Today, November 14, 2026, the New York Times Strands puzzle has been rated as having a moderate difficulty level, according to the average ratings from paid testers who evaluate each game. The testers assess puzzles based on three levels of difficulty: easy, moderate, and challenging.
Strands is released at midnight in each time zone, with the addition of two daily Sidekick posts tailored for players worldwide based on Eastern Standard Time. Players who find themselves on the incorrect Sidekick can verify their puzzle’s number and navigate to the correct post for guidance.
This edition of Strands encourages players to visit the comments section for hints and to engage with fellow solvers in sharing creative writing or personal experiences related to the game. However, readers are advised that the article may contain spoilers for those who have yet to complete the puzzle.
To assist players in solving today’s puzzle, the Sidekick includes hints where users can click or tap to reveal the first letter or direction of travel for up to three theme words in the game. Players are invited to provide feedback on their puzzle experience in the comments.
For more details on the testing process or to familiarize yourself with the game, additional information is available on the Strands testing page.
