Technology

Tesla would really, really like you to buy its cars, and is seemingly ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

As noted by Electrek and Gizmodo, the company is now offering a number of new offers, discounts, and incentives for buyers in the U.S.

The full list is available here, but it includes lease incentives, free upgrades, free Supercharging, and more.

The offers are clearly part of Tesla's push to move as many cars before the federal tax credit for EVs expires at the end of September, and – potentially – a way to boost the quarter and offset some of the the rapidly declining sales in Europe.

What's interesting about these offers is that they can be combined with one another for a pretty sweet deal. Highlights (besides the $7,500 EV credit) include free Full Self-Driving transfer from one's current Tesla vehicle to a new one (including the CyberTruck), and a $1,000 discount for "American Heroes" (including the military, first responders, teachers and students), both of which are valid for any new Tesla purchase.

As for individual models, buyers can get different perks depending on which car they choose, including free upgrades, low APR financing, discounted lease terms, and, for the Model 3 alone, 18 months of free Supercharging.

SEE ALSO: Waymo responds to Tesla's Robotaxi penis geofence with a size increase of its own

It's all great if you can stand Musk and his politics, which a sizeable number of potential buyers clearly cannot. With the ongoing Musk-Trump feud, and the federal tax credit incentives going away soon, Tesla might have to dig deep to find the offers that will lure in enough buyers.

NINTENDO SWITCH 2 RESTOCK: As of July 21, the hard-to-find Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle is back in stock at Target.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Console + 'Mario Kart World' Bundle (Digital Download in Console) $499.99 at Target
Shop Now

If you’ve been dying to get your hands on the Nintendo Switch 2, now’s your chance. Right now, you can get your hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle on Target.

To see if it’s available at a Target near you, you can enter your zip code on the product page. Note: The consoles aren’t available available for in-store pickup or local delivery at this time.

SEE ALSO: Review: 'Mario Kart World' is chaotic, hilarious fun

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been notoriously hard to get a hold of since it launched earlier this year. Pre-orders were a colossal disaster, and since the console's actual release in June, restocks have been few and far between. Even Amazon is capitalizing on the scarcity by selling the console on an “invite-only” basis.

Setting up a home theater system doesn’t have to be as complicated as it used to be. You no longer need expensive specialized gear just to test and calibrate your sound. You can turn your phone into a top-tier sound analyzer with an app.

Video games are all about making progress of some kind, and most of them can't be completed in a single session, so it makes sense that you can "save" your progress and keep playing later without starting from scratch.

Not all entry-level luxury SUVs deliver the upscale experience buyers expect, but this one does. With refined design, smooth performance, and thoughtful features, it punches well above its weight in the luxury segment.

Hulu never ceases to impress with its constantly-rotating roster of new and older movies to watch. The service likes to keep things fresh for its subscribers with a healthy mix of highly-rated blockbusters, Hulu originals, and even more niche, indie fare that makes browsing the catalog a joy.

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 July 21 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 July 21, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Nervousness.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter Z appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TIZZY.

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 July 21

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

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

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

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's The Mini crossword answers for July 21 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: A gift

• Green: States of water

• Blue: Seen in a popular sitcom

• Purple: Punctuation

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

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

• Yellow: Additional perk

• Green: Phase transitions for liquids

• Blue: Concepts from "Seinfeld"

• Purple: What ' can indicate

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 #771 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Additional perk: BONUS, EXTRA, GRAVY, ICING

• Phase transitions for liquids: CONDENSATION, FREEZING, MELTING, VAPORIZATION

• Concepts from "Seinfeld": FESTIVUS, REGIFTING, SHRINKAGE, YADA YADA

• What ' can indicate: CONTRACTION, FOOT, POSSESSIVE, QUOTE

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 July 21

Are you also playing NYT 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.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I fold!

The words are paper-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to fold paper.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Origami.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 21

• Fish

• Crane

• Boat

• Frog

• Kite

• Origami

• Butterfly

• Heart

• Flower

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.

It's safe to say I'm a big fan of gaming. I spent a lot of my childhood and quarters in arcades and even more time playing different gaming consoles. Over the years, I've owned more gaming systems than I'd like to admit, and I have favorite games on each platform.

