On Sunday, September 14, 2025, fans of word games around the world woke up to a new challenge from The New York Times: Strands Puzzle #560. For those who haven’t yet encountered it, Strands is the latest brain-teaser in the Times’ rapidly growing suite of digital puzzles, joining the likes of Wordle and Connections on the phones and desktops of millions. But what made this particular Sunday’s puzzle stand out? The answer lies in its theme—one that was both simple and, in a twist, a little bit misleading: “Hurry up!”
At first glance, “Hurry up!” might conjure images of racing, dashing, and all things speedy. Yet, as many players quickly discovered (or perhaps slowly, depending on their luck), the real trick was that every solution pointed in the opposite direction. The answers, as reported by Beebom and Mashable, were all about taking it slow. Words like Leisurely, Relaxed, Sluggish, Pokey, Slow, and Steady filled the six-by-eight letter grid, with each one capturing a different shade of unhurried movement.
The puzzle’s special “Spangram”—a word or phrase that stretches across the board and encapsulates the day’s theme—was the sly “NOT SO FAST.” This phrase, running horizontally from left to right, neatly summed up the puzzle’s playful contradiction. According to The Economic Times, the Spangram was revealed with the hint “No so ___ and furious,” nudging players toward the answer without giving it away outright. For those stumped by the main clue, additional hints like “Moving at a low speed” and “Calm” offered a gentle nudge in the right direction.
For seasoned solvers, the puzzle’s difficulty was rated a modest 2 out of 5, as per player feedback collated by The Economic Times and Strands Sidekick. Yet, even with a relatively straightforward set of answers, some words—Pokey and Sluggish, in particular—proved trickier for casual players to spot. As Mashable observed, Strands differs from other NYT games by requiring players to form words in any direction (up, down, left, right, or diagonal), with the added twist that words can zig and zag across the board, creating unexpected shapes and patterns. Every single letter is used in the final solution, making the puzzle as much about spatial reasoning as vocabulary.
So, what is Strands, and why has it captured the imagination of so many? As explained by The Economic Times and Mashable, Strands is a word association game where players hunt for words linked by a daily theme. Unlike Wordle, which focuses on guessing a single five-letter word, or Connections, which groups words by category, Strands challenges solvers to find multiple theme words and a Spangram, all hidden in a dense letter grid. The result is a game that rewards not just a sharp eye for patterns but also a knack for interpreting clues and thinking laterally.
On September 14, the puzzle’s theme words—SLOW, POKEY, STEADY, RELAXED, SLUGGISH, and LEISURELY—were all ways to describe slow movers. As CNET noted in its coverage, the day’s hints included “Taking your time,” which helped some players connect the dots between the clue and the answers. Players could also unlock in-game hints by finding any words of four or more letters, such as HEAD, SHED, SLAY, SLUG, SOFA, and others. Every three qualifying words revealed one of the theme answers, a feature designed to keep even the most stumped solvers making progress.
Strands’ appeal lies in its blend of creativity and logic. According to Beebom, the game encourages pattern recognition by making players scan in multiple directions and sharpens thematic understanding, as each puzzle’s central clue must be interpreted with care. Unlike the time-pressured feel of some other games, Strands fosters patience and observation—a fitting irony, given the “Hurry up!” theme of this particular puzzle.
The New York Times has built a veritable empire of digital games, and Strands is a testament to its continuing innovation in this space. Wordle’s viral success proved that simple, elegant puzzles could attract massive daily audiences. With Strands, the Times taps into the same momentum but offers a fresh twist on the classic word search. The game’s daily release ensures habitual engagement, and cross-promotions with other NYT puzzles invite loyal Wordle or Connections players to try their hand at something new. As Strands Sidekick pointed out, the puzzle is released at midnight in each time zone, making it a truly global pastime.
Community is another key ingredient in Strands’ rise. The Strands Sidekick, published by The New York Times on September 14, encouraged players to share stories and creative writing in the comments, swap solving strategies, and even discuss technical issues. The article warned of spoilers and urged players to attempt the puzzle before reading hints, fostering a sense of camaraderie and fair play. The day’s difficulty was rated as “easy” by paid testers, but the comment section invited players to share their own experiences—whether they breezed through or found themselves stuck on a particular word.
Of course, no puzzle is complete without a bit of help for those in need. Across the web, sites like Mashable and CNET provided hints and full solutions for the September 14 puzzle, ensuring that even the most flummoxed solvers could enjoy that satisfying “aha!” moment. For those who prefer to tackle the challenge unaided, the option to reveal just the first letter or direction of travel for up to three theme words kept the experience customizable and accessible.
Strands’ September 14 puzzle is a reminder that sometimes, the best way to “hurry up” is to slow down and enjoy the journey. Whether you solved it in a flash or took your time, the playful reversal at the heart of the puzzle—prompting players to think about speed, only to reward those who embraced slowness—made for a memorable and uniquely satisfying experience. As the NYT Games team continues to innovate, one thing’s certain: there’s always another twist waiting in tomorrow’s grid.
