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Im stocking up during Woots Pokémon Nintendo Switch sale — these games will only get better on Switch 2

Mashable - 3 hours 55 min ago

SAVE UP TO 33%: As of April 28, select Pokémon Nintendo Switch games like Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus are discounted at Woot. Prices start at $39.99, with savings up to 33%. Sale ends April 30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Company Pokémon Legends Arceus $44.99 at Woot!
$59.99 Save $15 Get Deal

I think it is ridiculous how rarely Pokémon games go on sale, so seeing prices actually drop by 25 to 33% is enough to get my attention. As of April 28, Woot has a surprisingly solid Nintendo Switch Pokémon sale, with classics like Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! marked down for a limited time.

I want to be clear: these are not leftover filler titles. In my opinion, every one of these games still holds up today, and they are about to get even better with Nintendo Switch 2 on the way. Nintendo has already confirmed that Pokémon Legends Z-A will support 60 FPS upgrades on the new hardware. While nothing else is officially confirmed, I think it is a safe bet that older titles will load faster and play smoother on Switch 2.

SEE ALSO: Pokemon Go players are actually training a giant AI model

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond is sitting at $42.99, Pokémon Shining Pearl is down to $41.99, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus is $44.99. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! is $39.99, which is about as low as it gets for anything with Pikachu or Eevee on the cover.

Pokémon Games on sale at Woot

If you grew up playing Diamond and Pearl, the remakes stay true enough to the originals without feeling like a museum tour. Legends: Arceus might be the biggest shakeup the series has had in years, with open areas that let you roam and discover things without being dragged into a cutscene every 30 seconds. Let’s Go, Eevee and Pikachu are straightforward and charming, and they were designed for people like me who sometimes need a low-stress win after a long day.

The best Woot Spring Gaming Sale deals

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 4 trailer teases Dina confronting Ellie

Mashable - 4 hours 2 min ago

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3 was an understandably quieter episode after the chaotic sob-fest that was episode 2. But from the looks of the episode 4 trailer, things are about to get hectic again.

In the clip above we're introduced to some new characters, watch Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) flee Infected through an abandoned subway car, and — right at the end — watch as Dina points a gun at Ellie.

Does that mean Ellie's been bitten again, and Dina thinks she's going to have to execute her?

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

The new M4 MacBook Air has dropped down to a new record-low price

Mashable - 4 hours 10 min ago

SAVE $150: As of April 28, the 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air is on sale for $849 at Amazon. This deal saves you $150 on list price.

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Get Deal

We're not sure why, but the latest Apple MacBook Air is getting cheaper and cheaper on Amazon. We made some noise about the fact that the base model was on sale for under $900, but the price has dropped again. We really didn't think it would, but we've been made to look like fools.

As of April 28, the 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air is now on sale for $849 at Amazon. This deal saves you $150 on list price. That's a new record-low price on Amazon, according to the price tracker camelcamelcamel. Is this price going to drop again? We don't think so, but we said that last time. At this point, we don't know what to believe anymore. We're just pleased to see record-low prices.

SEE ALSO: Review: I went hands on with the M4 MacBook Air (2025)

The new M4 MacBook Air was released in mid-March, with open-lid support for two external displays and a new 12MP Center Stage camera in addition to the new CPU. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said this model was "impressively powerful" and "the best-buy Apple laptop, period." No surprise then that we named it the best MacBook for most people.

Pick up the latest Apple MacBook Air for under $850 at Amazon.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 28, 2025

Mashable - 4 hours 56 min ago

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, April 28, 2025:

AcrossChef's creation

  • The answer is Dish.

Iconic Madonna hit of 1990

  • The answer is Vogue.

Section of a tennis court used when playing doubles

  • The answer is Alley.

State of mind

  • The answer is Mood.

Not amateur

  • The answer is Pro.

DownRarely-used word meaning "sadness"

  • The answer is Dolor.

Snow place like home?

  • The answer is Igloo.

Went after in court

  • The answer is Sued.

"Yo"

  • The answer is Hey.

Fill time on stage

  • The answer is Vamp.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

4chan is back up, but not all features are returning

Mashable - 5 hours 46 min ago

4chan is finally back up and running — mostly. The infamous imageboard initially went down two weeks ago, scattering its anonymous denizens to the winds. It has now been largely restored, with users flocking back to their familiar fetid stomping grounds. However, not all of 4chan's boards will be returning.