SAVE $500: As of July 21, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $799.99. This is $500 off its list price of $1,299.99 and marks its best-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock S8 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500 Get Deal

A robot vacuum is a worthy investment if you're looking for a little extra help around the house. Thankfully, even after summertime sales, there are quite a few still available at a heavy discount. One that's caught our eye recently is the Roborock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop, which is down to its best-ever price right now according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Normally, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop is listed for $1,299.99, but it's currently marked down 38% to $799.99 at Amazon. This allows you to save $500. It's listed as a limited-time deal, so act fast to score it at this low price.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums in 2025

The Roborock S8 Max Ultra is both a vacuum and a mop, so your home can get a more efficient clean. When it comes to the former, it offers 8000Pa suction that can grab any hair, dirt, or debris that's dropped on your floor throughout the day. And with the mop, your floors will get a deep clean with the help of dual vibration modules that offer high-speed scrubbing of 4,000 times per minute.

This robot vacuum and mop combo also features PreciSense LiDAR technology, so it can map out and navigate any obstacles in your home with ease. If you're looking for a little cleaning assistance this summer, this deal on the Roborock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop is worth a look/

It's not the only robot vacuum deal that's crossed our radar, either. Right now at Amazon, you can also score a great deal on the Shark NeverTouch Pro Vacuum-Mop Combo, which is down to its lowest-ever price.

SAVE $80: As of July 21, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is on sale for $169 at Amazon. This is 32% off its list price $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal

The big summer sale events may be over, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some great deals to find. In particular, there are some amazing Apple deals floating around. One of our favorites we've comes across recently is on the Apple Watch SE 2, which is marked down to under $200 right now.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is currently on sale for $169. This is a 32% discount from its list price of $249, allowing you to save $80. If you've been on the hunt for a smartwatch, this is a deal well worth jumping on that won't make a huge dent in your wallet.

SEE ALSO: My Beats Fit Pro made it through two marathons. Here’s why I still love them.

If you're already an Apple user, the Apple Watch SE 2 fits in perfectly to the Apple ecosystem — allowing you to take calls or answer texts from your wrist — and boasts plenty of features that cover the health and fitness basics you'd want from a smartwatch. Some of these include an activity tracker, heart rate tracker, and a sleep tracker, but this smartwatch also has safety features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS. On top of that, it is even water resistant up to 50 meters.

If you've been looking to invest in a smartwatch, there's no better time than now to do it with this discount on the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) at Amazon.

As mentioned before, there's quite a few more Apple deals that have caught our eye recently. Another big one worth checking out is on the 2025 MacBook Air, which is still at its Prime Day price.

SAVE $150: As of July 21, the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme (512GB) is on sale for $499.99 at Best Buy. This is $150 off its list price of $649.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme (512GB) $499.99 at Best Buy
$649.99 Save $150 Get Deal

If you've been hoping to pick up a gaming handheld to keep you busy on trips this summer, look no further than Best Buy. The retailer is offering a very nice discount at the moment on the 512GB ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, so you can game on the go for a lower price.

Usually the 512GB ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme retails for $649.99, but it's currently marked down to $499.99. This allows you to save $150, which is a stellar deal to jump on while it's still available. It's one of our favorite gaming handhelds — earning the title of "Best Steam Deck alternative" — so you can feel content knowing you're making a worthwhile investment.

SEE ALSO: Alienware's latest Aurora laptops with Nvidia's 50-series GPUs are $400 off at Dell

Alongside 512GB of storage to hold all of your favorite PC games, the ASUS ROG Ally features a 1080p full HD touchscreen display with 120Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync technology so your games look detailed and run smoothly while you play. It's got plenty of power to push through some of your favorite titles thanks to the AMD Ryzen Z1 extreme processor, too.

Don't miss out on $150 off the 512GB ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme at Best Buy.

If you're curious to see more of our favorite gaming handhelds, check out our breakdown of the best handheld gaming consoles to find an option that best suits you and the games you love to play.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

SAVE $19: The Razer Quick Charging Stand for PS5 is now $20.99 at Amazon — 48% off its $39.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Quick Charging Stand for PlayStation 5 $20.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $19.00 Get Deal

Any PS5 owner who has had their console for more than a week will happily tell you that a charging stand for your wireless DualSense controller is absolutely essential. 

