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SAVE $170: As of April 3, Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS Outdoor Watch is available for $229.99 at Amazon. That's $170 off its regular price of $399.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS Outdoor Watch $229.99 at AmazonFinding a rugged GPS watch that doesn't need constant recharging is like discovering a unicorn. But here we are: Amazon has slashed $170 off the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, bringing it down to a tempting $229.99. For a watch that can potentially outlast your adventures, this deal is hard to ignore.
The Instinct 2 Solar boasts solar charging capabilities, offering unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode with sufficient sunlight exposure. Its robust design meets military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance, ensuring it can withstand the harshest conditions. Whether you're hiking, biking, or swimming, this watch has you covered with built-in sports apps and health monitoring features.
SEE ALSO: Apple announces WWDC 2025 datesNavigating unfamiliar terrains becomes a breeze with multi-GNSS support, including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. The TracBack routing feature ensures you can retrace your steps without getting lost. Plus, smart notifications keep you connected, and compatibility with the Connect IQ store allows for further customization.
Price: $229.99 $399.99
Retailer: Amazon
Display Size: 1.27 inches
Battery Life: Unlimited in smartwatch mode with sufficient solar exposure
Water Resistance: Rated to 100 meters
Navigation: Multi-GNSS support (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo)
Sensors: 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter
Health Monitoring: Heart rate, sleep tracking, Pulse Ox
Smart Features: Notifications, Connect IQ compatibility
Durability: Meets military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance
At $229.99, the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar offers a compelling blend of durability, functionality, and virtually limitless battery life. If you're an outdoor enthusiast seeking a reliable companion, this deal is worth serious consideration.
SAVE $200: As of April 3, Toshiba 65-inch M550 Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV is available for $379.99 at Best Buy. That's $200 off its regular price of $579.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Toshiba Toshiba 65-inch M550 Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $379.99 at Best BuyFinding a 65-inch QLED TV with premium features for under $400 feels like uncovering a hidden gem. Best Buy has slashed $200 off the Toshiba M550 Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV, bringing it down to an enticing $379.99. At this price, it's hard not to consider upgrading your home entertainment setup.
The M550 Series boasts Toshiba's Quantum Dot Technology, delivering over a billion shades of color for vivid, lifelike images. Full Array Local Dimming enhances contrast by controlling individual zones of the backlight, ensuring deeper blacks and brighter whites. The REGZA Engine ZR upscales content to near-4K resolution, providing a crisp and immersive viewing experience
SEE ALSO: Apple announces WWDC 2025 datesFor audiophiles, the REGZA Power Audio Pro system, complemented by the BAZOOKA Bass Woofer, offers deep, resonant bass and clear vocals. Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support further elevate the cinematic experience, making your living room feel like a personal theater.
Gamers will appreciate the TV's Auto Low Latency Mode, which reduces input lag for smoother gameplay. While it supports a 120Hz refresh rate, it's worth noting that variable refresh rate (VRR) is limited to 60Hz.
Price: $379.99 $579.99
Retailer: Best Buy
Screen Size: 65 inches
Display Technology: QLED
Resolution: 4K UHD
Refresh Rate: 120Hz (VRR up to 60Hz)
HDR Support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Audio: REGZA Power Audio Pro with BAZOOKA Bass Woofer, Dolby Atmos
Smart Platform: Fire TV with hands-free Alexa
Gaming Features: Auto Low Latency Mode
HDMI Ports: Multiple, with limited refresh rate support
The integration of Fire TV provides a user-friendly interface with access to a vast library of streaming apps. Hands-free Alexa support allows for voice control, making navigation and content discovery effortless.
At $379.99, the Toshiba 65-inch M550 Series offers a compelling mix of size, picture quality, and smart features. If you're in the market for a feature-rich large-screen TV without breaking the bank, this deal is worth serious consideration.
BEATS THE COMPETITION: As of April 3, PNY 1.5TB PRO Elite Prime microSD card is available for $109.99 at Amazon. No discount needed when you're getting up to 200MB/s read and 150MB/s write speeds with A2 app performance.
Opens in a new window Credit: PNY PNY 1.5TB PRO Elite Prime microSD card $0 at AmazonI’ve tested plenty of microSD cards in my ROG Ally X and Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, but PNY 1.5TB PRO Elite Prime is the only one that felt close to internal storage — even without any fancy accessories. I skipped the PNY reader and slotted the card straight into both devices, and it held up impressively well.
