Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor Sunday, October 4, 2026, NYT Strands is reported as game #945, with the theme “Grab your tokens.” Start with the gentle hints below and stop before the spoiler warning if you want to solve more on your own. The solutions are reported by TechRadar; Strands Today independently corroborates the theme and spangram.
TechRadar says a new Strands puzzle appears at midnight in each time zone, so “today’s” puzzle depends on where and when you read. This guide is specifically for October 4, 2026.
NYT Strands hints for October 4
The theme clue is “Grab your tokens.” Think about what kind of place might use tokens, then consider what you could play there.
If you want to use Strands’ in-game hint system, TechRadar reports that finding any of these words unlocks it. They are clue words, not the theme answers:
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- STAG
- SEAT
- GATES
- RIDE
- GORE
- DECADE
- SONG
- BELT
Spangram hint
The spangram has 11 letters. TechRadar reports that it starts at the bottom of the first column and ends at the top of the sixth column. That position hint may help you trace it without revealing the word.
Spoiler warning: full answers below
The following section gives the complete reported solution for October 4, 2026.
October 4 Strands answers
Spangram: ARCADEGAMES
Theme answers:
- PONG
- FROGGER
- ASTEROIDS
- CENTIPEDE
- SCRAMBLE
Together, the five titles point to the category spelled by the spangram: arcade games. TechRadar reports this complete answer set; the reviewed guides are secondary sources, not an official NYT answer key. The full board layout and letter-by-letter paths are not available here.
A practical solving tip
Johnny Dee, a TechRadar contributor, said: “Having said all that, despite getting PONG, FROGGER and ASTEROIDS in a quick blast, the lesser-played CENTIPEDE and SCRAMBLE were harder to spot.” Treat that as one solver’s experience, not a claim that those words will be harder for everyone. If the familiar titles come quickly, scan the remaining letters for the less immediately recognizable game names.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Where to play
TechRadar says NYT Strands is available through NYT Games on desktop and mobile. Because the daily puzzle changes at midnight in each time zone, check the date if you arrive from a page labeled “today” after October 4.
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