In the first substantial post to its official blog in eight years, 4chan's team confirmed speculation that the outage was due to a hacker, and that the source code had been compromised. Specifically, the blog stated that a hacker with a UK IP address was able to access 4chan's servers by exploiting its outdated software via a PDF upload. The hacker subsequently extracted a substantial amount of 4chan's source code, before vandalising the website and prompting moderators to shut it down.

"While not all of our servers were breached, the most important one was, and it was due to simply not updating old operating systems and code in a timely fashion," read 4chan's blog on Friday.

SEE ALSO: 4chan is down, reportedly hacked as of April 15

Calling the damage "catastrophic," the blog stated that 4chan's failure to update its code was due to both an "insufficient skilled man-hours available" and a lack of funds. Unsurprisingly, it seems that advertisers are leery of associating with a website commonly described as "the cesspool of the internet," which has made acquiring the cash for new servers difficult. As such, while 4chan partially moved to new servers in the second half of last year, key functions were still being taken care of by its old hardware.

"Everything about this process took much longer than intended, which is a recurring theme in this debacle," wrote 4chan. "The free time that 4chan’s development team had available to dedicate to 4chan was insufficient to update our software and infrastructure fast enough, and our luck ran out."

4chan's two-week outage gave its development team time to patch up holes in its security, as well as start bringing on more volunteers. The blog states that 4chan's team has since replaced the compromised server, as well as updated its software. The server status checker on 4chan's blog indicated that full functionality has still not returned at time of writing, though posts on the imageboard largely appeared to be business as usual.

Yet despite this, 4chan won't ever return to its former incarnation. The ability to upload PDFs is expected to return soon, having been temporarily disabled in light of this breach. However, Flash board /f/ has been killed for good since "there is no realistic way to prevent similar exploits using .swf files." While /f/ is currently still available on 4chan's front page and navigation bar, it seems likely it will eventually be removed in light of this announcement.

Even without the hack, the death of /f/ was a long time coming. Adobe first announced it would stop supporting Flash Player back in 2017, finally declaring that it had reached the end of its life in 2020.

4chan has a controversial history and reputation, to put it lightly. Launched over two decades ago in 2003, the dubious internet stalwart became a breeding ground for memes, controversies, and movements such as hacktivist group Anonymous and far-right conspiracy theory QAnon.

Time is running out to get Windows 11 Pro for A$23

Mashable - 6 hours 46 min ago

TL;DR: Upgrade your PC with Windows 11 Pro for only A$23 (reg. A$311) through 1 June.

Opens in a new window Credit: InterPlein Microsoft Windows 11 Pro AU$23
AU$311 Save AU$288 Get Deal

Need a new laptop but don't have the budget to buy one? We've found the next best thing: updating your operating system. 

If your PC could use an upgrade, Windows 11 Pro is now just A$23, A$288 off the usual price. This deal ends 1 June. 

Check out what Windows 11 Pro has to offer

Curious what Windows 11 Pro brings to the table? This operating system really focuses on user convenience, so first up is a seamless interface that helps boost your productivity. 

If you primarily use your PC for work, you'll enjoy helpful features like improved voice typing, a more powerful search experience, and tools like snap layouts and seamless redocking that allow you to work faster and more efficiently. 

Virtual desktops let you easily toggle between desktop setups for different functions — so you can swap from your 9-to-5 setup to your gaming or personal desktop and switch gears easily. 

If you plan on using your PC for gaming, you'll appreciate DirectX 12 Ultimate. It provides phenomenal graphics, while Auto HDR enhances the game's color and contrast. And you can enjoy all this while experiencing faster load times and smoother gameplay. 

Windows 11 Pro also includes Copilot, an AI assistant powered by OpenAI. It's essentially like having ChatGPT on your desktop, minus the annoying subscription fees. 

Everyone will appreciate the improved security features, like biometrics login capabilities, smart app control, encrypted authentication, and advanced antivirus defenses. 

Get Windows 11 Pro while it's on sale for A$23. Sale ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on 1 June. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Microsoft Office 2019 is on sale for $30 — pay once and use it forever

Mashable - 8 hours 46 min ago

TL;DR: Hurry and grab lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Windows at $30.

Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel Peacock and never see the ending of Yellowstone or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

Instead of spending $7 monthly (or $70 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. For a little while longer, the Windows software suite is on sale for $0.

What apps are included?

Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. However, it does have a classic, timeless design.

Here's a list of the apps you get:

  • Word

  • Excel

  • PowerPoint

  • Outlook

  • OneNote

  • Publisher

  • Access

Differences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime license

This purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.

You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.

Plus, now that Microsoft added Copilot’s AI features to Microsoft 365, you might be looking for a way to escape them. Not everyone is crazy about having a virtual robot interfere with their work, and these classic apps won’t ever bug you about it.

The price drop on this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows ends soon, so get your download for $30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows £30
£229 Save £199 Get Deal

Hurdle hints and answers for April 28, 2025

Mashable - 8 hours 46 min ago

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A stone builder.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

MASON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Evidence.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PROOF

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A large storage facility.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DEPOT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A yellow bodily fluid.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 28 Hurdle Word 4 answer

URINE

Final Hurdle hint

After second.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

THIRD

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The Last of Us: Ellie hides a dark secret from Dina, and who could blame her?

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

Last week on The Last of Us, the hit HBO series presented one of the most stressful and tragic episodes TV has ever seen. By contrast, episode three offered some truly heartwarming moments, chiefly in the blossoming relationship between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced). 

On a mission of vengeance (or justice depending on how you look at it), the two Jackson teens set forth to Seattle to track down the WLF squad that killed Joel (Pedro Pascal).

Their quest is dark, and the path is full of terrors, including Infected and slain cult members. Yet, there's some sweetness in Dina and Ellie's navigating whether their friendship is going to become something more and what that kiss in the first episode meant. 

But as they bond through conversation, Ellie ducks one question from Dina, declaring its answer "too fucked-up." That question: 

Who was the first person Ellie killed?  Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

Both Ellie and Dina grew up in a world already ravaged by Infected, so killing became a crucial tool — even for kids. Sharing a horse on their way to Seattle, Dina asks Ellie the super casual post-apocalyptic getting-to-know-you question. The former FEDRA trainee brushes off the question, but Season 1, episode 7 revealed the answer: Riley (Storm Reid), Ellie's first love, was the first person she ever had to kill. 

In this flashback episode from Season 1, Ellie is elated to reunite with her best friend, who'd ditched FEDRA for the Fireflies. They spend time together in an abandoned mall, clutching at whatever scraps of carefree girlhood are left in this Cordyceps-ridden world. And it was beautiful day. Then, an Infected attacked, leaving both girls bitten, but only Ellie is immune to the zombifying effects.

The episode cuts away before Riley turns. But what's implied is that Ellie watches her love become Infected, and then has to kill her. It's a terribly tragic story of doomed love, and also not a great tale to tell your new could-be girlfriend as you face untold armies of the undead. Plus, with the grief so fresh from Joel's death, Ellie's probably not willing to reopen the door to her first lost love.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

The Last of Us Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

While sticking to the main narrative and established character arcs of The Last of Us, Season 1 of HBO's Naughty Dog adaptation made a few notable changes. It's what made the show such an excellent adaptation, with creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann expanding the world of The Last of Us by pulling on specific threads from the game. 

So, how is The Last of Us Season 2 different from The Last of Us Part II?

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 2: Gamers knew it was coming. It still hurts like hell.

We're going to dig in every week, updating per episode, to analyse the changes we're seeing onscreen. There'll be a few spoilers from the game for analysis' sake, so if you'd rather the narrative remain a mystery, turn back now. For the rest of you, let's get into it.

Tommy and Maria have a son. Maria (Rutina Wesley) and her son, Benjamin (Ezra Agbonkhese). Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) are back living in the town of Jackson, Wyoming, and have reunited with family — namely Joel's brother, Tommy, (Gabriel Luna) and Tommy's wife, Maria (Rutina Wesley), two of Jackson's leaders. But with this pair comes a new character to The Last of Us, one who didn't appear in the Part II game: their son, Benjamin (Ezra Agbonkhese).

