I started today's Strands with my morning coffee balanced beside the laptop, promising myself I'd have just one quick look before getting on with the day. Naturally, the coffee cooled while I kept tracing possible paths through the letters. The clue, "Grab your tokens", gave me a few competing ideas, which is usually a sign that I need to slow down rather than chase the first connection.
This is a lovely one for letting a small discovery change your thinking. If the theme hasn't clicked yet, give yourself a little breathing room. That slightly baffled stage is part of the pleasure, even when breakfast is waiting.
This page covers NYT Strands #1135 for Sunday, October 4, 2026. You will find the theme clue, a spoiler free hint, a stronger hint, the spangram and every theme word, in that order. Scroll slowly and stop where you like.
Today's Strands theme
The official clue for Sunday, October 4, 2026 is "Grab your tokens". There are 5 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 11 letters and begins with the letter A.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 9.
- The theme words start with these letters: A, C, F, P, S.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| A | 9 letters | As... |
| C | 9 letters | Ce... |
| F | 7 letters | Fr... |
| P | 4 letters | Po... |
| S | 8 letters | Sc... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1135 is ARCADEGAMES.
All NYT Strands answers for October 4, 2026
- ASTEROIDS (9 letters)
- CENTIPEDE (9 letters)
- FROGGER (7 letters)
- PONG (4 letters)
- SCRAMBLE (8 letters)
Spangram: ARCADEGAMES. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Treat the clue as a nudge towards a setting rather than a literal instruction. Ask yourself where tokens might be used, then test those possibilities against the letters instead of committing immediately. On this board, looking for distinctive names can be more productive than hunting for generic objects. Start with a short candidate you can trace cleanly, remembering that paths can turn and move diagonally. Once you've confirmed something, use its occupied squares to narrow the remaining routes, and leave the spanning connection until the theme feels firmer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Sunday, October 4, 2026, puzzle #1135, is ARCADEGAMES. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 5 theme words today, plus the spangram.
How do you earn hints in Strands?
Find any valid non theme word of at least four letters. Every three of those unlocks one hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word without ordering them for you.
What time does a new Strands puzzle appear?
A new puzzle goes live at midnight in your local time zone, so this page is updated every morning with the new board.
Sources
- NYT Games, Strands puzzle #1135 for Sunday, October 4, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
