IT General

House of the Dragon's Season 3 finale knocked several key characters off the board, including Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton). (Rest in peace, you odor-hating icon.) However, one Team Green member's fate is still up in the air: What's happened to Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth)?

Ormund's reluctant king-to-be was last seen fleeing through the burning streets of Tumbleton with his uncle, Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox). However, in the battle's aftermath, Gwayne finds himself alone in the rubble, calling out for Daeron. Could the prince still be alive, or did he join Ormund in death?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' gives Alys Rivers a tragic backstory that isn't in the book

House of the Dragon has always played by the rule that if you haven't seen a corpse, the character isn't dead yet. Take this season's multiple Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) fake-outs, or the return of Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall). Just like with them, we haven't seen Daeron's dead body, so we can assume he's likely survived the Battle of Tumbleton. Notably, House of the Dragon also hasn't revealed the fate of his dragon, Tessarion. Could he have escaped on dragonback and chosen to regroup?

What happens to Daeron in Fire and Blood?

While House of the Dragon does differ substantially from its source material, George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, we can still look to the book for a blueprint of what's next for Daeron.

In the book, Daeron actually fights during the Battle of Tumbleton, flying on Tessarion to take out Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) armies. He winds up surviving the battle and remaining in Tumbleton, where he butts heads with Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew). While we may not see that book dynamic in its entirety, especially since Hugh didn't turn against Rhaenyra's armies like Ulf did, we could still see Daeron taking on more of a leadership role as the Dance of the Dragons moves into its next phase.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max.

Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) starts and ends House of the Dragon Season 3 the way he means to go on: taking a crap whenever he bloody well likes.

The turncoat dragonseed began his journey this season joining the illustrious Westeros tradition of pooping on camera, and in the final episode, he's once again found on the bog in the middle of the action.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 finale, explained

During the Battle of Tumbleton, Ulf and his dragon Silverwing are nowhere to be found, despite both sides looking for them. We learned in the penultimate episode of Season 3 that Ulf had done a deal with the Hightower devil, after Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) had banned Ulf's beloved pub trips and delayed his foray into castle real estate.

Searching high and low for Ulf around Tumbleton, soldiers finally locate the man, whom we last saw drinking himself into a stupor on the eve of battle and trash-talking Team Black. Passed out on the toilet, Ulf is dragged pants-down out onto the street by his new boss, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), and given a what-for that deeply pisses him off.

It's all-too-familiar treatment that makes Ulf furious, deciding he's no one's errand boy — not Ormund's nor Daemon's (Matt Smith). He's a dragonrider, one of the rarest roles in Westeros, and he and Silverwing dracarys their way through both armies.

"You know what? That did go through my head. Part of me went, OK, who's had a poo in 'House of the Dragon' or 'Game of Thrones'?" - Tom Bennett (Ulf the White)

Earlier in the season, when asked what it was like to join the Westeros Hall of Fame for Characters Who Hath Shat on Camera, Bennett told Mashable he relished the opportunity.

"You know what? That did go through my head. Part of me went, OK, who's had a poo in House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones?" Bennett said.

"He's actually also in a league of his own, because he's at least — to my knowledge — he's the only person that has a dragon and has pooed," added Clinton Liberty, who plays fellow dragonseed Addam of Hull / Addam Velaryon. "So, you're [in] very rarefied air."

Tom Bennett as Ulf the White in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

To Mashable, Bennett also foreshadowed his finale moment, in a diabolical hint.

"Yeah, I get to poo on camera, and uh... Maybe you'll see me poo on camera again," he said. "Spoiler alert!"

House of the Dragon Season 3 is streaming now on HBO Max.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments

Season 3 of House of the Dragon has been bookended with quite a lot of death, hasn't it?

First, we had the Battle of the Gullet, which saw the demise of Jace (Harry Collett) and Admiral Lohar (Abigail Thorn), and now we've got the Battle of Tumbleton.

