WordWeave is a free daily word-search puzzle inspired by the NYT Strands word game. Each day presents a themed 6×8 letter grid packed with hidden words that all connect to the day's theme. One special word — the spangram — spans the entire grid and hints at the overarching theme. WordWeave runs entirely in your browser with no subscription, no ads, and no data collection.
Drag across adjacent letters (in any direction, including diagonals) to trace a path through the grid. Release to submit the word. Correctly found words lock in color; the spangram turns gold. You have three hints available — each hint highlights the letters of an unfound word for a moment. Find every word to complete the puzzle and share your result.
Start with the theme. Before dragging any letters, read the day's theme title carefully — it tells you the category your words belong to. Next, scan for obvious short words (3–4 letters) that fit the theme; locking those in early reveals which letters are still available and makes longer words easier to spot. When hunting the spangram, look for a word or phrase that could physically stretch from one side of the grid to the other — it's often a compound word or proper noun. If you're stuck, use a hint strategically: hints highlight one word at a time, so save them for when you've exhausted your own ideas rather than using all three up front. Finally, remember you can trace diagonals — players often miss words that run at a 45-degree angle across the grid.
Like NYT Strands, WordWeave features a daily themed grid, a special spangram, and the satisfying "click" of letters lighting up when you find a word. Unlike Strands, WordWeave is completely free — no NYT subscription required. It also works offline as a PWA, stores your progress locally, and never phones home with your data.
WordWeave on PuzzleBoxs is built for players who love the NYT Strands puzzle game but don't want a paywall. We update the puzzle daily, track your streak and win stats locally, and let you share your grid result. The game is privacy-first and installable on any device.
No. WordWeave is an independent fan project inspired by the NYT Strands word game format. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to The New York Times in any way.
Drag across adjacent letters in the 6×8 grid (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) to trace a word. Release to submit. If the word is part of today's theme, it locks in with color. Find the special spangram — the word that connects across the whole grid — to unlock a gold highlight.
The spangram is a special word (or phrase) that literally spans the entire grid, touching both sides. It encapsulates the overarching theme of the puzzle. Finding it turns all its letters gold.
Yes, completely free. No subscription, no ads, no in-app purchases. WordWeave is part of PuzzleBoxs, a free collection of daily word games.
Yes. Your progress for today's puzzle is saved automatically in your browser's local storage. Your stats and streak are also stored locally — they never leave your device.
Yes. WordWeave is a Progressive Web App (PWA). After your first visit, the game is cached and works without an internet connection. You can also install it to your home screen for quick access.
You get 3 hints per puzzle. Each hint briefly highlights the letters of one unfound theme word in the grid, giving you a visual nudge without fully spelling it out.
Yes! After completing a puzzle, a Share button appears. It generates a spoiler-free text summary showing how many words you found and how many hints you used, which you can copy or share directly.