Mashable

Cryptocurrency is facing yet another big price plunge.

Bitcoin dropped to the $84,000 range on Thursday, the lowest price it's seen in 2026 so far. Other cryptocurrencies like Ether and Doge also experienced falling prices, with values being down as much as 6 percent.

Crypto analysts suggest that this is a crucial price point for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to maintain or its valuation may continue to drop.

As crypto outlets point out, the price drop of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies didn't happen in a vacuum. The stock market, especially tech stocks like Microsoft, took a huge dive on Thursday. Crypto-related stocks also took a big hit as well.

As investors sell off investments, crypto holdings traditionally take a big hit as one of the more riskier bets. According to Coindesk, investors have liquidated more than $650 million across all crypto assets during the Thursday selloff. 

Some analysts believe that Bitcoin could see its prices drop below $80,000 in the near future.

SAVE $1,150: As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's a discount of 58%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Solix F2000 $849 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,150   Get Deal

We're in the middle of winter, and that means some particularly grisly weather. Much of the US just suffered a massive snowstorm with ice and power outages. If your area is prone to disaster or you lose power a lot, a portable power station might be the answer. You can get a great one right now for an excellent price if you'd like to stay prepared for the inevitable winter (or summer) storm that pops up in the future.

As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's $1,150 off and a discount of 58%.

SEE ALSO: The Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is down to a record-low price — save over $86 before the next storm hits

This massive power station packs 2,048Wh of power into a portable package. That's enough electricity to ensure most of your home's appliances, including your fridge or toaster, can stay alive while you wait for the power to come back on. And it can handle your phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices too.

According to Anker, the Solix F2000 can actually keep your fridge up and running for up to 10 hours, so if you're concerned about losing all the food you just went out and bought ahead of the storm, you'll be able to keep it nice and cold.

All this, plus the power station is housed in a form factor that makes it easy to transport, with wheels and a handle so you can take it from place to place with ease. It couldn't be simpler to use, and it's up for grabs at a great price. Be sure and get yours before it goes out of stock, and before the next ice storm.

SAVE $100: The Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, down from the list price of $999. That's a 10% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 265GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal

A powerful and versatile tablet is one of life's greatest pleasures. It's perfect for times when you don't feel like hauling out the laptop but also have tasks that are too complex for a small phone screen. It can also be excellent for travel. If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line tablet, check out this Apple deal.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, marked down from the standard price of $999. That's a 10% discount that shaves $100 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

In Mashable's review of the best iPads, the iPad Pro with M5 processor earns the top spot as the ideal model for professionals. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "This 2025 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M5 processor, giving it way more power than the average user really needs. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors."

SEE ALSO: The noise-cancelling Apple AirPods 4 just got $60 cheaper

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth did a full review of the M5 iPad Pro last fall and wrote, " It's the kind of gadget that makes you feel like you're living in the future." Some highlight features include its ultra-thin design, ultra-lightweight feel, and the fact that it gets up to 1,600 nits of brightness.

If you're seeking out a professional upgrade, consider the iPad Pro while it's on sale at Amazon for $899. The sale price applies to both the silver and black colorways.

SAVE $20: As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for just $19.99 with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20. That's 50% off its list price of $39.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $19.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.00 with on-page coupon 4KSELECT20 Get Deal

One of Mashable readers' top buys from Black Friday is back on sale. While it's not quite as spectacular of a discount, it's still one worth shouting about.

As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is just $19.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20 (make sure to hit "redeem" next to the code). That's 50% or $20 off its list price of $39.99.

The 4K Select is the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup and the most affordable option that offers 4K quality with HDR10+ support. It's the first Fire TV Stick to feature the ultra-responsive and speedy new operating system called Vega. While we haven't had a chance to test it yet, we're glad that Amazon decided to switch things up up from the previous operating system. We found the older system a bit laggy in our testing, so an upgrade was certainly in order.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select still features the same plug-and-play design as the previous streaming sticks, though, which instantly brings all of your favorite streaming apps into a single platform. Just press and ask Alexa to open your favorite app, pick up an episode where you left off, show you sports scores, and more. It offers support for Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, NordVPN, IPVanish, Alexa+, and Amazon Kids+ (coming soon).

If you don't have a smart TV, this will instantly transform your current setup. If you do, it will make your TV even smarter — all for just 20 bucks. That's a whole lot cheaper than buying a new TV, just saying.

