If you’re reading this, you’re looking for some help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ increased word search game.

Strands requires the player to put a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters – up, down, left, right or diagonally, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Each letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There is always a theme that ties each solution together, along with the ‘spangram’, a special word or phrase that summarizes the day’s theme and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-bending game that takes a little longer to play than other games, such as Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to solve today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace come.

NYT Strand’s hint for today’s theme: Trick or Treat!

These words are creepy attacks.

Today’s NYT Strands theme clearly explained

Words referring to Halloween gear.

NYT Strands spangram hint: is it vertical or horizontal?

The current NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Costume.

NYT Strands Glossary for October 31st

• Witch

• Mom

• Pumpkin

• Pirate

• Costume

• Clown

• Ghost

• Princess

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable now has games!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword and more.

Not the day you are looking for? Here is the solution for today’s Strands.