On the Ally X, I loaded up a mix of indie and AAA games stored directly on the card. App launch times were tight, multitasking didn’t lag, and moving between game files didn’t feel sluggish. It’s A2-rated, which means it's designed for running apps directly off the card, not just storing media. And that actually matters when you're using a handheld PC where every second shaved off counts.
SEE ALSO: Apple announces WWDC 2025 datesGalaxy Tab S10 Ultra saw similar results. I use it for a mix of editing, gaming, and file management, and the card handled all of it with minimal fuss. Transfer speeds while moving files internally hovered around 185MB/s for reads and just under 150MB/s for writes—not quite the theoretical max, but solid without the USB 3.1 reader.
Price: $109.99
Retailer: Amazon
Storage: 1.5TB microSDXC
Speed Class: Class 10, U3, V30
App Performance: A2
Read Speed (in-device): ~185MB/s
Write Speed (in-device): ~145–150MB/s
Adapter Included: Yes
Enhanced Performance (with USB reader): Up to 200MB/s read
Warranty: Lifetime limited
That said, if you're planning to transfer massive game installs or want the fastest possible read/write performance for heavy-duty gaming, using PNY’s Performance Prime reader (Currently 15% off at $10.99) will push speeds closer to the full 200MB/s. But for most day-to-day use directly inside the device, I never felt like I was missing out.
If you need a ton of expandable storage that doesn’t hold back your apps or games, this card gets the job done without extra gear.
The teaser trailer for Five Nights at Freddy's 2 has arrived, and it looks like the worst job ever has followed security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson) home. These nightmarish animatronics just refuse to give him a break.
A sequel to Blumhouse's 2023 horror based on the popular video game series, not much has been revealed about Five Nights at Freddy's 2's plot. However, we do know that Mike, his sister Abby (Piper Rubio), Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), and William Afton (Matthew Lillard) will all be back, as will director Emma Tammi and producers Jason Blum and Scott Cawthon.
Also returning, of course, are the unsettling denizens of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is set to arrive in theatres on Dec. 5.
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 MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, April 3, 2025:
AcrossHit the ___ (go to bed)The answer is Sack.
The answer is Sushi.
The answer is Tapas.
The answer is Overs.
The answer is Pent.
The answer is Suave.
The answer is Aspen.
The answer is Chart.
The answer is Kiss.
The answer is Stop.
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 GamesAre 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.
News broke on Wednesday that 12-foot skeleton supplier Home Depot would begin charging customers for parking, inciting ire amongst some U.S. DIY enthusiasts. Fortunately, astute customers were quick to remember that this unwelcome report had arrived on a significant date: April 1.
Home Depot itself has since confirmed that this reported paid parking plan was nothing more than an April Fools' Day prank by an unaffiliated hardware publication.
SEE ALSO: Live, laugh, LifeEyes™️: How the 12-foot Home Depot skeleton became a perennial hit"[T]his is an April Fools' post from a tool review website," Home Depot wrote on X, responding to someone criticising the ostensible change. "We do not charge for parking."
Specifically, the rumour originated from an article published by Pro Tool Reviews on April 1. Using the byline "PTR Editorial Staff," Pro Tool Reviews claimed that Home Depot would begin charging up to $5 for a full day of parking from next month. The publication called this apparent change an "unconventional response to rising inflation," and even made up a fake Home Depot spokesperson, economist, customers, and angry social media users to "quote."
As such, there was little in Pro Tool Reviews' article to tip off the casual reader that something was amiss. The main giveaway was a link at the bottom, which stated that it led to the "original" Home Depot press release. In actuality, it led to a Pro Tool Reviews page declaring, "APRIL FOOLS! GOTCHA!" Pro Tool Reviews also has its article tagged "april fool's [sic]" a time of writing.
Still, the clarification is easy to miss, leading many people to take Pro Tool Reviews' report at face value. Some even directed angry posts to Home Depot's social media accounts, threatening to take their business elsewhere due to the reported parking changes. Home Depot has directly replied to multiple disgruntled commenters to clarify the situation, though it seems not everyone has gotten the message. One must imagine that their social media manager is more than slightly exasperated at this point.
To be fair, this particular nugget of April Fool’s disinformation isn’t completely outside the realm of plausibility. Paid parking lots are far from uncommon, and with the economy going the way it is, it wouldn't be surprising to see businesses scrounging around for new revenue streams.