It's a great week to be a loon. If you've fallen under the spell of the hit HBO Max/Crave show Heated Rivalry, you know how incredible Shane Hollander's Team Canada fleece is. He sported it during his time in Sochi for the Olympics. The fleece was so good that fans have been begging Canada to "release the fleece" for weeks. On Threads, the term "release the fleece" has 47 million tags. And we finally have incredible news, loons — the Heated Rivalry fleece is coming.

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So far the exact details are vague. We know Canadian brand Province of Canada is manufacturing the fleece, and the brand's website states that all of their products are 100% made in Canada. We also know 10% of proceeds from fleece sales will be donated to a charity. So far, 106,000 people have liked the brand's Instagram post announcing the official collaboration.

Executive producers of the show and co-presidents of Accent Aigu Entertainment Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady are quoted as saying, "We’re so excited to partner with Province of Canada. As a Canadian-based, independent apparel brand that does amazing work sourcing and manufacturing high-quality clothing, we share a common ethos. We look forward to bringing it to life with the creativity and care fans expect.”

It's a damn good fleece, that's for sure. Credit: HBO Max / Crave How to score your very own Heated Rivalry fleece

Province of Canada hasn't announced the fleece's release date yet. Instead, you'll want to sign up for e-mail notifications. The brand promises to email us once the fleece is available to order (checks email 70 times per day). We'll be sure to update this article once we have more information.

SEE ALSO: I found the headphones Ilya Rozanov wears in "Heated Rivalry" and they're on sale at Amazon for $100 off How much will the Heated Rivalry fleece cost?

Pricing details for the Heated Rivalry fleece have yet to be announced, but our guess is that it won't come cheap. Checking out currently available fleeces on the Province of Canada website leads us to believe a fleece will come in at least $120 USD. The Province of Canada's reverse fleece pullover is listed at $168 CAD (that's $123.77 USD with today's exchange rate) and the brand's reverse fleece overshirt is listed at $198 CAD ($145.87 USD).

Will the Heated Rivalry fleece be available in the U.S.?

The Heated Rivalry fleece landing page says, "Our goal is to make shipping available to as many countries as possible," but the Province of Canada's website currently explains they're not shipping to the U.S. as of last August. The brand lists Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as their current shipping options. We're hopeful this pause on U.S. shipping will lift in time to score the fleece. If not, maybe we'll need to plan a trip?

How to shop more official Heated Rivalry merch

Heated Rivalry does have an official merch shop, but all 33 items are sold out at the time of writing. The shop promises to have a restock soon, and you can bet we'll be getting the "I'm coming to the cottage" hat to pair with the official Team Canada fleece.

While we wait for this merch, might we suggest making a tuna melt with Grillo's Pickles? Ilya and Shane would want that for us. Pair it with an ice cold Canada Dry Ginger Ale and rewatch all six episodes.

Samsung apparently doesn't have enough foldables on the market, so prepare for one more before the end of 2026.

Just days after confirming the U.S. price and release date for the new TriFold, the company is rumored to have a fourth foldable in the works, to go alongside the TriFold and the follow-ups to the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lineups. The so-called "Wide Fold" will be similar to the Z Fold, but will open up into a bigger inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. According to Korean outlet ET News, Samsung is gearing up to release the phone this summer at the same time as the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy TriFold is coming to America: Price, release date confirmed

In a vacuum, it seems strange for Samsung to introduce yet another foldable to its portfolio, one that sort of sits in between the Z Fold and the TriFold. However, apparently the idea is to compete with Apple's still-unconfirmed iPhone Fold, said to release this year with a 4:3 aspect ratio for its inner display. If Samsung did indeed release its Wide Fold phone in the summer, that would most likely beat the iPhone Fold to market by at least a month or two, given that Apple's big annual iPhone announcement event is always in September. Samsung evidently doesn't want to get beaten to the punch by Apple, if these reports are to be believed.

Just a few years ago, the idea that there would be this flourishing ecosystem of foldables in the U.S. seemed unbelievable. But here we are.

Apple's AirTag 2 is finally here.

Well, the product's actual name is once again just "AirTag," but we'll call it AirTag 2 because it's a second-generation product. So what does it bring to the table? What can it bring to the table, given that it's just a silver-and-white puck that tracks its own location?

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 2 (4-pack) $99 at Amazon
  Shop Now What is AirTag?

Before we dive into details, a little history. The original AirTag tracking device was launched in April 2021. It's deceivingly simple: You connect it to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch via Bluetooth, and then you can track its location through Apple's Find My app. Because the Find My network uses compatible iPhones, iPads, and other devices to help track lost items — and because there are a lot of iPhones in the world — the Find My network is famous for its reliability.