After all, these controllers with a battery life of 6-12 hours quickly run out during marathon gaming sessions of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and the included USB-C cable to standard controller charging makes for a messy-looking set-up when powering yours back up. That’s why it’s a good time to get in on this deal for the Razer Quick Charging Stand for PS5 Controllers — now only $20.99 instead of $39.99, marked down by 48% in a limited Prime member-only deal at Amazon.

According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, the price hasn't dropped this low since March — showing that nearly half-price deals like this don't pop up very often.

SEE ALSO: The best handheld gaming consoles, from the Nintendo Switch to the Steam Deck

A good number of the standard colour models have already sold out, but the black and red SKUs are still available under the offer.

With its Quick Charge feature, even when connected via USB, Razer’s PlayStation 5 Charging Stand is able to recharge your DualSense from 0% battery to full in under three hours — along with added overcharge protection to prevent short circuits and overheating. 

In the meantime, if your battery is depleted in your session’s final minutes, the stand’s “curved cradle design” makes it so you can easily navigate your PS5 or PS5 Pro’s menus to put the console in rest mode — along with its strong and stable build preventing it from falling over.

This sort of charging stand is perfect if you have more than one PS5 DualSense as well. As you’re playing with one controller, you can keep the other on charge, swap it out when your current DualSense is empty, then use the second controller while the first recharges — and repeat. 

So, when loading up your PS5, you’ll be ready to play as many Fortnite matches, Destiny 2 raids, or open-world exploring in the upcoming Ghost of Yotei as you can handle in one sitting.

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

Getting celebrities to phone up their famous friends live on the radio is always going to be entertaining content, and when the famous people in question are The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn, it's even better.

In the clip above the pair play a game of "Sit Down, Stand Up", which basically involves them guessing whether the person they're about to call will be sitting down or standing up, and then asking that very question the second the person answers.

Featuring guest appearances from Ayo Edebiri, Barry Keoghan, and Pedro Pascal's voicemail.

SAVE $20: As of July 21, Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are on sale for $48.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Space A40 $48.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $31.00 Get Deal

Quality earbuds for less than $50 is a deal we can get behind, and that's exactly what you're getting with this latest deal on the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds. Good quality sound doesn't have to break the bank, and as of July 21, these earbuds are down to $48.99, their lowest-ever price on Amazon.

So, what's so great about these earbuds? Other than price, these are a fantastic option for just about anyone. If you like noise cancellation, these are your new go-to. The Space A40 earbuds are designed for tuning out the world, no matter how intense the background noise is. And the best part is they adjust the noise canceling automatically depending on where you are. They are able to detect external noises and automatically select a suitable level of noise cancellation for your surroundings.

You’ll get loads of battery life as well. Enjoy up to 50 hours with the case, and a quick 10-minute charge gives you four more hours of listening time.

For sound quality, enjoy using the LDAC mode for Hi-Res Audio Wireless sound. With every song, enjoy clear vocals and a powerful bass thanks to Soundcore's double-layer diaphragm drivers.

You can find this great deal at Amazon now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

SAVE $90: The Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 is down to $169 at Amazon — a 35% discount from its regular $259 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 $169 at Amazon
$259 Save $90 Get Deal

Getting a portable power station for under $200 is one thing, but getting one from a brand like Jackery is another thing altogether. With features like fast recharge, solar compatibility, and six device ports for a low price, it’s certainly a deal worth plugging into.

The Jackery Explorer 300 is currently just $169 on Amazon. That’s a $90 discount — or 35% off its usual $259 price — for a limited time. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, that’s this power station’s lowest price since launching in 2023.

SEE ALSO: The best portable chargers and power banks in 2025

When looking at its specs, this little beast packs a 293Wh battery and two pure sine wave AC outlets — giving you clean, steady power for vital travel electronics like laptops, cameras, or even gaming systems like the Steam Deck OLED and Nintendo Switch 2. 

Weighing in at just 7.1 pounds, it’s easy to toss into the car for your next off-grid weekend or stash in the closet for blackout prep.

Charging it back up is refreshingly fast, too: You’ll hit 80% battery in just two hours using a wall outlet and the 60W USB-C PD port together. As a bonus, you can also recharge it via your car’s outlet or hook it up to a Jackery SolarSaga 100W panel — available in a bundle for $299, that’s also on sale — for an eco-friendly power boost on the go.