Some people noted that they first encountered Pro Tool Reviews' prank article via their Google News feed, which led them to believe that it was true. However, the mere fact that something is "on Google" is not an indicator of its accuracy, regardless of whether you found it via search or News.
According to Google, articles featured in your News feed are automatically chosen by an algorithm that is personalised to each user, with articles ranked according to factors such as relevance, authoritativeness, and the individual's interests. No humans are involved in the selection process. As such, this system appears ill-equipped to deal with otherwise trustworthy sources pulling pranks.
This Home Depot parking prank is a good reminder that you should always be vigilant on the internet, and double check information before reacting (and especially before lashing out). This is true at all times, but it's even more so on April 1, a day on which everyone has apparently decided it’s OK to lie without fear of reprisal from God or Santa.
Check sources, check your gut, and never browse with your brain turned off. Slowing down and taking a few seconds to look a little deeper can save you a lot of upset and embarrassment. And if all of that sounds like too much work, then maybe it’s time to take a break from the screens. Go outside, have a picnic, smell a flower. You'll probably be happier for it. Don't worry, the collapse of society will still be here when you get back.
TL;DR: For a limited time, save £54 on 10TB of lifetime cloud storage with Internxt using code STORAGE20 at checkout (reg. $349.99).
There are few things more annoying than getting hit with ‘Storage Full. Upgrade now.’ notifications when you’re just trying to upload a few more files. Sure, you could pay for more space, but then you’re getting sucked even deeper into the subscription world. Here’s a new option: lifetime cloud storage.
Not only will you never have to worry about monthly or yearly subscription costs, but you can purchase storage plans from Internxt so high, you’ll probably never fill them up. How does 10TB of cloud space sound? Secure it for life using code STORAGE20 at checkout, dropping the price from £215.70 (reg. £269.63) this week.
(Almost) unlimited storageWith 10TB of cloud storage, you can fit about two million photos, 100,000 videos, or 20 million documents (depending on their exact size, of course). That amount of space would be a challenge to fill up on your own, so it’s a good thing you can share it with an unlimited number of devices.
More about InternxtInternxt may not be as popular as a name like Dropbox, but that’s not a reason to write off this deal. Your photos and files are end-to-end encrypted, meaning they’re broken up into tiny pieces so they can’t be read by prying eyes.
The company also makes its source code open to the public, so programmers and tech nerds can analyse it and ensure there are no vulnerabilities. That’s a lot more honesty than you’ll get from big-name brands.
Use code STORAGE20 at checkout to get an Internxt 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription for £215.70 (reg. £269.63) for a limited time at the Mashable Shop.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan £215.70TL;DR: Watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for free on ORF. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 F1 season has started with a lot of unpredictable racing and entertaining moments. The McLaren team look in super strong form, but there's a crowd of drivers just waiting to pounce if they're anything less than perfect. Lando Norris leads the standings after two races, but all eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda in his Red Bull debut in Japan.
If you're interested in watching the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix?The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix takes place over 53 laps of the 5,807-kilometer Suzuka Circuit. The full schedule can be found here:
Practice — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. JST on April 4
Practice 2 — 3 to 4 p.m. JST on April 4
Practice 3 — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. JST on April 5
Qualifying — 3 to 4 p.m. JST on April 5
Race — 2 p.m. JST on April 6
The good news for fans is that it's possible to live stream the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix without spending anything.
How to watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for freeThe 2025 Japanese Grand Prix is available to live stream for free on ORF.
ORF is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access free live streams of F1 from anywhere in the world.
Unblock ORF from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria
Connect to ORF
Watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix from anywhere in the world
Please be aware that Formula 1 take the view that the use of a VPN to watch content from another territory may be a breach of the relevant broadcasters’ terms of service and may constitute copyright infringement. It is your responsibility to ensure that your use of a VPN is legal and Mashable does not encourage any illegal use of a VPN.
Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get DealThe best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams without actually spending anything. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming F1 live is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for F1?ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming F1 for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Austria
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected
Fast streaming speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.
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 hintA tropical wood.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerBALSA
Hurdle Word 2 hintDecay.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerERODE
Hurdle Word 3 hintAn aquatic predator.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answerSHARK
Hurdle Word 4 hintPopular in skincare.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3 Hurdle Word 4 answerSERUM
Final Hurdle hintA divine being.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerDEITY
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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.
Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Not energized
Green: Something a receiver runs
Blue: Mascots for women's teams on ice
Purple: Share the same first word
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Grow weary
Green: Football receiving routes
Blue: PWHL teams
Purple: Sports _________
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 Sports Edition #192 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayGrow weary - EXHAUST, FATIGUE, TIRE, WEAKEN
Football receiving routes - DIG, FADE, POST, WHEEL
PWHL teams - CHARGE, FLEET, FROST, VICTOIRE
Sports _______ - CAR, CENTER, ILLUSTRATED, WRITER
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.
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.
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 MashableBy 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 preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get the bugThe words are creepy crawlers.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words are insects with 'bug' in their name.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Entomology.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 3Lightning
Lady
Stink
Assassin
Potato
Doodle
Entomology
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.
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 3 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: A physical message
Green: You'll find them in ALDI, Costco, etc.
Blue: Things with tags
Purple: The first word is the same
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Printed notification
Green: Seen at a grocery store checkout counter
Blue: Things with tabs
Purple: Palm __
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 #662 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayPrinted notification: ANNOUNCEMENT, BULLETIN, NOTICE, POSTER
Seen at a grocery store checkout counter: CONVEYOR BELT, REGISTER, SCALE, SCANNER
Things with tabs: BROWSER, FOLDER, KEYBOARD, SODA CAN
Palm __: BEACH, READER, SUNDAY, TREE
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 3Are 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.
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 3 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 3, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:To cut off hair.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
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...
SHEAR.
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 3Reporting 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 Dimension 20 cast (Brennan Lee Mulligan, Ally Beardsley, Lou Wilson, Siobhan Thompson, and Zac Oyama) locked in to draft their ultimate teams of characters from Intrepid Heroes campaigns.Which PC will be the first pick?
Which cast members betray each other in order to get the characters they want? And most importantly, which of these teams do you think will prevail in a no-holds-barred battle royale?
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Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription AU$158Alfred Hitchcock had blondes, MacGuffins, and director’s cameos. Spike Lee has dolly shots, New York settings, and fourth-wall breaks. And Jared Hess has tots, llamas, and frequent use of “friggin.’”
I’m not saying that the Napoleon Dynamite director is on the level of those two auteurs. However, it’s impressive that despite being an adaptation of a juggernaut of a video game, A Minecraft Movie still feels like a Jared Hess movie at its core, even down to its setting in Idaho (when it isn’t set in the world of Minecraft, that is).
Jack Black as Steve, Danielle Brooks as Dawn, and Jason Momoa as Garrett in “A Minecraft Movie." Credit: Warner Bros. PicturesA Minecraft Movie could have simply been driven by its mammoth video game origins, content to drop in-jokes and references inscrutable to those who haven’t dived into playing Minecraft and delightful to those who have. That would have been the safe route — and it’s one that most IP adaptations are OK with taking — but oddly, Warner Bros. and game studio Mojang appear to be fine with Hess putting his own quirky stamp on this universe.
Maybe it’s not so odd after all. From my limited understanding of the game (very limited as a childfree adult who googled “Minecraft explainer” on my way to the theater), creativity and making the world your own are valued within Minecraft gameplay. And even if I hadn’t done five minutes of pre-screening research, A Minecraft Movie is vocally explicit in espousing imagination as a key to success in the Minecraft land of Overworld.
The plot of A Minecraft Movie is a lot — and also not the point. Credit: Warner Bros. PicturesThe plot of this family-friendly adventure is challenging to explain succinctly; whether that’s my fault as a Minecraft noob or has to do with the five credited writers (Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, and Chris Galletta) is up for debate. Mine-obsessed Steve (Jack Black) accidentally discovers a portal (in a mine, naturally) that leads to Overworld, an animated universe filled with blocky animals, trees, and structures. Steve masters building and crafting in Overworld and decides to stay, especially after he bonds with a cube-shaped dog that he names Dennis.
