NYT Strands for today: clues, spangram, and solutions for Wednesday, March 5

      Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. It's a more challenging version of the classic word search, requiring a sharp eye to complete. Similar to Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can sometimes be difficult to solve. There's no shame in seeking a little assistance now and then. If you're having trouble and need today's Strands puzzle answers, look at the solved puzzle below.

      How to play Strands

      Each Strands puzzle begins with the objective of locating the "theme words" hidden within a grid of letters. You can manipulate the letters by dragging or tapping to create words; double-tap the last letter to confirm. If you uncover the correct word, the letters will turn blue and will no longer be selectable.

      If you identify a word that isn’t a theme word, it’s still beneficial! For every three non-theme words of at least four letters that you find, you’ll receive a hint — one letter of a theme word will be revealed, and you'll need to unscramble it.

      Every letter on the grid contributes to spelling the theme words without any overlap. Each letter will be used exactly once.

      Each puzzle features one “spangram,” a unique theme word (or words) that encapsulate the puzzle's theme and connects two opposite sides of the board. When you discover the spangram, it will be highlighted in yellow.

      The aim is to solve the puzzle quickly while minimizing the number of hints used.

      Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

      Today’s theme is “Ahoy!”

      Here’s a hint that might assist you: I christen thee…

      Today’s Strands answers

      NYT

      Today’s spangram

      We’ll provide you with the spangram, which may assist you in deciphering the theme and solving the remainder of the puzzle yourself:

      HISTORICSHIPS

      Today’s Strands answers

      MAYFLOWER

      BOUNTY

      BEAGLE

      TITANIC

      VICTORY

      As Digital Trends' Gaming evergreen lead, Sam Hill is ready to help you discover your new favorite game and get started.

      You can currently get Death Stranding for free on PC. Here’s how

      Death Stranding is available for free on PC through the Epic Games Store. Players can claim their copy until May 25 before another mystery game becomes available for free. The Epic Games Store has a longstanding tradition of offering free games. Just last month, it provided copies of Dying Light: Enhanced Edition over the Easter weekend. Death Stranding, which typically costs $30 on the Epic Games Store, is a particularly notable free offering, so be sure to secure a copy while you have the chance.

      Today’s Wordle answer changed due to Roe v. Wade

      There are certain days when Wordle players receive different answers based on the browser they use to access the game. Today is one of those occasions, but for a different reason. The New York Times modified today’s Wordle answer due to an unintended connection to the Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling on Roe v. Wade.

      The initial answer to Wordle 324 was meant to be "fetus." Wordle’s creator, Josh Wardle, had scheduled that solution to appear today over a year ago, well before The New York Times acquired the game at its peak popularity in January. Everdeen Mason, editorial director for New York Times Games, stated that they changed the answer to something completely different because of its proximity to the Supreme Court’s draft opinion that leaked last week, which suggested overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, causing widespread concern across the nation.

      Death Stranding Director’s Cut finally hits PC on March 30

      Kojima Productions and 505 Games are set to launch Death Stranding Director's Cut for PC on March 30, 2022. It will be priced at $40 for new players, but those who already own Death Stranding on PC can upgrade for a nominal fee.

      Death Stranding Director's Cut is an upgraded version of Hideo Kojima's most experimental game to date. It follows Norman Reedus' character, Sam Porter Bridges, as he journeys across America in an effort to reconnect humanity. In our 2019 review of the game, Digital Trends remarked that "it won't change the minds of Kojima detractors who think he should just make movies, but the game's thoughtful social components showcase why he remains such a crucial figure in the gaming industry."