The AirTag is, in fact, a dual tracker. It relies on Bluetooth signals from other iOS and iPadOS devices it encounters to provide a rough location. If it's close enough, then you can precisely track it, thanks to Apple's ultra-wideband U1 chip.

The AirTag also features a speaker, and you can play a sound to make finding it easier. It relies on (replaceable but not rechargeable) battery power, with an advertised one year of battery life.

Use cases are numerous. You can put it in a key ring (Apple provides several options) and use it to track your keys. You can do the same for your wallet, backpack, or bike. Or you can put it in your luggage when you fly to make sure it doesn't get lost — at least not for very long.

How is AirTag 2 better than AirTag?

The AirTag 2 doesn't bring any revolutionary new features. It's still a little puck that you can track via Find My. But it does improve a few important aspects of the original AirTag.

You can get a FineWoven key ring for your AirTag for $35. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

First, the AirTag 2 has Apple's new U2 chip and a new Bluetooth chip. Thanks to this, you'll be able to track it precisely from farther away — 50 percent farther than the old AirTag. Keep in mind that you'll need an iPhone 15 or later (the iPhone 16e is not included) as only those phones have the new U2 chip as well.

The AirTag 2 also has a louder speaker than the original AirTags. That's important for obvious reasons; if your AirTag is hanging on a keychain you've misplaced in a coat pocket, it will now be easier to hear its sound when you trigger it.

The battery inside the two devices is exactly the same, as are other specifications such as dimensions and weight.

Is the range really better?

Apple doesn't disclose the precise range for Precision Finding on the AirTag, probably because it depends on numerous factors, such as how many walls are between you and your missing item.

Considering there was a couple of walls between me and the AirTag, this is a great result. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But the company sent me an AirTag 2 to try out, so I could test the range in my two-bedroom apartment. The results I got were pretty good. I placed the new AirTag in one bedroom, and then went to the farthest corner of the apartment. It took a second, but my iPhone 17 Pro Max was able to detect it from about 15 meters (49 feet) away, with two walls between us, and could pinpoint its location at 11 meters (36 feet) away.

On the original AirTag, the best I could get was about 30 feet; anything farther than that and the signal would be lost.

As for the sound, it is definitely louder than before, though it's hard to say by exactly how much. I placed my AirTag 2 in a backpack, and I could still easily hear it from another room.

What about the price?

The price for the new AirTag 2 is the same as for the original: $29 for one AirTag or $99 for a pack of four. They're available for sale now at Apple and Amazon. However, it is worth noting that the first-gen AirTag is often discounted. You can get the AirTag 1 for $25.99 on Amazon (or grab a 4-pack for $69.99), which is a better deal, especially if you own an older iPhone that doesn't support precision tracking.

Products featured in this story: Apple AirTag 2 $29 Shop Now Apple AirTag 2 (4-pack) $99 Shop Now Apple AirTag 1 (4-pack) $69.99 (save $29.01) Get Deal Apple AirTag FineWoven Key Ring $35 Shop Now

YouTube is blocking a popular workaround for background playback — e.g. playing only the audio of a video with your screen off — in a move that'll likely prove frustrating to a number of users.

Android users have relied on third-party browsers to work around limitations on background playback, but now users of Samsung Internet, Brave, Vivaldi, and Edge have reported being unable to play YouTube sound in the background, according to tech site 9to5Google.

SEE ALSO: Parents can now set limits on YouTube Shorts for teen accounts

Piunikaweb, a Pixel-focused tech site, wrote that the "sudden, simultaneous failure across multiple browsers strongly suggests a targeted change by YouTube." 9to5Google tested the new limitations on Samsung Internet and found that "video playback ends within a couple of seconds of the display going dark."

YouTube limits background play on mobile to Premium subscribers, so the company's targeting of a workaround makes sense, even if it is frustrating to users. So, for now at least, it seems the folks who used the third-party browser workaround are stuck like the rest of us folks who're operating on Chrome or Safari: Pay up or give up your background sounds.

SAVE $14.99: As of Jan. 29, get the JBL Charge 4 for $84.96 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $99.95. That's a discount of 15% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon JBL Charge 4 $84.96 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $14.99   Get Deal

If you're the type of person who likes to share your favorite songs wherever you go, you need a portable speaker. JBL makes a few great ones, and if you're looking for one to invest in without spending an arm and a leg, today's your lucky day.

As of Jan. 29, get the JBL Charge 4 for $84.96 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $99.95. That's $14.99 off and a discount of 15%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best Bluetooth speakers of 2025

The JBL Charge 4 is a small but mighty speaker. It can serve up crisp treble as well as deep, satisfying bass, and offers excellent, clear overall audio. That makes it the perfect option for taking everywhere you go.

