If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. It’s a fresh word game from the New York Times that combines elements of a word search with clever, theme-based twists.

25 October 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Quite a transformation”

Today’s puzzle leaned straight into the supernatural — a thrilling, goosebump-worthy theme that asked us to think of beings who don’t stay in one form for long. With “Quite a Transformation”, Strands took us on a moonlit walk through myths, legends, and dark corners of imagination.

25 October 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Full moons and folklore — transformations are the key.
  • Think of creatures that hide among us — until nightfall.
  • A Halloween prelude? Absolutely.
  • These aren’t costume ideas — they’re curses and powers.
  • Spangram Hint: It ties all these beings under one mystical concept.

25 October 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • VAMPIRE – Fanged and eternal, feeding on the night (and blood).
  • WEREWOLF – The ultimate lunar transformation.
  • CHANGELING – A fairy’s swapped child, old folklore’s mysterious imposter.
  • SKINWALKER – A shape-shifting spirit from Native lore, powerful and feared.

Spangram

SHAPESHIFTERS — the one word that unites all these beings who slip between forms and worlds.

How Strands works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:

  • You’re given a theme.
  • The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
  • Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
  • Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!

Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.

How to get and use hints

Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:

  • To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
  • Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
  • When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.

Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
  4. Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final Thoughts

October 25’s Strands reminded us that transformation isn’t just magical — it’s inevitable. Whether it’s mythic beasts or human growth, change is what keeps stories (and souls) alive.