to enter its leaderboard. The same score also counts in the overall daily, weekly, monthly and all-time standings. Practice results stay in your personal history.