Technology

Dating in 2025 isn't for the faint of heart, especially if you're a young adult. Between growing up online and coming of age during COVID lockdowns, Gen Z has a distinct experience finding love compared to any other generation.

The popular dating app Hinge has distilled some of this experience in the app's latest D.A.T.E. (Data, Advice, Trends, and Expertise) Report called Closing the Communication Gap, or the disconnect between the desire for deep conversations young daters have versus their hesitance to initiate them.

SEE ALSO: Hinge users complain it 'isn't the same' app Mamdani met his wife on

For this report, the app's research team, Hinge Labs, surveyed around 30,000 Hinge users globally this year.

Gen Z struggles to open up

Gen Z daters are 36 percent more hesitant than their millennial counterparts to initiate a deep conversation on the first date — meaning, going beyond small talk.

This aligns with previous research from Hinge. In 2024, Hinge found that Gen Z singles were 47 percent more likely to say the pandemic made them nervous to talk to new people, compared to millennials, and 25 percent more likely to say the pandemic made them less confident on a first date.

Now, at the near-end of 2025, 35 percent of all Hinge daters across genders and sexualities say they're holding back from having deeper conversations because they don't know how to start.

There's also a "communication gap" between women and men, specifically. Forty-two percent of heterosexual Gen Z women feel like the men they date don't want to have deep conversations on the first few dates, but 65 percent of heterosexual Gen Z men say they do.

Early dating often locks people into invisible scripts — like who is "passive" and who is "active," Hinge's love and connection expert, Moe Ari Brown, said in the report. "Falling into these kinds of roles can quietly sabotage the connection because, while habits create routines, they can also create monotony or imbalance."

Zooming out, 43 percent of Gen Z women in general wait for the other person to initiate deep conversations, partly because they assume men don't want to have them, and 48 percent of Gen Z men hold back from emotional intimacy because they don't want to seem "too much." Other worries are the fear of rejection and being judged.

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps and sites in August 2025

This also tracks with what Hinge found last year: 95 percent of Gen Z daters worry about rejection, and 56 percent said that worry held them back from pursuing a potential relationship.

Another reason Gen Z is holding back is social media. Half of Gen Z men, 45 percent of Gen Z women, and 39 percent of nonbinary Gen Z daters said that social media has made them more hesitant to be emotionally open, according to the 2025 report.

In a time where nearly every move one makes is posted online (if not every single move), the fear of being cringe is strong. But we have to embrace it to find love. As Hinge's lead relationship scientist, Logan Ury, said in the new report, "authentic connection requires vulnerability and imperfection."

...while also using AI tools to date

Yet, it could be easier than ever to outsource vulnerability with AI, which Gen Z daters are turning to. From flirting to wedding planning, young adults are using AI tools like ChatGPT to shape their relationship experiences.

Of the Gen Z men who turn to AI for dating, over half (58 percent) use it to initiate conversations, and exactly half use it to generate conversation responses. Forty percent of Gen Z women who use AI do so to start chatting, and 57 percent use it for responding to conversations as well.

Meanwhile, only 34 percent of Hinge daters overall are comfortable or neutral about using AI to write messages.

As difficult as it is, you might want to exit out of ChatGPT in order to find your partner in 2026. You're not alone if you're looking for greater emotional intimacy, though: 84 percent of Gen Z Hinge daters want to find new ways to build deeper connections with the people they're dating.

Google has a new contender for the smartest AI in the world.

On Tuesday, the company launched Gemini 3, calling it its "most intelligent model."

The new LLM (large language model) should have improved reasoning, helping it to understand the depth and nuance of the tasks it tackles. But according to Google, it should also be better at figuring out "the context and intent behind your request," which means you should be able to get things done with less prompts.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps introduces conversational navigation with Gemini

Gemini hasn't only been updated on its own. Google said it shipped the LLM at scale across its products, meaning that Gemini 3 is already live in AI mode in Google Search — the first time the company has shipped a new model in Search on launch day (note, however, that it's currently only live for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers). Gemini 3 is now also live in the Gemini app, in AI Studio and Vertex AI, as well as in Google's agentic development platform, Antigravity.

