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Strap in for a journey through hyperspace as today's NYT Strands puzzle celebrates Star Wars Day. With a theme nodding directly to A New Hope, May 4's Strands (#427) challenges players to dig into the iconic lore of the sci-fi epic. From empires to galaxies, today’s word hunt is tailor-made for fans of the Force. Need help navigating the stars? We’ve got the clues and solutions to bring balance to your puzzle.
The NYT Strands puzzle of May 4 pays tribute to Star Wars fans across the galaxy with the theme "Star Wars: A New Hope." As a Jedi Master, Force-sensitive, or merely a fan of the franchise, this puzzle will transport you back to where it all began. From cosmic empires to galactic rebellions, the board is filled with references to the 1977 film that launched the franchise. Even if you're not Wookiee-fluent, we've got the clues to help your way.
Enter any of these legitimate four-letter (and longer) words to assist you in uncovering the theme words. They have nothing to do with the Star Wars theme but will uncover the real answers:
LEPT, LINE, MEAN, BEER, BILE, BARE, WARE, MILE, PALE, NAME, PEEL, PACE, GALE
Today's guide is the spangram 'OPENINGCRAWL', an homage to that memorable scrolling yellow lettering which precedes every majorline Star Wars movie.
Where to start: Begin with the very first "O" at the upper-left corner and travel downward and across the board. As the cinematic crawl does, it spans one side of the grid to the other and anchors the theme securely.
Here are the seven Star Wars-themed words concealed in the puzzle:
LONG – As in "A long time ago."
TIME – Part of the legendary opening first sentence of the saga.
REBEL – The brave Rebel Alliance combating tyranny.
SPACE – The vast frontier where the saga takes place.
EMPIRE – The dreaded Galactic Empire commanded by Darth Vader and the Emperor.
PLANET – From Tatooine to Alderaan, planets characterize the galaxy.
GALAXY – As in "a galaxy far, far awa".
NYT Strands #427 toasts May the Fourth with a puzzle full of sci-fi nostalgia. Whether you didn't come of age reciting Han Solo or arguing over light saber colors, today's theme presents a playful and easy word search for everyone. For Star Wars enthusiasts, the puzzle is a pleasant salute. For word nerds, it's another witty puzzle from the NYT Strands series. May the clues be with you, Rebel or Empire sympathizer.