Device compatibility looks broad as well— with two AC outlets, a USB-C PD port, Quick Charge 3.0, a USB-A port, and a 12V car outlet, you can keep everything from drones to smartphones powered up at once.

Whether you're heading to the woods or just want peace of mind at home, this is a rare price drop on a trusted portable power name. 

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

When I say that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma has made me a dictator, I am not being hyperbolic. 

This was through no fault of my own. I had no political aspirations at the outset. As a newcomer to Yoshifumi Hashimoto's Rune Factory series, I went into the roleplaying game simply planning to fight monsters, befriend villagers, and partake in some wholesome farming. To be fair, I have done exactly that.

However, I have also unintentionally become the uncontested ruler of Azuma, presiding over the region with the support of an unquestioningly loyal band of armed followers.

SEE ALSO: 'Cult of the Lamb' turned me into a single parent of 20 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma demonstrates the impact of poor disaster recovery planning Credit: Mashable screenshot: Amanda Yeo / Marvelous Inc.

Set in a fantasy world inspired by ancient Japan, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma takes place 50 years after the land was blown apart in a catastrophe dubbed the Celestial Collapse. Azuma's villages have since fallen into decline, with blighted plants plaguing the land and no sign of a functional local government that might address the situation.

I'm apparently the first person in 50 years to step up and take any responsibility around here.

It's amidst this backdrop that Guardians of Azuma's amnesiac protagonist discovers they are an "Earth Dancer," an individual with a unique connection to the earth and gods. This gives the player powers capable of restoring the land and returning Azuma to prosperity. I won't deny that my Earth Dancer powers are instrumental in removing the blight, which certainly assists in reviving the villages. All it takes is a quick little dance to vanquish dangerous flora, as well as speed up crop growth more effectively than any fertiliser. 

Even so, I don't believe that Azuma's dramatic resurrection is solely attributable to my supernatural jigs. Rather, I credit the fact that I'm apparently the first person in 50 years to step up and take any responsibility around here.

SEE ALSO: Grow plants from fantasy games with this IRL initiative Azuma's villages wait for a hero to come along Credit: Mashable screenshot: Amanda Yeo / Marvelous Inc.

Farming games typically give you your own little plot of land to cultivate, allowing you to grow crops, raise livestock, and fantasise about a life free from the corporate grind. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma deviates from this structure by having you oversee numerous "development zones" across four seasonally-themed villages, a feat only made possible by instant fast travel. These areas aren't used solely for animals and crops, but also for erecting homes, stores, and restaurants, essentially mixing farming with town planning.

To be clear, there are already people living in these villages, many of whom could probably have cleared the rubble at any time during the past 50 years. Sure, the blighted blooms do limit the amount of arable land. Even so, there is still space around them, as well as shops to run, monsters to hunt, ore to mine, and many hands which could have made light work.

Unfortunately, nobody had such initiative. Instead, the villages were left to languish for decades, the residents just waiting for some sucker to come along and fix the situation for them. Apparently, that sucker is me.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: Amanda Yeo / Marvelous Inc.

Less than 20 in-game days had passed in Guardians of Azuma before I had all four chiefdoms under my belt, essentially making me supreme ruler of Azuma. Almost every village appointed me chief within days of my arrival, practically weaponising my itching need to improve circumstances. Most hadn't had any chief at all when I arrived, with nobody else willing to step up to the plate.

The sole exception was elderly chief Sakaki in the Spring Village, though even he was quick to abdicate in my favour at the earliest available opportunity. He could have nominated a longtime resident such as teahouse owner Iroha, or literal God of Spring Ulalaka. Instead, he went for a stranger with memory issues who's been squatting in the local shrine for the past six months, having crash-landed there and busted a hole in its roof.

"Czar of local infrastructure" was not on my career planning vision board.

As much as this is an indictment on his decision making skills, I feel it's an equally loud condemnation of the other potential candidates.

I have a tendency to min-max farming sims, prioritising efficiency over aesthetic without having to consider real-life issues such as crop rotation and environmental impact. Taking absolute control over optimising a virtual village's farming practices is not out of character for the type of player I am when left unchecked. Even so, "czar of local infrastructure" was not on my career planning vision board.