It has a sizable rechargeable battery that gives you up to 20 hours of playtime, and boasts IPX7 waterproofing, so whether you're listening out in the snow and ice or around the pool when the weather gets warm, you don't have to worry about it getting wet.

It's simple to connect to your phone or other device, and you can connect multiple speakers at once, so if you want more sound, it's capable of delivering it that too. If you're looking for a great and reliable Bluetooth speaker, pick this one up while it's still at its lowest price yet.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 29, the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are on sale for just $119 at Amazon and Walmart. That's 34% off their list price and about $20 away from their best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation $119.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

It's not every day that you can score a pair of noise-cancelling AirPods for under $120. So if you're in the market for a new pair, we highly recommend adding the fourth-generation earbuds to your cart ASAP.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are on sale for just $119 at both Amazon and Walmart. That's a pretty impressive $60 discount or 34% off their list price. It's also only $20 away from their lowest price ever, which they hit during Cyber Week.

A great value even at full price, the AirPods 4 offer personalized spatial audio, voice isolation, Siri interactions, improved bass, mids, and highs over their predecessor, a comfy and snug fit, and a more compact charging case that's easier to locate. Mashable's reviewer noted that the fit is surprisingly snug and actually stays put, the noise-cancellation is "elite," and the sound is "like honey."

They'll last you about five hours per charge — up to 30 with the charging case — making them a solid daily driver. While we still think the AirPods Pro 3 are the best earbuds for Apple users, the AirPods 4 with ANC are the better choice if you're looking to save some money. And since they're 34% off, they're an even better value.

SAVE $599.68: As of Jan. 29, the Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale for $898.32 at Amazon. That's 40% off its list price and a new best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $898.32 at Amazon
$1,498 Save $599.68   Get Deal

It's officially one of the best times to upgrade your TV, y'all. Not only is it a huge season for sports, with the NFL postseason wrapping up and the 2026 Winter Olympics just a week away. But it's also one of the best times to score a major discount on a 2025 TV.

As of Jan. 29, the Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale for only $898.32 at Amazon. That's 40% or nearly $600 off its list price of $1,498 and a new best price on record. This discount actually beats its Cyber Week price by nearly $100.

The 2025 Hisense U8 TV is remarkably vibrant and colorful, making it a great choice for watching sports, gaming, or immersing yourself in movies and TV shows. CNET (Mashable's sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewer Ty Pendlebury called it the brightest TV he's ever reviewed, but noted that "it complements that brightness with excellent contrast and well-saturated colors." Specs-wise, it boasts 5000 nits peak brightness, up to 5,600 local dimming zones, a 165Hz native refresh rate, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

The Google TV smart platform provides a streamlined interface to navigate every major streaming service, offers Google Cast (by default) as well as Apple AirPlay, and features built-in Google Assistant for hands-free TV and smart home device control. You can ask it to search for content, recommend your next watch, set alarms, check your doorbell camera, and more.

The Hisense U8 is typically a little pricey at nearly $1,500, but with a 40% discount, it's a total steal. If you're due for an upgrade, now's the time.

SAVE $225: As of Jan. 29, get the Citizen Eco-Drive Star Wars Darth Vader Chronograph Watch for $225 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $450. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Citizen Eco-Drive Star Wars Darth Vader Chronograph Watch $225 at Amazon
$450 Save $225   Get Deal

If you're interested in buying a watch but aren't interested in the "smart" side of it, there are some very stylish timepieces out there. In fact, we've found one that not only looks great for everyday wear, but it'll attract Star Wars fans everywhere. And you can get it right now for the lowest price we've seen, which is a huge plus.

As of Jan. 29, get the Citizen Eco-Drive Star Wars Darth Vader Chronograph Watch for $225 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $450. That's $225 off and a discount of 50%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is now $250 off on Amazon. That's $50 better than its Black Friday deal.

This 44mm chronograph watch is all about Darth Vader, with the iconic character's helmet, a TIE fighter, and additional fun Star Wars details adorning the screen and sub-dials. Plus, its luminous crimson hour markers give you a familiar Sith glow like Vader's lightsaber.

But the coolest part is that this watch is powered by Citizen's Eco-Drive tech, so you'll never need a battery for it. It'll run and run, so you can wear it to your heart's delight without having to pay for one. Coupled with 100M water resistance and a fun black case that also features Darth Vader and you've got yourself an extremely stylish gift for any Star Wars fan.

If you're ready to pick one up, be sure to get it while it's on sale, because it likely won't stick around at this price.