So, who dies in (and out) of battle in the Season 3 finale? There are a lot of bodies — none of them Daeron Targaryen's (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) — but these are the key players.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon's Steve Toussaint breaks down Corlys' quest for peace at Tumbleton The High Septon

Religious leaders in King's Landing have had historically tricky relationships with the crown (See: Cersei in Game of Thrones), and the High Septon (Simon Chandler) is no exception. He doesn't want to anoint Rhaenyra because he clearly doesn't believe she's the rightful ruler, and he pays the price for his stubbornness with a sword to the belly, courtesy of Alyn (Abubakar Salim).

Kat

Kat (Ellora Torchia), wife of dragonseed Hugh the Hammer (Kieran Bew), has had a miserable time since her husband made the misguided decision to go and get himself a dragon. Her end is as tragic as her final year of life, with Hugh finding her dead in the midst of battle as he searches the sacked town of Tumbleton.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon's Fabien Frankel reveals a detail from Criston Cole's death that was years in the making Roddy the Ruin

When Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) asks Lord Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan) if he's still ready to die for his queen, Roddy the Ruin says he "can't fuckin' wait" — and he certainly lives up to his word.

After storming the walls of Tumbleton and killing multiple Hightower men, Roddy goes looking for the grand prize: Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) himself. He gets his prize in the end, but he loses his arm — and then his life — in the process.

Lord Ormund Hightower

Ormund puts up a good fight, but it's a spurt of Roddy's blood that foils him in the end. The Hightower Lord, who is famously squeamish, starts heaving midway through their clash, and Roddy gets the best of him with a knife in the kidney. The cherry on the cake? A burst of fire from Ulf the White's (Tom Bennett) dragon Silverwing, which cooks them both where they stand.

Helaena Targaryen

The most tragic death of the show so far? Quite possibly. Princess Helaena (Phia Saban) has had a pretty terrible run throughout House of the Dragon, and her end is no better. After weaving her mysterious tapestry, she jumps from a window of the Red Keep and is impaled on the spikes below.

RIP, Helaena. You were too good for this world.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is streaming now on HBO Max.

There are many tragic story arcs in House of the Dragon, but perhaps none more so than that of Helaena (Phia Saban).

The princess has been in a downward spiral in Season 3, held prisoner in King's Landing by Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) with less and less access to the outdoors and basically no family left.

Not idly spending her time imprisoned in King's Landing, she was, in fact, weaving a lengthy, detailed tapestry, revealed in the season finale. But given we already know Helaena has the ability to see glimpses of the future, what clues might be hiding in it?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 foreshadowed its saddest finale moment What happens to Helaena in the Season 3 finale?

Things go from bad to worse. Passing recently-sacked Mistress of Whispers Lady Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) in the courtyard, Helaena learns that her brother-husband Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is still alive.

"Your unborn child is a hostage," hisses Mysaria. "She will never release you."

Earlier in the season, we (and Rhaenyra) learned that Helaena is pregnant with Aegon's child, a boy and another direct threat to Rhaenyra's claim to the throne. Following a tense exchange with Rhaenyra in the season finale about the "ugliness" of the queen's rule and her refusal to eat, Helaena is restrained by the guards and force fed. At the end of the episode, with her tapestry finally finished, Helaena walks towards her room's open window. In the final shots of the season we see Rhaenyra discovering the tapestry trailing out of the window and see Helaena dead at the base of the tower, impaled on spikes.

The queen picks up the tapestry and studies the images. So, what do they mean?

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon's Fabien Frankel reveals a detail from Criston Cole's death that was years in the making What does Helaena's tapestry mean?

Rhaenyra sees two images, side-by-side, on Helaena's tapestry. The first depicts a crying woman in a royal court gown with blonde hair, falling from a tower that resembles the Red Keep of King's Landing. It doesn't need too much explanation: the woman appears to be Helaena herself, who was tragically weaving a depiction of her own death.

