The New York Times' crossword puzzle debuted in 1942. Since then, they've added popular games like Spelling Bee and Wordle. Their newest game, Strands, challenges players to find words within a grid, culminating in a Spangram spanning two sides. Hints and answers for the December 28th puzzle are provided, with the theme 'Just the Essentials'. The game blends elements of other NYT puzzles, offering a unique word-finding experience.