Joel goes to therapy. Good job, Joel. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, episode 1, Joel attends one of his therapy sessions with a whisky-drinking, weed-smoking psychotherapist named Gail (Catherine O'Hara) — a fabulous character written for the TV show. A man who truly would benefit from such treatment, Joel does not have the opportunity to process his trauma in this post-apocalyptic nightmare in the game. Instead, we do get a scene at the very beginning of the game in which Joel confesses his actions in Salt Lake City to Tommy (the show has decided to omit this scene from episode 1, instead having Tommy tell Ellie not to talk about her immunity).

In the show, Joel's therapist admits she hates him for killing her husband Eugene, a character who's mentioned in the game as a Jackson resident, electronics whiz, and weed-loving mentor to Dina who left his family to join the Fireflies and died at 73 of a stroke (a rarity in this world). In the show, he died younger than that and at Joel's hands, probably because he was Infected.

We're glad the show included Eugene's secret weed basement in episode 2, but in a change, Ellie takes shelter here with Jesse (Young Mazino); in the game she's with Dina and more than weed-smoking occurs.

There's Cordyceps in the pipes and an attack on Jackson. Ruuuuuuun! We don't have a precedent for this! Credit: Courtesy of HBO

Uhhhh, you see that Cordyceps growing in the pipes near Jackson? That's not in the game. Druckmann and Mazin included this fungal infiltration in the series in episode 1, setting up one of the most stressful episodes of the series to date.

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 2 blowtorches the candle at both ends. At the same time as Joel's final moments in the mountain lodge, Jackson finds itself under attack by not only waves of Infected, but smart Infected who change tactics during the siege. It's an entire sequence written for the TV show and it's a true nail-biter.

We learn Abby's motive very early in the season. Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) has a reason for revenge. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

By the second episode of Season 2, we know exactly why Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) has plans of revenge for Joel. We first meet Abby and her crew in episode 1 at the site of the Fireflies' massacre in Salt Lake City, a scene that makes it clear why they're hunting Joel. In episode 2, the series clearly shows us Abby's motive: Her father was the surgeon who was about to operate on Ellie before Joel killed him.

Why does this matter? Abby's association with the Fireflies and the site of Joel's massacre isn't revealed until later in the game — and it's a crucial plot point and motivation behind her character. To reveal this so early in the series is an interesting move by Mazin and Druckmann, one that gives Abby's actions more context right from the start.

Joel's death itself. We're still recovering from the first time. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

Unfortunately this traumatic narrative turn happens in both the game and the show, but there are a few differences. The events leading up to Joel's death are almost exactly the same between The Last of Us Part II and the HBO series, but there are changes — including Abby's pivot from bludgeoning to a final stab and the fact that Dina is present in the show (Tommy is there instead in the game).

Mashable's Belen Edwards has an entire explainer on the differences between the game and the show's treatment of Joel's death.

Seth does slightly better than "bigot sandwiches." Seth (Robert John Burke) has a lot of work to do. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

It's not entirely a redemption arc, but it's damn better than a few breakfast rolls. Jackson's resident homophobe Seth (Robert John Burke) is given more opportunity to make it up to Ellie and Dina in the show, after he throws a slur at them in episode 1 for kissing at the New Year's Eve dance. We've got a breakdown of how Seth improves on his "bigot sandwiches" in the show.

It's Tommy who goes after Abby first in the game, then Ellie. Tommy's the first one out the Jackson gate in the game. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In the game, it's Tommy who leaves Jackson first to go after his brother's killers, with Ellie and Dina following in his footsteps knowing he'd be on the way to Seattle. In the show, it's Ellie and Dina who leave first, following the failed Jackson vote. And speaking of...

There's no Jackson vote in the game. Ellie actually tries to do things by the book in the show. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, episode 3, Jackson takes a town hall meeting and a vote over Ellie's proposal to send a squad to track down and execute Joel's killers. It's a whole storyline over the episode, in which Ellie asks for Tommy and Jesse's support, then delivers one hell of an inspiring speech to plead with her neighbours to agree to the pitch. The vote falls against the motion, though Ellie decides to leave the town to hunt Abby and her crew anyway. But the addition of the scene allows the town of Jackson one more moment to debate what the right thing to do in such a situation is — and to give Ellie more fuel to hit the road.

Still no spores?

In The Last of Us games, characters constantly have to don masks to avoid inhaling infectious spores produced by the Cordyceps infestation. But in the show, Druckmann and Mazin decided to omit the airborne threat, instead opting for realism. "If we wanted to treat it realistically, and there are spores near, characters would wear gas masks all the time," Druckmann told Polygon of Season 1. "Then we lose so much, which is maybe the most important part of the journey, is what’s going on inside behind their eyes, in their soul, in their beings. For that logistical reason, we were like, Let’s find a different vector."