The other image shows a crowned Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne holding a sword. There are flames, dragons, and reaching hands in the background, with lines of red thread running down Rhaneyra's body, pouring from her fingers down the thrown to pool at its base like blood.

Looks pretty ominous, doesn't it? Clearly Helaena was no fan of Rhaenyra — she made that pretty explicit in their final conversation. So one reading of this image could be that it's symbolic of the bloodshed Helaena views Rhaenyra as having brought with her ascension to the throne. Or, like the depiction of her falling from the tower, it could be more literal.

Could it be an image of Rhaenyra's death? Is she destined to die sword in hand, in fire and blood, for the prophesied title she's longed for since it was stolen from her?

We'll have to wait for Season 4 to find out.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is streaming now on HBO Max.

For two seasons now, Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) has been House of the Dragon's most mysterious ensemble character. As the de facto keeper of Harrenhal, she's guided troubled Targaryen men through vision quests, guarded dragon eggs, and even proclaimed herself to be a witch.

Through it all, her own history has remained largely nebulous. Yes, she wants Harrenhal, as well as dragons to protect it. But why? Why is she so attached to this wretched stronghold?

House of the Dragon's Season 3 finale lays it all bare, revealing a tragic backstory for Alys that is nowhere to be found in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 family tree: How Targaryens, Hightowers, and Velaryons connect What is Alys Rivers' backstory?

In a vulnerable scene with Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), Alys tells him a story that dates all the way back to the time of Aegon the Conqueror. During his conquest of Westeros, Aegon faced opposition from the tyrannical Harren Hoare, King of the Isles and the Rivers. Also known as Harren the Black, he holed himself up in his castle of Harrenhal, believing he could withstand any attacks from Aegon. However, he didn't account for dragonfire, which he realized too late when Aegon's dragon Balerion the Black Dread laid waste to Harrenhal, barbecuing Harren and his sons inside.

The burning of Harrenhal is thought to mark the end of Harren's line, but as Alys tells Aemond, one boy survived. He was badly burned, and his mother did everything she could to save him. First, she called on maesters from across the realm. When that didn't work, she turned to "older cures." Magic, incantations, treating him with things that lived in the forest. (Perhaps even the Green Men?)

These cures proved to be no help, and when Harren's last son died, his mother realized she couldn't join him in death. Instead, her dabbling in magic had left her cursed to live on for centuries within the bounds of the territory of the old River Kings. That mother is none other than Alys, now centuries old, unable to leave Harrenhal, and doomed to serve those who now rule its decrepit halls.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon's Fabien Frankel reveals a detail from Criston Cole's death that was years in the making

While Alys never explicitly says she was Harren the Black's wife, she does say she was stripped of a title, name, and castle, which suggests she was a member of the nobility. That explains why she asks Daemon (Matt Smith) for Harrenhal itself. After all these years, she could return to the status she once knew.

Alys's tragic story also explains her fascination with the Targaryens and Dreamfyre's eggs. Her entire life was shattered by the actions of Aegon I Targaryen. His conquest took her sons from her and sent her to seek out magic that eventually cursed her. Perhaps, in getting an opportunity to join forces with a Targaryen and maybe rear some dragons of her own, she could find a way to break free from the spell that has bound her for centuries.

Alys Rivers's backstory is a show-only invention.

You won't find any of Alys's tale in Fire and Blood. Martin's fictional Targaryen history simply refers to her as a "wet nurse," one with witchy abilities who's believed to be a bastard of Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes). Beyond that, we don't get any further hints at her backstory, nor do we truly listen in on any of her heart-to-hearts with Aemond.

Fire and Blood also doesn't give Harren the Black a named wife or a son who survives the initial dragon blast. However, it does introduce a rebel who calls himself Harren the Red and claims to be Harren the Black's grandson, suggesting his line might not have entirely ended in the fire. Martin does leave Harren the Red's legitimacy ambiguous, though.