Featured Video For You How to use Gemini AI to plan your trip

As is customary, Google immediately showed off Gemini 3's score in various benchmarks. For example, Gemini 3 Pro is now the leader in LMArena with a score of 1501 Elo, ahead of xAI's Grok, and Gemini 3's predecessor, Gemini 2.5 Pro.

And if you want to push it a little further, you can run Gemini 3 Deep Think, which is even better in reasoning and more suited for the most complex tasks. That model is notably better in certain benchmarks, including the notoriously tough Humanity's Last Exam.

On top of all that, Google also redesigned its Gemini app. One key change is the My Stuff folder, where you can find the various chats and documents you've created with Gemini. The company also improved the shopping experience, and started experimenting with generative interfaces, which are created by the model as you prompt it.

Finally, the Gemini Agent is a feature which can complete multi-step tasks for you, including managing your appointments and reminders, organizing your inbox, or performing research online.

SAVE OVER $1,700: As of Nov. 19, the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra portable power station is on sale for $1,598.99 for Prime members. This is 52% off its list price of $3,299.

Opens in a new window Credit: EF ECOFLOW EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Portable Power Station with 400W Solar Panel $1,598.99 at Amazon
$3,299 Save $1,700.01   Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale officially starts on Nov. 20, but the retailer already has some exciting deals to consider. Prime members, in particular, have exclusive offers available to check out right now. Among them is this massive discount on the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra portable power station with 400W solar panel, 52% off for a limited time.

This Prime-exclusive discount has dropped the price of the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra portable power station with 400W solar panel from $3,299 to $1,598.99, saving you $1,700.01. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, it has never hit this low price before, so now is a great time to grab it. However, this deal only lasts through the rest of Nov. 19, so you'll want to be quick.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

The EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra boasts a 3,600W continuous output (7,200W surge) that's ready to power up devices around your home. It features multiple ports as well, including four 120V, 20A AC outputs, one 18W max USB-A port, three 140W max USB-C ports, one 120V, 30A TT-30 RV port, and a 12V, 10A cigarette lighter port.

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It also works quietly, which is a bonus if you're using it in a smaller space. Complete with the 400W solar panel, the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra is ready for any outdoor adventures you have planned.

If you're a Prime member, now is your chance to scoop up the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra portable power station with 400W solar panel for 52% off at Amazon. And if you're looking for more great deals available right now ahead of Black Friday, check out our breakdown of 60+ early Black Friday deals.

Globbing is like regular expressions for your filenames. Unfortunately, it’s often misunderstood, despite being an essential command-line skill that everyone knows at least something about. Turn that superficial knowledge into a better understanding.

Most people don’t think about DNS at all. I know I didn’t, at least not until I started running into those little internet headaches that never quite go away. You know the ones I'm talking about, pages that hang for a second before loading, apps that stall when they try to reach the internet, or smart home gadgets acting like they're waking up from a long nap. A lot of that slow, messy behavior can be traced back to DNS, the quiet system your devices rely upon to look up every site and service. When your ISP’s DNS is slow, unreliable, or quietly gathering more data than you realize, you'll likely feel it even if you're not sure why.

SAVE $600: As of Nov. 19, the Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN80F TV is on sale for $1,497.99 at Amazon. This is $600 off its list price of $2,097.99 and its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K QN80F TV $1,497.99 at Amazon
$2,097.99 Save $600.00   Get Deal

TV deals are regularly some of the best to drop over Black Friday, and we've been lucky enough to find plenty on offer ahead of the official start time. Amazon has quite a few worth checking out right now, including this stellar offer on the Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN80F TV, which has dropped below $1,500 for the first time.

This TV is usually listed for $2,097.99, but the Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN80F TV is down by $600 to $1,497.99. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is its lowest-ever price. Now's a great time to grab it if you've been on the hunt for an upgrade ahead of the holidays.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

This large 75-inch Samsung TV is big enough to make movie nights or binge-watching TV shows over the holiday season feel exciting and immersive. Pair that with a high-quality picture thanks to 4K resolution and a QLED display, and you're in for visuals that pop with vibrant color and detail. On top of that, it even comes with Dolby Atmos spatial audio, which makes it seem as if you are surrounded by the sounds.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Since this Samsung TV is a smart TV, you'll also have instant access to all of your favorite streaming apps. So no matter what you've deciding to watch over the holidays, flipping between your favorite streamers is nice and easy.

