NYT Strands today: clues, spangram, and solutions for Thursday, March 13.

      Strands is a new daily puzzle introduced by the New York Times. It's a more challenging version of the traditional word search, requiring a sharp eye to solve it. Similar to Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, some days Strands can be particularly tough. There’s no shame in seeking help occasionally. If you’re feeling stuck and need the solutions for today’s Strands puzzle, you can find the answers below.

      How to play Strands

      Each Strands puzzle begins with the objective of identifying the "theme words" concealed within the letter grid. You can manipulate the letters by dragging or tapping to form words; double-tap the last letter to confirm. If you successfully find a word, the letters will light up in blue and will no longer be selectable. If you discover a word that isn’t a theme word, it can still be beneficial! For every three non-theme words with a minimum of four letters that you uncover, you’ll receive a hint — one of the letters in a theme word will be displayed, and you’ll just have to rearrange it.

      All the letters in the grid are utilized to spell out the theme words, and there is no overlap; each letter will be used a single time. Each puzzle features one "spangram," a unique theme word (or words) that relates to the puzzle's theme and spans across two opposite sides of the board. When you identify the spangram, it will be highlighted in yellow. The aim is to finish the puzzle swiftly while minimizing the use of hints.

      Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

      The theme for today is “What goes around comes around.” Here’s a hint that might assist you: there and back again.

      Today’s Strands answers

      NYT

      Today’s spangram

      We’ll begin by providing you with the spangram, which may help you uncover the theme and solve the remaining parts of the puzzle on your own: NICECOMEBACK.

      Today’s Strands answers

      BOOMERANG

      BOUNCE

      RETURN

      REBOUND

      RICOCHET

      As Digital Trends' Gaming evergreen lead, Sam Hill is available to assist you in discovering your next favorite game and getting started.

      You can currently download Death Stranding for free on PC. Here’s how to do it.

      Death Stranding is being offered for free on PC via the Epic Games Store. Players have until May 25 to obtain their copy before another mystery game becomes available for free. The Epic Games Store has a longstanding tradition of providing free games. Just last month, it made Dying Light: Enhanced Edition available for free over Easter weekend. Normally priced at $30 on the Epic Games Store, Death Stranding is a significant free offering, so ensure you claim your copy while it's available.

      Today’s Wordle answer changed because of Roe v. Wade.

      There are occasions when Wordle players receive different answers based on the browser they are using to play the game. Today happens to be one of those instances, but for a notably different reason. The New York Times altered today’s Wordle answer because of its unintended connection to the Supreme Court's forthcoming ruling on Roe v. Wade.

      The initial answer for Wordle 324 was meant to be "fetus." Wordle founder Josh Wardle scheduled this solution more than a year ago, well before The New York Times acquired the game during its peak popularity in January. Everdeen Mason, the editorial director for New York Times Games, stated that the answer was changed to a completely different word due to its closeness to the Supreme Court's leaked draft opinion that proposed overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, which created significant waves across the nation.

      Death Stranding Director’s Cut finally launches on PC on March 30.

      Kojima Productions and 505 Games will release Death Stranding Director's Cut for PC on March 30, 2022. It will be priced at $40 for new players, though those who already own Death Stranding on PC can upgrade for a small additional cost. Death Stranding Director's Cut is an enhanced version of Hideo Kojima's most experimental game. It follows Norman Reedus' character Sam Porter Bridges as he navigates across America in a quest to reconnect humanity. In our review of the game from 2019, Digital Trends remarked that "it won't change the minds of those who oppose Kojima's approach, but the game’s insightful social elements emphasize why he remains an influential figure in the gaming industry."