By tying Alys into the dark history of Harrenhal, House of the Dragon is playing within the empty spaces of Fire and Blood. While Martin doesn't write about Harren the Black's wife, that doesn't mean he wouldn't have had one. It just means that hers may not have been a story the historians of Westeros had truly studied, or at least deemed fit to include in this Targaryen history. Like the reveal that Dreamfyre laid five eggs at Harrenhal, it's a plausible story that fits somewhat within the bounds of lore Martin has established, even if it's not outright canon in the book.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max.

The dust is still settling after the Battle of Tumbleton in House of the Dragon's Season 3 finale, and if you're anything like me, you're wondering, When are we going to see what happens next?

The good news is that House of the Dragon Season 4 is already on the way. HBO announced the Season 4 renewal in Nov. 2025, along with a Season 2 renewal for the yet-unreleased A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 family tree: How Targaryens, Hightowers, and Velaryons connect

As part of that announcement, HBO confirmed it had plans to release these seasons through 2028. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2 will come first, in 2027, while House of the Dragon Season 4 is slated for 2028.

The exact release date for House of the Dragon Season 4 has yet to be announced, as Season 4 hasn't even started filming. However, given that every season of House of the Dragon has premiered in the summer (Season 1 in August, Seasons 2 and 3 in June), it's highly likely Season 4 will follow this trend and continue being HBO's summer tentpole release. So get ready for yet another two-year wait between seasons, an unfortunate norm in today's streaming age. (Remember when the wait between Game of Thrones seasons was just a year?)

Is House of the Dragon Season 4 the show's final season?

However, this two-year wait for more House of the Dragon may be the last one fans will have to endure, as it's highly likely that Season 4 will be the show's last.

At a 2024 press conference following the Season 2 finale, showrunner Ryan Condal confirmed that House of the Dragon would last four seasons. He has reiterated that sentiment throughout the press run for Season 3, telling Entertainment Weekly, "I can't speak for everybody else involved with the show and HBO and all that, but, yes, [four seasons] is very much my plan."

That means we'll only have one more hiatus until we find out how things will end for Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and the rest of her dysfunctional family. Given the ending of Season 3, we're surely in for House of the Dragon's darkest, bloodiest outing yet.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon's Fabien Frankel reveals a detail from Criston Cole's death that was years in the making

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched football.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Tennis

• Green: Got a piece of that

• Blue: Here we gooooo

• Purple: Types of guards in sports

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Tennis Stat

• Green: Make Good Contact (In Baseball)

• Blue: Associated with Dak Prescott

• Purple: ___Guard

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 #686 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Tennis Stat: ACE, DOUBLE FAULT, UNFORCED ERROR, WINNER

• Make Good Contact (In Baseball): BARREL, CRUSH, LACE, SMOKE

• Associated with Dak Prescott: 4, COWBOYS, MISSISSIPPI STATE, QUARTERBACK

• ___Guard: COMBO, MOUTH, NOE, OFFENSIVE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 today's Connections.

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

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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 August 10, 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 August 10, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 10 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 10 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6 placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 10 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you play Call of Duty.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for August 7, 2026 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 Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Take a shot at someone from a concealed position.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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...

SNIPE

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.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 today's Wordle.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you like to support statements with facts.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 7, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Back it up

The words are related to having proof.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe aspects of ideas that require some form of proof.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Proof Positive.

NYT Strands word list for August 10

• Statistics

• Specifics

• Figures

• Data

• Facts

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 today's Strands.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good sense of smell.

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.

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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.

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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 Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 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: Lack of plan

• Green: Get a ticket

• Blue: Get a bill

• Purple: Facial hair

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Haphazardly

• Green: Ways to Receive Event Tickets

• Blue: Sections on an Invoice

• Purple: Famous Goatees

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 #1156 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Haphazardly: ANY OLD HOW, AT RANDOM, HELTER-SKELTER, WILLY-NILLY

• Ways to Receive Event Tickets: MAIL DELIVERY, MOBILE TICKET, PRINT-AT-HOME, WILL CALL

• Sections on an Invoice: BALANCE DUE, BILL TO, ORDER NUMBER, UNIT PRICE

• Famous Goatees: BILLY GOAT, COLONEL SANDERS, DOCTOR STRANGE, THE DEVIL

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 7, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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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 today's Connections.