Credit: Marvelous Inc.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma doesn't restrict my iron fist's reach to town planning. I'm also able to assign villagers to jobs, with their individual traits impacting how they perform in various roles. I can further relocate them to an entirely different village, if, for example, their Cheerful demeanour would provide a greater benefit when running a shop in the Summer Village than farming in the Spring Village. Such power over villagers' employment isn't even the full extent of my control. While I offer free housing in exchange for their labour, I can also completely evict residents, exiling them from the safety of my villages. 

I haven't yet taken this measure, as I'm all too aware that there is nowhere else in Azuma that they might find shelter. Even so, I fear that this day is fast approaching. The Big Eaters, Slackers, and Worry Warts are having a negative impact on morale, and there are many others who would eagerly take their place and contribute to my new, functional society.

Guardians of Azuma made me your local MP with the power of god and anime on my side Credit: Mashable screenshot: Amanda Yeo / Marvelous Inc.

This isn't the only responsibility I've had to take on in the absence of literally anyone else. Not only has Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma made me its minister for both agriculture and infrastructure, it has also appointed me as minister for defence.

While monsters roam the lands, none of the villages have any formal army, militia, or even animal wranglers to tame the wild cowlike Buffamoo. Instead, I deal with every violent threat myself, venturing forth with my loyal, armed posse. Several in my group are also literal gods, giving me the divine right of kings multiple times over.

Combat is fairly straightforward, consisting of enjoyably mindless hack-slash button-mashing to whack enemies like piñatas until they drop loot and perish. Different weapons and types of elemental damage can be considerably more effective against certain enemies. Nevertheless, I largely prefer to brute force my fights and down potions like shots, an impulse which Guardians of Azuma is happy to indulge.

On one hand, seeing a political leader actively serving in the defence force may make them seem more down-to-earth and relatable to many constituents. On the other hand, I'd probably be slightly unsettled if my local MP ran around with a sword-wielding gang. I personally feel uncomfortable with my necessary but overt displays of violence, and worry that they may have had some influence on the villagers' unquestioning obedience to almost every single one of my authoritarian decrees. Factor in my ridable dragon companion, and it's giving Daenerys Targaryen.

Rune Factory made a benevolent dictator of me Credit: Mashable screenshot: Amanda Yeo / Marvelous Inc.

Now that I've unintentionally consolidated power in Azuma, I can't simply abdicate. Considering the lack of initiative around here, I thoroughly believe the situation would revert to what it was almost immediately. It takes the villagers practically half the day to plant one seed. It's like I'm the only person in the group chat actually planning the practicalities of the trip, but I can't just drop it because my friends will end up camping out in a 24-hour McDonald's. They may be shockingly incapable of getting it together, but against my better judgement I still care about their wellbeing.

I'm beginning to realise that though I am ostensibly Azuma's dictator, my constituents have me right where they want me.

Granted, I am doing a better job as chief than anyone else around here would, even with my attention split between four villages. Nobody appears discontent with my leadership. In fact, they all seem thrilled with the situation despite absolutely no propaganda on my part. If I attempted to introduce mandatory voting I'm one hundred percent certain that everyone would just keep electing me until I died.

I strongly believe that politicians should serve the people. As such, I'm beginning to realise that though I am ostensibly Azuma's dictator, my constituents have me right where they want me. 

Benevolent dictatorship is not typically a sustainable political structure. Even in the unlikely event a suitably magnanimous ruler is found, the system is thrown into chaos upon their demise. However, as far as I'm aware, I cannot die. Azuma's people seem to have immediately identified me as an immortal sucker with a tender heart, and exploited my good intentions to trap me as an involuntary, overworked public servant.

I understand their impulse. Azuma was in a dire state when I arrived, and something needed to be done. Further, I admit I find satisfaction in helping improve others' lives, and making the most of the resources available. I just wish everyone would do a little more to contribute to this group project.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is available now on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC.

SAVE $500: The Shark Robot PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro is down to $699.99 at Amazon. That's a massive 42% off its $1,199.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Robot NeverTouch Pro Vacuum & Mop Combo $699.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $500 Get Deal

Securing a large amount off a robot vacuum’s price tag is a regular sight for us at Mashable, but rarely on premium models like this. 

