I wasn’t in the mood for brain-melting puzzles today, and thankfully, these games got the memo. Today’s New York Times Games gave me exactly what I needed.
I settled in expecting nothing too demanding, and both games delivered that exact vibe. Strands threw me into vacation planning mode with its beach theme, while Connections offered categories that made sense without forcing my brain into overdrive.
The best part? Everything felt manageable. Both puzzles felt like they were designed for people who just want to relax with some word games instead of having their vocabulary knowledge virtually interrogated.
NYT Strands Solution for July 20, 2025 (#504)
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Today’s beach theme, “Shore thing,” couldn’t have come at a better time, especially with the hero shooter Marvel Rivals currently breaking the internet with their summer swimsuit skin event, where players can unlock beach-themed costumes for their favorite heroes. The timing feels perfect for anyone thinking about summer gear, whether virtual or real.
The spangram BEACHATTIRE traces a unique yet straight path from the first column, third row, running right across the grid before dropping diagonally to the bottom left corner.
Here is the complete word list for today’s Strands:
- BIKINI – The classic two-piece swimwear staple for beach days.
- TRUNKS – Men’s swimming shorts, essential for any ocean visit.
- SARONG – Versatile wrap-around fabric perfect for beach cover-ups.
- WRAP – Another lightweight beach cover-up.
- SANDALS – Open-toe footwear designed for sandy walks.
- SWIMSUIT – One-piece swimming attire, a beach bag essential.
Honestly, this felt like looking at someone’s actual beach packing list. No weird fashion terms I’d never heard of, just the stuff you’d actually bring to the shore.
NYT Connections Solution for July 20, 2025 (#770)
NYT’s testers rated today’s Connections 2.5/5 difficulty, and I’d say that’s about right… maybe even generous.
Here are today’s four categories and their solutions:
| Category | Four words |
|---|---|
| MOVE TO THE MUSIC | BOP, BOUNCE, GROOVE, SWAY |
| INHALATION | DRAG, DRAW, PUFF, PULL |
| MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS | DRY, GIN, SHAKEN, TWIST |
| ___WORD | BUZZ, CROSS, LOAN, PASS |
I tackled the music movements first since they felt most obvious—you BOP your head to beats, BOUNCE with rhythm, GROOVE to melodies, SWAY with the music. Basic human responses to good songs.
The second group includes DRAG, DRAW, PUFF, and PULL—all smoking terms for inhaling. These click together quickly since you hear these words constantly in movies and shows, even if you don’t smoke yourself.
DRY, GIN, SHAKEN, and TWIST brought some cocktail hour vibes. Classic martini specs where you’d go dry gin, shaken not stirred, with a twist of lemon. The James Bond reference practically writes itself.
Compound words finishing “___WORD” completed the puzzle: Buzzword, Crossword, Loanword, Password. “Loanword” probably required the most thought since it’s less common in everyday conversation.
This whole puzzle just worked without making me overthink anything. Sometimes that’s exactly what Sunday puzzles should do.
How did your weekend solving go? Did the beach theme make you start browsing vacation rentals, or did any of the categories catch you off guard? Let me know in the comments below.