However, we spied spores in the trailer for Season 2, so perhaps we're in for some atmospheric danger? 

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 28

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 28 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: My bad

The words are ways you mess up.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are errors you make.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Whoopsie Daisy.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 28

  • Blunder

  • Stumble

  • Whoopsie Daisy

  • Falter

  • Slip

  • Topple

  • Spill

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 28, 2025

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 28 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Styling tools

  • Green: Basic

  • Blue: Used to catch a criminal

  • Purple: To wear out

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Hair products

  • Green: Austere

  • Blue: Clues at a crime scene

  • Purple: Weary

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #685 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Hair products: GEL, MOUSSE, SPRAY, WAX

  • Austere: BARE, PLAIN, SIMPLE, SPARE

  • Clues at a crime scene: FIBER, FINGERPRINT, HAIR, TIRE MARK

  • Weary: BORE, DRAIN, EXHAUST, TIRE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 28

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 28, 2025

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 27 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 28, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An idiot.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter M appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

DUMMY.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 28

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3: Seths dramatic change from the game

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

In Naughty Dog's game The Last of Us, there's one character who gets a chance to try and make amends for showcasing outright bigoted behaviour. However, in the HBO series, he does a much better job.

Seth (Robert John Burke) is the Jackson resident who hurls homophobic abuse, including a slur, at Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) for kissing at the New Year's Eve dance. Seth's actions in The Last of Us series are just as abhorrent as they are in the game, but it's what he does afterwards that differs from Naughty Dog's version.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 2: Gamers knew it was coming. It still hurts like hell.

In the game, the morning after the dance, Seth is forced by Jackson leader Maria (Rutina Wesley) to apologise to Ellie before she heads out on patrol with Dina. To make further amends, he offers sandwiches for the pair to take on their ride. Ellie gives these "bigot sandwiches" to Jesse (Young Mazino) instead.

In the show, Seth does much more than just offering sandwiches. In the Jackson town meeting, he strongly supports Ellie's proposal to take a squad to hunt down Joel's (Pedro Pascal's) killers — even before she gives her argument. And later in the episode, when Ellie and Dina are preparing to leave covertly themselves to track Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her crew, Dina says "she knows a guy" who can hook them up with the weapons, medical supplies, and ammo they need to survive the mission.

Featured Video For You Bella Ramsey and 'The Last of Us' team talks Season 2's new characters and Joel in therapy

That guy, as Ellie realises on Jackson's fenced border, is Seth, who emerges from the dark with Dina ready to trade Ellie's gun for a sniper rifle. Seth then helps the pair escape by keeping watch for the next perimeter patrol as they slip out a side gate.

Kitting out Ellie and Dina and helping them escape on a revenge mission does not erase Seth's homophobic actions. But it's a damn sight better a progressive gesture than a couple of breakfast rolls and a forced apology.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

The Last of Us Season 2: Who are the Seraphites or Scars?

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

We're off and away with The Last of Us Season 2, with geared-up new factions and mysterious hooded nomads roaming post-apocalyptic America and threatening the lives of our beloved protagonists.

In Season 1 of Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann's Naughty Dog game adaptation, it was all about FEDRA and the Fireflies. But now, with the majority of Fireflies sent into oblivion by Joel (Pedro Pascal) in the Season 1 finale — was that a good idea, Joel? — and FEDRA seemingly nowhere to be seen, there are new players on the board.

And that includes the bow-armed, hooded travelling group known as the Seraphites or "Scars."

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What is the Washington Liberation Front?

Now, I'm not going to tell you everything about this group — if you've played the games, you'll know what happens with them in The Last of Us Part II. But here's what I can tell viewers of the HBO series about the Seraphites as it happens in Season 2 (with no spoilers beyond what happens in the latest episode on Max).

When do we meet the Seraphites in The Last of Us?

The first we see of the Seraphites beyond the trailer comes in Season 2, episode 3. We meet a group of people on a forest trail to Seattle (the same road Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Mercred) take later in the episode), with each member clad in hooded garments branded with the same strange symbol.

