NYT Drops Clues and Solutions for September 26, 2025

If you’re here, you probably need some help with playing Strands, the elevated word-search game from the New York Times.

Strands puts a twist on the classic word search by allowing words to be formed from linked letters in various directions, creating quirky shapes and patterns. Every letter in the grid is part of an answer, and there’s always a theme connecting the solutions. The “spangram” sums up the theme and spans the entire grid.

This game is a brain-teasing challenge that takes a bit longer than other word games like Wordle and Connections. But if you’re stuck or short on time, we’ve got all the hints you need to keep moving forward at your own pace.

Today’s theme is “As old as time,” with words related to timepieces like chimes, winder, grandfather clock, gears, weights, and pendulum.

The spangram for today is vertical, and the answer is “Grandfather Clock.”

Looking for more daily online games? Check out Mashable’s Games page for hints and puzzles like Mahjong, Sudoku, and free crosswords. Enjoy the challenge!