Strands vs Crosswordle: Pattern vs Logic
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If you enjoy playing daily games like Wordle®, then it wouldn't be far off to say that you're probably familiar with New York Times games like Strands. The NYT has a great catalog of games that has an appeal to the casual player, and Strands is one of them.
While not as popular as the heavy hitters of the NYT family of games like the crossword or the favorite, five letter word game, Wordle, it is still a fun puzzle that offers a good time for anyone interested.
However, is it a word game that fits your preferences? For that, we'll size it up against Crosswordle, a rising star in the word game community that is known for being a perfect starting point for any daily word gamer.
Which of these games is up your alley? Read on to learn more!
On this page
- Why compare Strands & Crosswordle
- What is Strands?
- What is Crosswordle?
- Quick comparison
- Which is harder?
- Which should you play?
- FAQ
Why compare these two games in particular?
Strands and Crosswordle both belong in the daily game subgenre, and have common ground that most people can use to both relate and compare them to one another. Here are several of the things that these two games share:
| Criteria | Strands | Crosswordle |
|---|---|---|
| Daily reset | ✅ | ✅ |
| Letter-based gameplay | ✅ | ✅ |
| Browser + mobile friendly | ✅ | ✅ |
| Logic over luck | ✅ | ✅ |
| Short game time | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fixed grid | ✅ | ✅ |
What is Strands?
Strands is a grid-based, themed word search game. Your goal is to form all the target words that fall under the theme using the letters scattered throughout a grid and connecting them with "strands". These strands can be formed from any direction, unlike the traditional word search, where you're confined to horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines.
Keep in mind that you can form any valid word within the grid, even if it doesn't fall under the theme. While it won't hit the target words for your goal, it is still very useful as these valid, non-target words build up your hint meter. The buildup is proportionate to the length of the valid, non-target word you used. This hint is especially helpful when trying to solve for the SPANGRAM—the longest word (or a phrase) that stretches from the top of the grid, all the way to the bottom.
This daily game, like most in the NYT games catalog, features a free daily puzzle. The rest of its features, like its archives and other in-game functions, are paywalled and require a subscription.
What is Crosswordle?
Crosswordle is a game that combines the best aspects of both Wordle* and the traditional crossword. The game's goal is to solve for all the words in the scattered rows and columns, intersecting one another like those of a crossword puzzle. The twist here is that all the letters are already there, and the words are within the puzzle; you just have to arrange the letters properly.
Each letter has Wordle's color-feedback system in it:
🟩 Green letters mean that the letter is correct and in the right place. It is permanent and can't be moved.
🟨 Yellow letters mean that the letter is in the correct row or column, but in the wrong order.
⬛ Gray letters mean that the letter is in the incorrect row or column, and needs to be swapped out.
To start solving a Crosswordle puzzle, you need to swap around the letters to form the target word per row or column. Every round of Crosswordle provides you with a limited swap stock, and each puzzle is systematically made to have the most efficient solving process, leaving you with six swaps left—the perfect score. You win the game once all the letters turn green.
Currently, Crosswordle is one of the most popular games in the Hey, Good Game catalog.
Strands vs Crosswordle: Quick Comparison
To help you determine which game is the best for you, here's a quick table detailing the things you need to know:
| Feature | Strands | Crosswordle |
|---|---|---|
| Free-to-play | ⚠️ (full features require NYT Games subscription) |
✅ |
| Free Daily Mode | ✅ | ✅ |
| Daily reset | ✅ | ✅ |
| Clue system | Theme-based clues + earned hints | Color-feedback (green / yellow / gray) |
| Unlimited play | ⚠️ (archive behind subscription; finite) |
✅ |
| Stat tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Skill focus | Pattern recognition + vocabulary | Logic sequencing + vocabulary |
| Difficulty | Moderate; easier with hints | Consistently moderate |
| Avg. playtime | 4–8 min | 3–6 min |
Which is harder?
Technically, Crosswordle is harder as it is less forgiving with its main mechanic. While Strands can be hard to solve if you're stumped by the theme, spamming valid, non-target words can immediately build up your hint meter and help you find the correct words.
Even if Strands has a higher vocabulary requirement than Crosswordle, its hint mechanic significantly reduces the challenge. Crosswordle only has the color-feedback system as its primary hint, and making the wrong swaps at any point of the game can immediately lead to failure.
Which is easier?
Strands is easier as it relies more on pattern recognition. It has a higher vocabulary requirement than Crosswordle, but entering as many valid, non-target words as you can to build up the hint meter fast makes it extremely easy to complete. Just enter common words like NONE, ACTS, MOVE, etc. and you'll eventually have a primed hint to reveal one word.
Once one target word is picked off, the rest of the puzzle becomes easily solvable and the pattern reveals itself.
Which should you play?
Play the New York Times's Strands if...
- You prefer finding patterns
- You enjoy solving games that stick to a theme
- You want to improve your vocabulary
Play Crosswordle if...
- You prefer a puzzle of pure logic
- You enjoy a consistently moderate difficulty
- You want a shorter game time
FAQ
Is Crosswordle related to Wordle?
*No. Wordle is a registered trademark of the New York Times, not affiliated with Crosswordle and is only used as a descriptive/comparative basis in this article.
Is Strands free?
The daily puzzle is free; archive/features require NYT Games subscription.
Does Crosswordle have hints?
No. The color feedback and grid structure are the clues; no click-hints.
Does Crosswordle have a colorblind mode?
Yes! However, you need to create an account before you can toggle it on.
Play Crosswordle today! Mini crossword + Wordle!
We hope that our brief guide was able to help you choose which game is the best fit for you. If you're looking for more puzzle games to play, check out our website and give our other games a go!