They're all also marked by the same self-inflicted facial scarring on either cheek (hence their nickname, the "Scars"). It looks like these marks are given early in life for members of this group, as even Constance (Makena Whitlock), the very young girl in their party, has them.

The Seraphites also prefer melee weapons like their signature hammer or stealth weapons like bows and arrows, and they communicate in a sophisticated whistling language.

Featured Video For You Bella Ramsey and 'The Last of Us' team talks Season 2's new characters and Joel in therapy What do the Seraphites believe?

We don't know much about the Seraphites' spiritual beliefs at this point in the TV series, but we do know a few things. First, we know they follow a leader known as "The Prophet."

"The Prophet isn't magic, they're just people that see truths hidden from others and share their truth no matter what the cost," the Seraphite leader explains to Constance in episode 3. "So it was with our Prophet. That's how we keep her spirit alive, we follow her words, we obey her teaching, but we keep ourselves safe."

The Seraphite also mentions that The Prophet has been dead for 10 years, and that he "wouldn't count on her to help" their situation. So, who is this Prophet and what do they preach? We'll find out soon enough.

What's the deal between the Seraphites and the WLF?

When we meet the Seraphites in episode 3, the leader of their group calls for the group to take cover when it appears "Wolves" are on their path. We know this as the nickname for the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), who have a snarling wolf on a yellow triangle for their logo — one of their members, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), killed Joel.

We're not yet sure what the relationship between the WLF and the Seraphites is at this point in the series, but we do know they're not friendly, as Ellie and Dina discover the entire Seraphite party slain at the end of the episode — it's not clear who committed the massacre, but the episode strongly suggests it was the WLF. And judging by the Seraphite leader's reaction to "Wolves" over what his daughter calls "Demons" as a threat, we think they're more scared of the WLF than they are of Infected.

With both parties existing in Seattle, perhaps their rivalry is territorial — but from the looks of the WLF's tanks, guns, and footsoldiers at the end of the episode, the odds seem somewhat against the Seraphites.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3: Why does Tommy say Give Sarah my love?

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3 is chock full of poignant moments, from the subtly altered opening credits to Ellie (Bella Ramsey) scattering coffee beans at the grave of Joel (Pedro Pascal).

But while most of the sadness in the episode is understandably reserved for Ellie, Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) also gets a tear-jerker of a scene — and it contains a throwback to where it all started.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: How does that big death compare to the game? What does Tommy say to Joel's body?

Early on in the episode, Tommy visits a room where Joel is lying covered in a sheet after his brutal death. Tommy is passed a cloth by a Jackson resident that he dips in a bucket of water and uses to clean his brother's body.

As he's wiping Joel's arm, Tommy notices his smashed watch, still on his wrist. He pauses and stares at the place where his brother's face is covered by the sheet.

"Give Sarah my love," he says.

Featured Video For You 'The Last of Us' Season One recap in 60 seconds Who is Sarah, and what's the deal with the watch?

It's been a while since Season 1 aired, so you could be forgiven for not remembering who Sarah is, or why the watch is significant. The two are very much connected, though, and it all links back to the show's very first episode.

Sarah (Nico Parker) is, of course, Joel's daughter, who dies at the end of episode 1 after she's shot by a soldier during the start of the cordyceps outbreak. Before she dies, one of the last things Sarah does is to get Joel's watch fixed for his birthday (as well as procuring a copy of Curtis and Viper 2, one of Joel's favourite films). This is the same watch — now broken — that Tommy sees on Joel's wrist when he's cleaning his body. It's likely what makes him think of Joel's daughter Sarah, also Tommy's niece, prompting him to ask Joel to give her his love in death.

In a moving moment later in the episode, Ellie discovers Tommy has left Joel's watch for her as a gift in their home.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3: Why does Ellie sprinkle coffee on Joels grave?

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

If you thought the emotional pain had to ease off after the devastation-fest that was The Last of Us Season 2, episode 2, this week's episode clearly had other ideas.

Because although episode 3 may not have been quite as gut-churning, there were still plenty of moments to catch us out — from Tommy's (Gabriel Luna's) comment about Sarah (Nico Parker) to the subtle tweak to the show's opening credits.

Another of these moments saw Ellie (Bella Ramsey) visiting the grave of Joel (Pedro Pascal), and marking the moment with a gesture that links back to Season 1. So what exactly does Ellie do, and why is it significant? Let's break it down.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: How does that big death compare to the game? What happens in The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3?