SAVE $86.01: The Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $112.99, down from the list price of $199. That's a 43% discount and a new record-low price at Amazon.

Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station $112.99 at Amazon
$199 Save $86.01   See It at Amazon

There's a unique heart-sinking feel we get these days when our phones go dead. Try as we might to avoid hitting a dreaded zero-battery phone, it can happen when the power goes out or if we're off the grid for an extended period of time like summer camping trips. Instead of experiencing this pain, upgrading to a portable power station ensures you always have extra power on hand, and there's an ultra portable model on sale today.

As of Jan. 29, the Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is on sale for just $112.99 at Amazon in both black and meadow green, marked down from the usual price of $199. Today's sale means you can save $86.01 on the mini portable power station. That's a 43% discount and a new record-low price at Amazon.

The Bluetti Elite 10 is a tiny portable power station that offers 128Wh of battery. In normal terms, that means you'll be able to recharge a phone about six times or a laptop twice. While that's not a huge amount of power, it'll be perfect to keep on your nightstand during a power outage to have your phone recharging and the bedside lamp on.

SEE ALSO: Last chance to score the DJI Power 1000 V2 portable power station for under $430

Another major bonus of being mini is that the Bluetti Elite 10 weighs just four pounds. That means it's super easy to carry around the house should the power go out. It's also a practical option to bringing along to the campground to keep phones charged.

While it's small in size, it packs in two USB-C ports, two USB-A, and one AC port. Recharging options include standard wall charging or solar with a 100W max panel. It'll take about 70 minutes to recharge with wall charging or about 90 minutes with a 100W solar panel.

Ensure all your small gadgets stay charged up during the next power outage or on the next camping trip thanks to the Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station. It's on sale for the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon, so this is a great time to make the upgrade.

We're only days away from the Full Moon now, so when we look up there is plenty to see.

Keep reading to find out exactly what's on display.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, Jan. 29, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 85% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

You don't need visual aids to see anything on the Moon's surface tonight, in fact, with just your naked eye you should be able to spot the Mare Imbrium, Copernicus Crater, and the Mare Fecunditatis. With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Gassendi Crater, Apennine Mountains, and Posidonius Crater. With a telescope, enjoy glimpses of the Linne Crater, Descartes Highlands, and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the lunar cycle lasts around 29.5 days. This is how long the Moon takes to travel once around Earth. Over that period, it passes through eight recognised phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the portion that appears lit changes as the Moon moves along its orbit. The varying amount of sunlight reaching the Moon is what makes it appear full, partially illuminated, or almost invisible at different points in the cycle. The eight lunar phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Consider it impeccable timing: just days after Alex Honnold pulled off another completely unhinged free-solo climbing feat, a video game arrives for anyone who watched that and thought, "I want to do that too, but preferably without the risk of death." That game is Cairn, and instead of a skyscraper, it gives you a mountain.

Cairn is the latest release from French developer The Game Bakers, and it may be the first survival climbing game of its kind. Rather than treating climbing as a fun co-op game or a quick gimmick, Cairn commits fully to the act itself, presenting a simulation-style ascent of the fictional Mount Kami, a peak no climber has ever successfully summited. That distinction doesn’t deter the game’s protagonist Aava, an experienced and well-known climber who takes on the mountain while also running from unresolved problems in her life.

If you’ve played Peak, the recent co-op climbing game built around chaotic teamwork and shared problem-solving, Cairn feels like its solitary opposite. Where Peak turns climbing into a social exercise defined by coordination, communication, and the occasional disastrous misstep, Cairn strips all of that away, leaving you alone with the rock, your stamina, and the consequences of every decision. It’s a quieter, more deliberate take on climbing.

For now, the narrative framing is secondary. What matters is the climb, and Cairn delivers one of the most compelling gameplay experiences I’ve had this year. Yes, it’s still January, but the highs I hit while playing Cairn on PlayStation 5 will be difficult to top in the months ahead.

To the top Credit: The Game Bakers

As mentioned at the beginning, Cairn is a survival climbing game where players control Aava one limb at a time as she ascends various cliff faces and rock walls on her way to the summit of Mount Kami. The mountain carries a grim reputation, littered with the remains of dead climbers and haunted by a mysterious population of mountain folk who were forced to abandon their homes and pursue life on the ground, or as they call it, the "horizontal world."

Beyond the meticulous climbing mechanics, Cairn also asks players to manage Aava’s basic survival needs, including thirst, hunger, and warmth. This means cooking and eating meals cobbled together from materials found on the mountain, sometimes scavenged from the gear left behind by less fortunate climbers, and drinking water sourced from springs, caves, and other pockets scattered across a centuries-old peak. This is the survival side of Cairn’s survival climbing, and it weaves directly into the climb itself.