We all love catching up on award-winning shows and movies from time to time. Netflix’s large catalog has several Emmy-winning shows that don’t require you to invest significant time. These shows and limited series tell complete stories in one go that can be comfortably finished in a long day on the couch. You could even save it for Sunday and finish before Monday rolls around.

Dabbling with different Linux distributions is a fun hobby and something I've been doing for a while. Unfortunately, Linux enthusiasts like me have sort of a bad reputation when it comes to being welcoming to the hobby. Whenever someone asks me about trying Linux, I always have one distro in mind I can definitely recommend to beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Cleaning up a messy Excel spreadsheet can easily take longer than building it in the first place. I wondered whether Copilot could take care of the tedious work for me, so I gave it a deliberately chaotic workbook and a simple prompt. But instead of simply fixing problems, much of its effort went into deciding which ones it shouldn't touch.

With the price of new cars constantly rising, it is becoming harder and harder to find spacious family crossovers without overspending. If you're willing to get something with a few miles on the clock, your options open up quite a lot. On top of this, with depreciation on EVs being very steep in the first couple of years, your budget can go even further if you're willing to make the swap over to an electric crossover.

Everything is becoming more expensive, including things that are supposed to be cheap.

The latest example is DeepSeek's AI services, as reported by Bloomberg. The Chinese AI firm sent a notice to users on Thursday warning of a "significant" price increase, though it did not specify just how significant it would be. DeepSeek has been known for its extremely cheap services relative to the competition, especially with regards to its western counterparts, so this is probably not the most welcome news among DeepSeek users.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek reportedly won't be banned in U.S. (for now)

To be more specific, DeepSeek currently charges less than a dollar per million input and output tokens, which is how AI services are sold to customers. By comparison, Anthropic's Fable 5 model charges $10 per million input and $50 per million output tokens. It was probably unsustainable for DeepSeek to continue charging so little compared to the competition, especially as the company plans to build a huge data center in Inner Mongolia.

But still, you can't count on anything staying cheap anymore. Not even AI, the thing that's making everything else expensive in the first place.

Thanks to the ability to easily add debit and credit cards for tap-to-pay, Google Wallet has become an irreplaceable part of daily life for many Android users. However, what many people don't realize is that while Google Wallet is great for payments, that's merely scratching the surface of all the things it can actually do.

Updated at 2:20 p.m. CT: Letterboxd is back up, per the company on X. "We're now back online. Thank you for your patience," they wrote.

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Letterboxd is down for many users on Sunday, with the film-tracking app confirming service issues and asking users to be patient while its team works to restore access.

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According to the outage tracker Downdetector, the majority of reported problems — 54 percent — involve logging in, while another 39% of users report trouble within the app itself; website issues account for just 4 percent of reports.

Letterboxd acknowledged the outage in a series of posts, telling followers its team was "aware of an outage affecting service" and pledging to restore access "as soon as possible." In a follow-up post, the company said it was continuing to work on a resolution, thanking users for their patience. The most recent update came at 12:02 p.m. CT.

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No word yet on a cause or expected resolution time.

The command-line terminal is still one of the most popular features of Linux, even though graphical interfaces have been common in desktop computers for decades. There are a few reasons for the terminal to stick around, but if you’re new to the platform, you don’t need to worry about it.

While I have some pretty powerful servers in my homelab, my most important and useful server does just one thing: manages my network. Without it, my whole network goes down, my external services no longer work, and I can't VPN home. So, if my network manager goes down, nothing else matters—that's why it has to be the most robust server, and, therefore, the most simple.