Shark’s NeverTouch Pro Vacuum-Mop Combo, usually $1199.99, is now only $699.99 in a limited-time deal at Amazon. That's its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

This sophisticated machine doesn’t just empty itself — it refills its own water tank, washes and dries its mop pad, and handles both carpets and hardwood with zero babysitting required. It’s like hiring a cleaning crew and never having to lift a finger. Mashable's resident robot vacuum expert recommends this model: "As the only Shark that can wash and dry its own mopping pad and refill its own water tank, the PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro would be really handy in larger homes that have a significant amount of hard floors that would probably require a fresh mopping pad on a daily basis," says Leah Stodart.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 25+ robot vacuums. Here are 6 I'd actually recommend buying in 2025.

The tech packed inside looks just as impressive. With five intelligent PowerDetect technologies, the bot can boost suction or mop intensity depending on how dirty a section is — whether it’s spilt cereal under the kitchen island or muddy prints near the back door. DirtDetect amps up vacuuming in messier zones, while StainDetect makes the robot take extra mop passes on problem areas.

Shark didn’t skip corners when designing this model’s navigation features, either. A combination of 3D sensors and 360-degree LiDAR mapping allows the NeverTouch Pro to dodge furniture and unexpected obstacles while staying on course. You can target zones for a quick clean, create no-go areas, or schedule full-home runs through the app.

With NeverStuck technology, this NeverTouch bot can even lift itself over thresholds, and it auto-raises its mop pad when crossing carpet. The 60-day debris bin and 30-day water tank mean weeks of cleaning with no maintenance. EdgeDetect is even said to make sure it doesn’t skip the baseboards.

If you’re serious about ditching the dustpan, this might be your cleanest deal of the summer. Although those still in the mood for an old school-era vacuum can grab the Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe for $130 at Amazon, which has just has a price cut of its own. 

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

Everyone knows that Apple products tend to cost a pretty penny, and MacBooks and iMacs are no exception.

If you'd rather avoid spending $1,100 on entry-level specs, we have great news: you can save hundreds on an Apple laptop or computer multiple times a year. That means if your laptop is on its last leg, you don't have to hold out until November to make an upgrade that won't hurt your bank account. (And tbh, Apple's annual gift card incentive around Black Friday isn't anything to write home about anyway.)

SEE ALSO: Your MacBook is filthy. Here's how to clean it.

We track Apple deals year-round, so we know what tends to go on sale and when. Plus, we know what MacBook deals are actually worth jumping on, and which "markdowns" are basically the regular price. Check out this list of the top three times of year to find the best prices on a MacBook or iMac, based on our historical deals knowledge:

Time No. 1 to get a deal on a Mac: Black Friday and Prime Day seasons

Months: Early to mid-July, October through November

We know, shopping holidays are a great time to save money, groundbreaking. However, we're not talking about Apple's annual Black Friday deal, which is the same every year: Buy a laptop or iMac, get a free gift card to use on a future purchase. It's a little lackluster and not all that great for saving money upfront.

If you want real savings during shopping holidays, you'll want to look to retailers like Amazon and Best Buy during Black Friday and Prime Day seasons. At first glance, that may seem like you have to keep your eye on the calendar for a few select days throughout the year, but these retailers have decided that time is meaningless when it comes to sales. That means you'll start to see Black Friday savings as early as October, and Prime Day savings for a week or so around July.

Despite hitting the market only weeks prior, the M3 MacBook Pros saw good discounts last Black Friday. Credit: Apple

In years past, Prime Day has spanned over two days, but Amazon upped it to four days in 2025. If you don't want to shop the actual sale dates, Amazon and its competitors usually feature deals in the weeks leading up to it. During both sales, it's not uncommon to see MacBooks from the cheapest Airs to the most souped-up Pros on sale for $150 off or more.

They're worthwhile deals, but they can also be harder to score because the general public knows these are the times to shop for a Mac. If you see a good deal, don't hesitate too much. Our advice? Know what models you're interested in before these sale events kick off, and keep your eye on them.

SEE ALSO: Apple M4 MacBook Air review: A really good deal

As a final note, Black Friday season is a reliable time to catch the initial sales on any fall Mac releases. In the fall of 2023, M3 and M3 Pro MacBook Pros dropped in October, and by November, they were already on sale for $150 off. These likely won't be the steepest deals you'll see in the year or so lifespan before a newer chipset and Mac come out, but they can be impressive considering how recent the releases are.