After sneaking out of Jackson with Dina (Isabela Merced) to track down Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her crew, the pair stop at the graveyard 10 miles south of town that Tommy told Ellie about earlier in the episode. In the morning sunlight Ellie finds Joel's grave, which reads "Beloved brother and father." She crouches, opens a small sack, and sprinkles some coffee beans onto the soil.

Then she smiles, shakes her head, and places a hand on the earth. When she leaves, she has tears in her eyes.

The coffee beans clearly represent something important to her, but given that it's been a while since Season 1 aired, you'd be forgiven for forgetting exactly why.

The answer lies in Season 1, episode 4, and one of the many formative bonding moments in Joel and Ellie's relationship.

Why does Ellie sprinkle the coffee on Joel's grave?

Season 1, episode 4 sees Joel and Ellie heading cross country to Kansas City. After a night camping in the woods, Ellie is woken by the rattling of liquid bubbling in a pot. She crawls over, sniffs it, and makes a face. "Urgh, what the fuck is that?" she asks.

"You don't like coffee?" responds Joel.

Later, in the truck, Ellie has more questions. "Is that seriously what those Starbucks in the QZ used to sell?"

"Well, theirs was a lot fresher than what Bill saved up, but yeah, this is what they sold," replies Joel.

"Smells like...burned shit," is Ellie's blunt feedback.

And Joel's response? Taking a long, purposeful slurp before telling Ellie to keep her eyes on the map.

Although the many tragedies the pair went through together solidified their bond, it's these light-hearted moments that Ellie clearly remembers with the most fondness.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3s opening credits has a heartbreaking change

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 22:00

We're still not over the death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) but, like it or not, The Last of Us is entering a new chapter — and that means some brand new opening credits.

The change in opening credits between Season 2, episode 2 and episode 3 isn't a big revamp, but it's still pretty devastating in a subtle way.

So what's the difference?

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: How does that big death compare to the game? How are The Last of Us Season 2, episode 3 opening credits different?

Aside from the crushing absence of Pedro Pascal's name at the very start of The Last of Us' opening credits, the sequence in Season 2, episode 3 looks pretty much the same as usual: The camera winds through a morphing, cordyceps-inspired tapestry, with fungal plants sprouting into the shape of a city alongside the names of the cast and crew.

The change, however, comes right at the very end. In previous episodes, the camera moved through a spiral of fungus to show a blurry and overgrown landscape, from which two distant silhouettes — mean to represent Joel and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) — sprout up from the ground. In episode 3, however, the smaller silhouette is the only one that remains.

Seeing the two shapes in previous episodes re-enforced the idea that it was Joel and Ellie against the world, two survivors struggling through a post-apocalyptic landscape together. Now, the message is clear: Ellie is on her own again. Joel is gone, and she's going to have to carve out her own path.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Apple is reportedly still working on smart glasses of some kind

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 11:24

Apple's augmented reality glasses may be dead (or at least on hold), but it sounds like the company is still working on a different kind of smart glasses.

Mark Gurman's latest Power On newsletter at Bloomberg (via 9to5Mac) reported that Apple is continuing work on a pair of smart glasses, just a couple of months after a different Bloomberg report indicated Apple's AR glasses were not happening anymore. According to Gurman, the glasses that are currently being worked on are more akin to Meta's Ray-Ban collaboration, in that they will be filled with tech, but will stop short of offering real augmented reality displays.

SEE ALSO: Apple plans to produce all U.S.-sold iPhones in India, report claims

Gurman stated that they would be powered by Apple Intelligence and could "analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer," though to what degree it can do that is still unknown. The Meta version of this concept is largely influencer-focused and allows for glasses-based photography and Instagram live-streaming, though apparently Apple is not entirely committed to allowing photography on its glasses yet for privacy reasons.

At any rate, it'll probably be at least a couple of years before we see the fruits of all this labor, if we see it at all. Maybe the smart glasses dream will live on.

Review: Are Tumble washable rugs too good to be true?

Mashable - Sun, 04/27/2025 - 06:00

I love rugs. Anyone who's ever seen The Big Lebowski knows that a good one can really bring a room together. The only problem is, I have a dog that sheds, drools, and makes every other kind of dog-related mess you can think of. That basically means that any time I get a new rug, it's ruined in a short amount of time. Huge bummer.

