NYT Strands challenges you with legendary cryptids on June 4
The spangram CRYPTIDS connects mythical creatures across the grid
Find cryptids such as MOTHMAN, JACKALOPE, BIGFOOT, KRAKEN, and more in this thrilling word hunt
It’s Wednesday, smack in the middle of the week. If you haven’t received your paycheck yet, you’re likely to be waiting patiently for those sweet zeroes to bless your bank account. While you tick down until payday, give your brain a little pick-me-up instead.
Today’s New York Times Strands puzzle is just right to while away the wait with a Monster Quest full of legendary cryptids hiding in the grid.
This puzzle explores the unknown realm of cryptids, animals thought to exist but never substantiated. For the Bigfoot or the Kraken, these mythical monsters have drifted into the thoughts of people all over the world. It is your task to hunt for these monsters inside the letter grid.
Strands lowers a 6x8 grid of letters in front of you. Your mission? Identify all the words about today’s theme. Each word that you find will illuminate in blue, and watch for the spangram, a hidden word straddling two borders of the board that binds the theme together with elegance.
Begin by locating any three four-letter words or more. This will reveal useful hints to direct your search. Some letters are pointing you in the right direction; others may attempt to mislead. Utilize the hints to construct the names of the cryptids hiding within the puzzle.
The spangram ‘CRYPTIDS’ is the gem here, navigating through the grid and uniting all the mythical creatures into one great quest.
Here’s the complete roster of cryptids ready for you:
MOTHMAN – The cryptic winged creature of legend
JACKALOPE – The legendary horned rabbit
YETI – The elusive Abominable Snowman
BIGFOOT – The towering forest creature
CRAWLER – A dark, shadowy figure spoken of in whispers of legend
KRAKEN – The legendary sea monster of myth
So, while you’re waiting for your paycheck to come through, let today’s Strands puzzle transport you to a realm of myth and mystery. Challenge your brain with a suspenseful search for cryptids and conquer the midweek blues. Because when the paycheck is tardy, a great puzzle is the ultimate payday your head can receive!