Letter Boxed vs Strands

How Strands works

Strands presents a grid of letters with a theme. Your job is to find the theme words hidden in the grid, connected in any direction, plus one special word — the spangram — that spans the board and describes the theme. Words that are not theme words can earn hints: find enough of them and you can reveal a theme word's letters. The puzzle is therefore a search with a theme as your clue: you are looking for words you cannot see, guided by what the theme suggests.

How Letter Box works

Letter Box Game gives you twelve letters, three on each of four sides, and asks you to build a chain of words that uses every letter at least once. Words need at least three letters, no two consecutive letters may come from the same side, no letter may repeat inside one word, and each new word must start with the last letter of the previous one. There is no theme, no grid to search, and no hidden word to find — every letter is visible from the start, and the puzzle is the order in which you use them. Our version is original and independent, with its own seven boards in rotation, and is not affiliated with the New York Times.

The core difference

• Strands is a search: the words exist in the grid, and you hunt them. Letter Box is a construction: the words do not exist until you build them, in chain order.
• Strands gives you a theme as a clue. Letter Box gives you no theme — only letters, sides and rules.
• Strands has a spangram: one long word that ties the theme together. Letter Box has par: a benchmark word count (two words on every live board here), not a single special word.
• Strands rewards finding non-theme words to earn hints. Letter Box rewards planning: a first word that gathers letters and ends in a useful letter, and a bridge word that finishes the board.

Which skill each game builds

Strands builds thematic and visual thinking: what words fit this theme, and where could they hide in a grid? Letter Box builds sequential and spatial thinking: which side can I use next, what letter must the next word start with, and which letters are still unused? A strong Strands player scans well; a strong Letter Box player plans well.

Which to play

If you enjoy hunting for hidden words with a theme as your guide, Strands is the more exploratory game. If you enjoy building a clean chain from visible letters, Letter Box is the more satisfying construction. Many players enjoy both for different reasons — a grid search first, then a chain build. If you want to try Letter Box now, today's puzzle is free, and unlimited practice boards are available without an account. For other games like these, see games like Letter Boxed.