While climbing is the clear focus, Cairn does have a story, albeit a sparse one. Aava spends most of the game alone, accompanied only by a climbing robot she’s had since childhood and stubbornly refuses to name. Along the way, she encounters a handful of other characters, the most notable being Marco, a younger and often mouthy climber who clearly idolizes Aava, a well-known figure in the climbing world.

Climbing Mount Kami is no small feat, and the game allows players to approach it in two primary ways. The first is free solo climbing, while the second is a more assisted method that makes use of ropes, pitons, and bolts. For the most part, you’ll end up using a mix of both approaches, largely because you have a limited number of pitons available for you to jam into cracks to create a secure handhold as you climb each face.

Credit: The Game Bakers

Players can climb almost anything, but the game subtly guides you through the cracks, crevices, and narrow ledges etched into the rock. You can place Aava’s hands and feet almost anywhere along a wall, but those cracks and small outcroppings offer the most reliable grip. A stamina system governs how long she can hold a position, as shown by the visible shaking of her arms and legs when she’s placed in a poor grip or an awkward body position. At the press of a button, Aava can take a brief rest to recover stamina, but you’re limited to doing this only twice per climb. Let any of her limbs tremble for too long and she’ll lose her grip and fall.

Depending on how you routed the ascent, that fall might stop at a piton with Aava dangling from a rope, or send her all the way back down to where you started, which can easily mean death. If you don't want to belay, safely securing Avaa to a piton with rope, stamina can be regained by situating her in chill, optimal positions and then waiting for her to calm back down. This is where I want to credit the sound design of the game, as you can tell when Avaa is better rested by the lack of deep breathes she takes before taking a deep sigh to signify she's ready to go again.

I fell 18 times in this one spot. Credit: The Game Bakers

When planning a route, you can press L1 on PlayStation 5 or Tab on PC to bring up a climb overview, giving you a sense of the potential paths upward. Pitons can be placed directly into the rock through a quick-time event that feels similar to hitting a perfect reload in Gears of War. Time it perfectly and the piton locks in securely. Miss the mark and it can break outright. Land somewhere in between and it becomes twisted in the rock. I didn’t see the full consequences of a poorly placed piton too often, but given how frequently you’ll fall, it’s clear you want those anchors as solid as possible.

This system creates a straightforward risk-reward equation: how much of the route can you realistically free solo before burning a piton. Early on, playing it safe feels like the obvious choice, but the higher you climb, the more apparent it becomes that the pitons you brought with you are all you’re getting. After completing climbs, Aava’s robot companion can recover pitons for reuse, but only if you’ve managed your route well enough to survive the ascent in the first place. Broken pitons recovered by the climbing bot can be used to create a new one — it's two broken pitons for one new piton, so it isn't a lose one, get one back situation. You start the game with six; after my eight hours in the game, I had four to use.

There are also some rock faces that are too dense to insert a piton, and for that, you need to use Troglodyte pitons, which are indestructible and can be planted on any rock. After placing a piton you can belay off them, which you can do to recover stamina, rope down to certain points, or even access your backpack if you need a quick bite or drink.

Resting up Dinner time. Credit: The Game Bakers

Cairn also features a day-and-night cycle, along with harsh weather conditions that can dramatically affect a climb. Heavy winds can knock Aava off balance mid-ascent, while rain reduces grip and makes even familiar routes more dangerous. These effects can be mitigated through food and drink that temporarily fortify Aava, preventing her meters from depleting, or by using chalk to improve hand grip. Chalk is thankfully abundant, as it can be replenished by recycling trash generated from consumed items or found scattered across the mountain. You hand that trash to Aava’s climbing robot, and after a short amount of in-game time, the chalk is ready to use.

After a long climb, resting becomes essential. Players can pitch a tent at designated save points scattered throughout the mountain. These camps let you cook food, craft new pitons, organize your backpack, and, most importantly, heal Aava’s fingers. Finger condition plays a crucial role in maintaining grip, and as you progress, her fingers will develop cracks and cuts that need to be bandaged individually.

Healing is a surprisingly mundane process, requiring you to slowly wrap each finger one at a time by rotating the right stick on your PlayStation controller. It’s tedious, sometimes frustratingly so, but it aligns with the game’s broader themes of sacrifice and endurance. Healing items are scarce, forcing hard choices. You can fully bandage every finger, or focus only on the worst injuries and push forward. It’s a neat system, even if it occasionally feels unnecessary.