Time No. 2 to get a deal on a Mac: Back-to-school season

Months: June through early October

Apple offers educational pricing year-round for current or newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels. These prices knock $100 off the price of their laptops and computers. It's not a massive markdown, but it beats full price.

However, if you fall into one of the above demographics, that's not your only chance to save directly through Apple. They also run a special back-to-school sale from the summer to the early fall. In 2023, it ran from June 5 to Oct. 2, so you'll have plenty of time to decide which Mac model to pick. The major downside is that, similar to the Black Friday sale, Apple's BTS offer isn't an off-the-face price cut — you'll receive an Apple gift card proportional to the value of the product you're buying for use on future purchases. In 2023, this is how the pricing broke down:

• 24-inch iMac: receive a $150 Apple gift card

• MacBook Air: receive a $150 Apple gift card

• MacBook Pro: receive a $150 Apple gift card

• Mac mini: receive a $100 Apple gift card

Also like Black Friday, Apple doesn't tend to adjust gift card values drastically, if at all, from year to year, so we expect to see essentially the same offer this year. Considering MacBooks are some of our favorite laptops for students, we see this as a deal worth a second look, but with stipulations.

SEE ALSO: Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro is getting a key new feature soon

If you're not planning on making another Apple purchase (gift cards can be used on App Store purchases, in-app purchases, more Apple tech, and subscriptions like iCloud+ or Apple TV+), you might want to wait for a sale at another retailer. Chances are, places like Amazon and Best Buy will also want to draw in the back-to-school crowd, so there might be greater markdowns there — but you likely won't have a ton of flexibility on specs. A MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, for instance, might be $150 off, but a model with 16GB of RAM might not be on sale at all.

The gift card incentive is also good for anyone who has a pair of AirPods or a paid note-taking app on their back-to-school list, too.

Time No. 3 to get a deal on a Mac: After new releases are announced

Months: Can vary

This tip isn't unique to Apple products, but it doesn't make it any less useful for grabbing a Mac for a little less cash. Typically, after Apple announces the latest models, it drops the prices on older generations.

Technically, this isn't a deal in the strictest sense of the word, but it'll still save you money. Take, for instance, last year's announcement of the 13-inch and 15-inch M3 MacBook Air. On March 4, Apple put it up for preorder on its online store, and right alongside the new laptop was a $100 price drop on the 13-inch M2 Air.

The price of the M2 MacBook Air has dropped twice following releases of upgraded MacBooks. Credit: Apple

The price only fell from $1,099 to $999, so it's not a drastic difference, but if you were already planning on grabbing the M2 Air, waiting for this newer gen saved you at least $100. Plus, a new list price means future sales will net you even more bang for your buck.

You don't necessarily need to wait for the exact same model to get a newer counterpart to see a price drop. Allow us to explain, again with the M2 MacBook Air. June 2023, Apple announced the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air at a starting price of $1,299. At the time, the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air had been out for just under a year, and cost $1,199. The larger model brought a price cut to the smaller and slightly older model.

SEE ALSO: Apple's M2 MacBook Air is a super-fast WFH companion with a dreamy keyboard

Price cuts aren't always determined by Apple itself. A new Mac usually means the discontinuation of an older one. In the case of the M3 Air release, Apple discontinued the 15-inch M2 Air and M1 Air from 2020. Though you could no longer buy either at the Apple Store, they were available at steep discounts at Amazon and Best Buy.

And if you're sensing a theme here, yes, it's better, more often than not, to skip the Apple Store in favor of other retailers if you're looking to save some serious dough.

Final tips for saving money on a Mac1. Keep an eye out for random sales

While the whole point of this guide is that there are ideal times to grab a Mac on sale, we're going to be honest: sometimes, there are very random, very good sales on Macs for seemingly no reason.

Obviously, this is a bit trickier to plan for, but rest assured, if there is a Mac sale worth knowing about, we're writing about it, so we recommend following our deals coverage.

2. Some Macs go on sale more frequently than others

This tip likely goes without saying, but some models rarely go on sale. General trends we've seen are that iMacs tend not to go on sale as frequently as MacBooks, and anything above the starting specs on a MacBook, especially if you're looking for upgraded memory, is much trickier to find on sale regularly.

We say this just to encourage a little healthy expectation setting as you embark on your search for a discounted Mac.