NYT Strands hints, answers for January 28, 2026

Today’s NYT Strands tips are easy if you are always aware of them.

Strands, the New York Times‘, an elevated word search game, requires the player to perform a variation of the classic word search. Words can be made up of linked letters – up, down, left, right or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in original shapes and patterns. Each letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There is always a theme connecting each solution, as well as the “spangram”, a special word or phrase that summarizes the theme of the day and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque clue and not providing the word list, Strands creates a puzzle game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 minutes or more to solve today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands tips for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands clue for today’s theme: the zen state

Words are linked to calm.

Today’s NYT Strands Theme Clearly Explained

These words describe calm.

NYT Strands Spangram Index: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram response today

Today’s spangram is Mindfulness.

NYT Strands word list for January 28

• To focus

• Meditation

• Notice

• Mindfulness

• Relax

• Listen

• Breathe

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable games page has more clues, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable now has games!

Discover our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords and much more.

Not the day you are looking for? Here is the solution to yesterday’s Strands.