Credit: The Game Bakers

Cooking, by contrast, is simple and intuitive. Aava uses a small pot, which first needs to be filled with water and heated before ingredients can be added. Flowers can be brewed into teas that provide various fortifications, while fish and other ingredients can be cooked into full meals. Each option restores thirst or hunger respectively, with the exception of soups which do both. Any water not stored in your flask can be carried in bottles in your backpack, which can be found throughout the map. Both bottles and flasks can be refilled at springs, ponds, and fountains scattered across the mountain as you work your way toward the summit.

When everything is set, you can continue to climb or take a break, which will fast-forward time to whenever you feel comfortable going again. I try my absolute best not to climb at night unless necessary, as it's hard to see, even with Avaa's staff light, and sleeping helps Avaa recover. If none of this appeals to you, though, there's a casual mode that makes the survival elements an afterthought. This mode turns off Cairn's survival elements such as hunger, gives Aava infinite climbing gear, and lets you rewind and try again after falling.

The climbing in Cairn is genuinely fun, a feeling that’s only amplified by how striking the game looks. Cairn’s art style sits somewhere between a graphic novel and a minimalist animated film. Characters and environments are rendered with clean lines, flattened shapes, and painterly textures, giving the world a hand-drawn, almost storybook quality. The color palette leans muted and earthy, with soft gradients and atmospheric lighting that emphasize altitude, cold, and isolation rather than raw spectacle.

The UI follows that same philosophy. Menus and overlays are deliberately stylized to feel tactile and diegetic, with rough-edged frames and sketched iconography that blend naturally into the world. Overall, the game’s visual identity reinforces its themes of solitude and endurance. The art never distracts from the climb; instead, it lends every moment a quiet, contemplative weight that builds as the journey continues.

Credit: The Game Bakers

That said, Cairn isn’t without technical rough edges, and some of its performance issues can pull you out of the experience, especially during climbs. There are moments where you fall into a genuine rhythm, carefully placing each limb and steadily working your way upward. The game automatically selects which of Aava’s four limbs to move, though you can override it manually. That system occasionally breaks immersion, with limbs awkwardly morphing through one another and creating strange, almost rubbery animations. As you get closer to the summit, things can get even messier, with environmental objects briefly glitching or wobbling in ways that feel unintentional. The game never crashed during my playthrough, but there were times it felt perilously close.

Beyond the main ascent, Cairn offers several side objectives discovered through letters and maps Aava finds along the way. These usually send you off to climb different sections of the mountain in search of toys, trinkets, or rare items, including specialized pitons. According to the developers, a typical run should take around 15 hours, closer to 18 if you’re aiming to see everything, and upwards of 30 hours if you tackle the hardcore free solo mode. I powered through the game in just over eight hours, which left me wondering what corners I may have cut to finish so much faster than intended.

There’s a subtle Metroidvania-like structure to how progression works. Instead of traditional upgrades or leveling systems, you unlock better gear organically as you climb, including indestructible pitons, expanded chalk capacity, and tools like a pinwheel that warns you of incoming wind. It’s a smart approach that makes progression feel earned through exploration rather than menu management, and it fits neatly into Cairn’s broader philosophy of learning the mountain as you ascend it.

Is Cairn worth it? Credit: The Game Bakers

The game’s title is a fitting reflection of its themes. A cairn, in the real world, is a stack of stones placed to mark a trail, commemorate the dead, or signal that someone has passed through before. In Cairn, the mountain is littered with similar reminders of those who attempted the climb and never returned, from abandoned gear to the stories left behind in notes and letters. Like a real cairn, these traces don’t offer comfort so much as context. They are quiet acknowledgments of effort, failure, and persistence, reinforcing the idea that every ascent is built on the attempts of those who came before, even if the summit remains unconquered.

Despite some rough edges, Cairn is absolutely worth playing if you’re drawn to games that value systems, atmosphere, and mechanical tension over constant spectacle. Its climbing mechanics are unlike anything else out right now, demanding patience, planning, and a willingness to accept failure as part of the experience. When everything clicks, Cairn delivers some of the most meditative and rewarding moments I’ve had in a game in years.

That said, this is not a game for everyone. The deliberate pacing, occasional technical hiccups, and hands-on survival mechanics will likely frustrate players looking for fast feedback loops or constant narrative momentum. The finger-bandaging, limited resources, and frequent falls can feel punishing, especially early on.