So, when I came across Tumble's rugs on both my TikTok and Instagram feeds, I knew I had to try one out for myself. Why? They promise that their rugs are machine washable (when it's not possible to spot clean), spill-resistant, comfortable, and a good fit for homes with pets. Music to my ears.

But are Tumble's claims too good to be true? I set out to find the answer, and after about a month of use, I walked away from my experience with Tumble very impressed. My Tumble rug is one of my favorite additions to my apartment in recent memory.

SEE ALSO: Honest review of Ruggable: Are the washable rugs worth the price? What I loved about my Tumble rug

My time with Tumble started strong. Right out of the box, I was really happy with how the rug looked — I already knew what design I'd be getting ahead of time, but it looked even better in person. I went for the Wren rug in Olive and Sand, which is a cool take on the trendy checkerboard design that fits perfectly into my home's aesthetic. The colors are vibrant, and the materials feel high-quality.

The rug and included rug pad came neatly rolled up in the shipping box, along with a small envelope containing setup and care instructions, as well as some adhesive pads. I placed the quarter-inch-thick rug pad down first, right where my kitchen table lives. Now, I expected to throw the rug on top and call it a day, but Tumble goes the extra mile here. Using a corner-pocket design on the bottom part of the rug, you can slide the rug pad into each pocket, ensuring that the pad won't slide out of position.

After that, I slapped the adhesive pads to the bottom to lock everything in place. I tried my best to move it, but the rug wouldn't budge, and it's stayed that way for an entire month. As an aside, I also thought the rug was quite comfortable to walk on — the fabric isn't a plush material, but it's still soft to the touch, and the rug pad below it gives it a nice bounce. So, if you need a runner or office rug, I can definitely recommend Tumble.

The rug's surface is still looking great even after a month of heavy traffic. Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable Tumble rugs pass the stain test

The whole point of a washable rug is to, you know, wash it. And I definitely got to stress-test Tumble's stain resistance.

Fortunately for you, my dog decided to throw up her dinner on the rug just one week into my test. Usually, I wouldn't enjoy cleaning up dog puke, but this time was different — it was an opportunity to put Tumble's machine-washable claims to the test. I wiped up the excess and carefully lifted the rug away from the rug pad. Then, I chucked the rug into my washing machine and started a cold cycle. Once that was done, I did a quick inspection of the rug and my machine to make sure there wasn't any damage, but it still looked great, and the stains my pet added to it were totally gone.

After a quick tumble dry, I placed the rug back in its spot. I was very happy with the results; it looked as good as new.

SEE ALSO: The Ninja Swirl is even better and more fun than the original Creami

For smaller messes, clean-up is even easier. The rug is made using spill-resistant materials, so whenever a liquid hits the fabric, it'll start to pill up instead of working its way into the fibers. Anytime something got on the rug, I was able to quickly wipe it up with a damp paper towel and move on with my day. I even spilled part of a matcha latte on it at one point, and it didn't stain, which felt like a small miracle.

What I didn't love about my Tumble rug

My Tumble rug experience was not without its flaws, though they've been pretty easy to overlook. For one, I didn't love that I could see the rug pad under the rug. It wasn't sticking out the sides thanks to the rug's underside pockets, but there was a noticeably raised area where the pad sits, and I couldn't mask it no matter what I tried. Not a huge deal in my opinion, but you've been warned. Finally, my rug did start showing very small signs of wear and tear on the sides, but this will happen to any rug you put down in high-traffic areas like a kitchen, playroom, or hallway.

A very small amount of fraying has started on the sides of the rug. Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable The rug pad shows through the actual rug just a bit. Can you see it? Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable Are Tumble rugs worth the price?

Tumble's rugs aren't cheap. The brand's smallest size is priced at $119 (the one that I tested), and their largest sizes run well over the $400 mark. But if you're more concerned about durability and convenience over luxuriousness, I think Tumble is well worth the investment. And that's especially if you have pets or children running around. One day, when you're wiping up yet another pee puddle or rogue glass of orange juice with ease, you'll be thankful you shelled out for a Tumble rug.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tumble Tumble Shiraz Terracotta & Sky washable rug $139.30 at Tumble
$199 Save $59.70 Get Deal

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