Later, that same Overworld portal also sucks in former video game champion Garrett “Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), realtor/mobile zoo entrepreneur Dawn (Danielle Brooks), and two young siblings, Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers). They discover the rules of Overworld by trial and error, learning how to build structures and craft tools during the day and simply trying to stay alive at night, also by building and crafting, amidst attacks from zombies, spiders, and creepers. Their experience basically echoes the game’s mods: in Create, players focus on constructing their own world, while Survive finds them attempting to not die with each nightly assault from creepy creatures. They go on a quest for the movie’s MacGuffin — the cube-shaped Orb of Dominance — where they encounter more creations that made the kids in my screening lose their little minds with excitement. Meanwhile, they try to avoid the invading hordes from a hell-like underworld populated by beefy, blocky pigs and ruled by the sorceress Malgosha (voiced by Taika Waititi–favorite Rachel House).
Beyond all of … that, A Minecraft Movie also features a wholly unnecessary subplot about a cubist Overworld citizen who stumbles into our world and encounters Henry’s daffy, oversharing vice principal, played by Jennifer Coolidge. These scenes could have been cut out entirely without affecting anything else on screen, but a credits sequence offers payoff. It’s hard to be too mad at its inclusion because it exists as a vehicle for Coolidge, who also starred in Hess’s Gentlemen Broncos, and is very much on the same comedic page as the filmmaker.
Jason Momoa and Jack Black are at their comedic best. Credit: Warner Bros. PicturesLeads Momoa and Black are also on Hess’s weirdo wavelength. Momoa stars as the has-been video game king with a wardrobe of fringed jackets and a glorious curly shag haircut, and his deadpan delivery is the most hilarious the Aquaman actor has ever been. Hair-metal-loving Garrett is desperately trying to recapture his previous glory, and Momoa speaks in the oh-so-serious-but-oh-so-funny cadence that will be familiar to anyone who watched Napoleon Dynamite on repeat.
Similarly, Black has his trademark exuberant energy that borders on obnoxiousness, and it’s the perfect fit for this perfectly silly movie and its young audience. Some adults may not find Black entertaining, but they are old and boring. For his second round with Hess, following Nacho Libre, Black gets that the director doesn’t want naturalistic performances steeped in Stanislavski. A Minecraft Movie isn’t attempting to be subtle; it’s the bigger, the better, and Black understood the assignment.
In her first film appearance post-Oscar nomination for 2023’s The Color Purple, Brooks isn’t given a ton to do. However, if everyone in the cast were operating at the over-the-top level of Momoa, Black, and Coolidge, A Minecraft Movie would be overwhelming and exhausting, a fate it somehow skirts despite everything going on here. Hansen and Myers, the two young actors playing brother-and-sister duo Henry and Natalie, are charming enough and comical when they’re required to be, but it’s easy to get lost amidst the bigger performances and the backdrop of blocky animated sheep.
All those weird right angles and the oddly inorganic shapes of the organic things of Overworld mean that the animation and special effects don’t have to — and shouldn’t — convince the audience they’re real. Minecraft itself looks pretty low-fi, and the visuals of Hess’s film work well within that established style. Yet it doesn’t look cheap; it’s as though Warner Bros. didn’t mind spending a little money in anticipation of the pile of money the film will likely make.
Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess brings his signature silly style. Credit: Warner Bros. PicturesWhile I don’t love that IP rules the box office, Hess’s tater-tot-grease-stained fingerprints are all over A Minecraft Movie. It feels like it was made by a human — and a wonderfully weird one — rather than simply churned out by a studio or media conglomerate to take advantage of their property. It’s fun and funny, fully engaged with the spirit of the game, in which creativity and imagination rule. It doesn’t feel like it’s pandering to kids, but, as evidenced by the giggles at my screening, they were enjoying it. For adult viewers who require logic in their storytelling, however, mileage may vary.
“This place makes no sense,” Natalie says at one point with a tinge of exasperation, and she is speaking for all of us uninitiated. While it is largely coherent, A Minecraft Movie is all over the place. But no one in the audience is here for the plot. They’re either watching A Minecraft Movie for their love of the Minecraft world or because they love someone who loves it and isn’t old enough to drive themselves to the movie theater. As far as video game adaptations and children’s films go, A Minecraft Movie is so much better than it needs to be.
Parents will likely find this film more entertaining than listening to their kids talk about Minecraft for the equivalent amount of time (101 minutes, for the record). A Minecraft Movie might also provide a deeper understanding of the universe (Minecraft’s, not the real one) for those who haven’t experienced it firsthand before. It’s a good primer for the game that never feels like homework.
A Minecraft Movie opens in theaters nationwide and in IMAX on April 4.
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