NYT Strands Puzzle Celebrates Joy With Uplifting Theme

On January 22, 2026, word game enthusiasts found themselves chasing a wave of positivity thanks to the latest daily Strands puzzle from The New York Times. The puzzle, numbered #690, carried the uplifting theme "Ode to joy," and delivered a grid packed with words that radiate happiness, delight, and exuberance. For those who crave a daily mental workout—especially one that puts a smile on your face—this edition of Strands was a cheerful treat.

Strands, the newest darling in the NYT’s stable of daily puzzles, has quickly become a favorite among players who love a twist on the classic word search. As Mashable explains, Strands challenges solvers to find words by linking letters in all directions—up, down, left, right, and diagonally. The catch? Words can twist and turn, creating quirky, unexpected shapes, and every letter in the grid must be used exactly once. It’s a step up in complexity from more straightforward games like Wordle or Connections, and that’s exactly why so many are hooked.

Each Strands puzzle revolves around a central theme, and January 22’s “Ode to joy” was all about positive emotions. The puzzle included a special "spangram"—a word or phrase that encapsulates the day’s theme and stretches across the board, touching two opposite edges. For this puzzle, the spangram was "Seventh Heaven," a phrase synonymous with a state of perfect happiness. According to Parade, the spangram for #690 was oriented diagonally to the upper right, beginning from the first letter of the last row—a spatial twist that added another layer of challenge for players.

Players were tasked with uncovering six themed words, all closely related to the concept of joy and elation. The word list for January 22 featured: Bliss, Rhapsody, Ecstasy, Seventh Heaven, Elation, and Euphoria. Each of these words painted a different shade of happiness, from the serene calm of "Bliss" to the poetic exuberance of "Rhapsody." As Technobezz noted, while most of the words were straightforward, "Rhapsody" proved to be the trickiest, thanks to its more musical connotation—a clever nod to joy as both an emotion and an artistic expression.

The puzzle’s difficulty was rated as "moderate" by testers, according to Technobezz, though the official NYT Strands Sidekick article described it as "easy" based on the average ratings of paid testers. This discrepancy highlights how subjective puzzle difficulty can be, depending on a player’s familiarity with the theme and vocabulary. Still, the overall consensus was that the January 22 puzzle offered a satisfying balance of challenge and accessibility.

Hints played a crucial role for those who needed a nudge. As Parade detailed, players could earn hints by finding non-theme words of four or more letters—every three such words would unlock a hint that highlighted the letters of a theme word. For January 22, the hints included the first two letters for each theme word: BL (Bliss), EC (Ecstasy), EL (Elation), EU (Euphoria), RH (Rhapsody), and SE (Seventh Heaven). The game’s progressive hint system, which ranged from vague descriptions to specific letter clues, allowed players to solve at their own pace, making the experience as relaxed or as competitive as they liked.

For those who prefer to tackle puzzles without spoilers, the NYT’s Strands Sidekick offered gentle nudges and encouraged readers to try the puzzle unaided before diving into hints. The Sidekick also fostered a sense of community, inviting solvers to share their experiences, creative writing, or even technical issues in the comments section. As the article reminded, "Be kind. Comments are moderated for civility." It’s a fitting ethos for a puzzle themed around joy.

Strands’ unique mechanics set it apart from other NYT games. Unlike Wordle, which asks players to guess a single word in six tries, or Connections, which requires grouping related words, Strands melds the classic word search with a thematic twist and spatial reasoning. The spangram, in particular, is a signature feature: it not only encapsulates the day’s theme but also requires players to think about the grid in a holistic way, ensuring that every letter is accounted for and no two theme words overlap.

January 22 wasn’t the only day Strands flexed its creative muscles. Just one day prior, on January 21, the puzzle took a very different turn with the theme "That’s not very polite," focusing on impolite behaviors and etiquette. The spangram for that day was "Don’t Be Rude," and the word list included Burp, Gloat, Stare, Point, Shout, Tease, and Interrupt. As Filmogaz.com reported, this puzzle leaned into the less savory aspects of human interaction, offering a sharp contrast to the positivity of "Ode to joy."

But it’s precisely this variety—one day celebrating joy, the next day poking fun at rudeness—that keeps Strands feeling fresh and engaging. According to CNET, the number of theme words can vary from day to day, and the orientation of the spangram (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) adds an extra wrinkle for even the most seasoned solvers. The game’s flexibility and inventiveness are part of why it’s quickly become a must-play for puzzle fans.

For anyone looking to sharpen their mind, expand their vocabulary, or simply start the day with a burst of positivity, January 22’s Strands puzzle was a perfect fit. With its focus on words like Bliss, Ecstasy, Elation, Euphoria, Rhapsody, and the all-encompassing Seventh Heaven, the game offered not just a challenge but a reminder of the many ways happiness can manifest—in language, in music, and in the simple joy of solving a puzzle.

As Strands continues to grow in popularity, there’s little doubt that it will keep surprising and delighting players with its inventive themes, tricky spangrams, and the occasional curveball. After all, who couldn’t use a daily dose of Seventh Heaven?