But for players willing to meet it on its own terms, Cairn offers a game that trusts you to learn through repetition and consequence, and one that finds beauty in exhaustion, solitude, and persistence. It’s imperfect, sometimes awkward, and occasionally janky, but it’s also thoughtful, ambitious, and deeply memorable.

Cairn is available today on PlayStation 5 and PC.

Alexander Skarsgård is hosting SNL this week, and according to the skit above the cast and crew love having the Pillion star around for one specific reason.

"He tall," says Kam Patterson, after Skarsgård helps him retrieve a football from the top of a camera. While the rest of the cast are enjoying shoulder rides, the also-tall Ben Marshall comes in to the room to offer his assistance — but is met with a very different response.

"Get lost, beanstalk!" screams Jeremy Culhane from atop Skarsgård's shoulders.

Maybe it helps to be tall and Alexander Skarsgård.

TL;DR: The Razer Orochi V2 wireless gaming mouse is down to just $32.99 at Amazon. That's 53% off its usual $69.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Orochi V2 Mobile Wireless Gaming Mouse $32.99 at Razer
$69.99 Save $37.00 Get Deal

Razer’s long been a reliable go-to for gamers, and you can now grab a solid Razer gaming mouse for less than half price. 

As of Jan. 29, Amazon has dropped the price of the Razer Orochi V2 down to just $32.99. That's a steep 53% off its usual $69.99 list price. That’s not just a good deal; it’s one of the lowest prices we’ve seen on this sleek and gaming-ready peripheral (according to price tracker camelcamelcamel).

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Available in classic black, quartz pink, or white, the Orochi V2 offers an experience built for gamers who want flexibility without compromise. Weighing in at under 60 grams (excluding the battery), it’s ultra-lightweight and compact enough to toss into a backpack, making it a solid pick for laptop gamers or anyone who plays on the go. 

Despite the small size, its specs show that it packs serious performance thanks to Razer’s 5G Advanced 18K DPI optical sensor, which delivers fast, pixel-precise tracking for competitive play — making it perfect for shooters and MOBA games like Valorant, World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike 2, and League of Legends. 

That goes well with one of the Orochi V2’s other standout features: the battery life. This mouse lasts up to 950 hours with Bluetooth or up to 425 hours using Razer HyperSpeed Wireless. That means months of use on a single AA or AAA battery — no charging cable required. It also includes 2nd-gen Razer mechanical mouse switches, rated for up to 60 million clicks, so it’s designed to hold up over the long haul.

To complete your gaming setup with more Razer upgrades, the BlackShark V2 Pro wireless gaming headset is also down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon. If you’re willing to spend more on a high-quality pair of all-around headphones, the Sony XM6s are down to their lowest-ever price at Amazon.

Donald Trump is launching something called Trump Accounts, which will essentially gift $1,000 to babies born between 2025 and 2028, investing the money in tax free accounts that are only accessible when the children turn 18 — and The Daily Show has thoughts.

"I didn't expect this from Donald Trump," says host Desi Lydic in the clip above. "Mostly the part about where he says you can't touch something until it turns 18."

Lydic goes on to recap the launch event, which featured Nicki Minaj as a celebrity guest, admitting the accounts "aren't the worst idea that either Trump or Nicki has endorsed" before introducing a gameshow-style parody ad that makes "the bigger picture much more clear."

TL;DR: The Magic The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is down to $129.98 at Amazon. That's over $34 off its usual $164.70 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $128.98 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $35.72 Get Deal

Locking down a strong price on a brand new Magic: The Gathering release doesn't usually come easy, but that’s exactly what’s happening with Lorwyn Eclipsed. As of Jan. 29, Amazon has already dropped the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box to $129.98, slashing more than $34 off its $164.70 list price and undercutting the original preorder deal by a wide margin.

Lorwyn Eclipsed revisits the iconic world of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor in a dual-aspect form, blending radiant high-fantasy aesthetics with darker, more chaotic magic. It’s both a nostalgic return for longtime players and a visually striking entry point for newer fans.

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Each Play Booster Box includes 30 Play Boosters, the ideal trading card packs for both Limited formats and casual openings. Every booster contains a guaranteed foil, with a chance at multiple rares per pack and a slim shot at premium borderless foil mythics for collectors chasing standout pulls.

This kind of structure makes these boxes great for Draft nights, Sealed play, or simply cracking packs with friends.

For Magic: The Gathering players curious about the Avatar The Last Airbender expansion, you can buy the Beginner Box for $24.99. If you’re catching up on some of the other expansions that have come out lately, the Final Fantasy crossover booster packs are on sale for $8.99 each.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 29, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 29, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 29 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 29 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 29 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this green space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

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