Don't miss out on this excellent deal on the Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN80F TV at Amazon. And if you're looking for more, check out our breakdown of the best early Black Friday TV deals to see other picks that have caught our eye lately.

Joe Keery and Gaten Matarazzo are well into the Stranger Things Season 5 promo tour, and in the pitstop above they visit BBC Radio 1 for a classic game of "Sit Down, Stand Up" with host Greg James.

The rules are pretty simple: Take turns calling a famous friend, and guess if they're sitting down or standing up when they answer. In the clip they keep things on topic, first calling Joseph Quinn (who's played the game before himself) and then Finn Wolfhard, who somewhat confusingly seems to think Keery and Matarazzo are supposed to be meeting him for a Netflix thing.

It's a fun, chaotic time.

A lot of people come to Linux because they think it's magic, but they also make a lot of mistakes. Here are some things you want to avoid if you want to get the most out of Linux.

Don't you just love it at this time of year? You're minding your own business, slowly approaching the end of the year, and then Black Friday hits you like a train, delivering huge discounts of MacBooks, Pokémon, Lego, and everything else on your shopping list. It's not exactly a relaxing period, but boy can you save a lot of cash. So buckle up, shoppers. We've got weeks of deals to check out.

The only way to survive and thrive over Black Friday is to do a little planning. We recommend bookmarking our many Black Friday pages so that our professional deal hunters can showcase all the offers that are genuinely worth your consideration. But besides that, we also suggest making the most out of the Black Friday ads released by leading retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

SEE ALSO: The 40+ best early Black Friday deals: We found record prices on Apple gadgets, headphones, TVs, and robot vacuums

Looking for the Amazon Black Friday ad? Aren't we all. Amazon does things a little differently from other Black Friday retailers because it doesn't release a traditional Black Friday ad. Instead, Amazon announces its plans for Black Friday via a press release and then drops a boatload of deals when the time comes.

Amazon's Black Friday sale officially begins on Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 1, with plenty of deals on offer throughout this bumper event. According to Amazon's official press release, these are the deals we can look forward from Nov. 20:

• Up to 55% off select home products from Shark and kitchen appliances from Ninja

• Up to 50% off Amazon devices like the Echo Dot Max, Fire TV Stick lineup, Fire tablets, and Kindles

• Up to 50% off electronics from JBL and Canon

• Up to 45% off Bose audio

• Up to 40% off kitchen items from Vitamix, Staub, Nespresso, and more

• Up to 40% on select floorcare from Bissell and iRobot

• Up to 40% off home entertainment from Hisense, TCL, and LG

• Up to 40% on toys from Melissa & Doug, Little Tykes, Play-Doh, and Nerf

• Up to 35% on select Samsung and Google products

That's a strong lineup, but it's really only a small sample of what's to come. In fact, we're already seeing record-low prices on hot items like Apple products, Lego sets, and power stations.

Best early Black Friday Apple deals

• Apple AirTag — $17.97 $29 (save $12.03)

• Apple AirTag (4-pack) — $64.98 $99 (save $34.02)

• Apple Watch SE, 3rd Gen (GPS, 40mm) — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $499 $599 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Pro (M5, 11 inch) — $926 $999 (save $73)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,448 $1,599 (save $151)

Best early Black Friday Lego deals

• Lego Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 — $30.79 $44.99 (save $14.20)

• Lego Harry Potter Mandrake Figure — $40.99 $69.99 (save $29)

• Lego Star Wars: Millennium Falcon — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)

• Lego Minecraft The Crafting Table — $71.99 $89.99 (save $18)

Best early Black Friday power station deals

• Jackery Explorer 300 — $159 $279 (save $120)

• Bluetti Elite 100 V2 — $395 $799 (save $404)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 — $349 $799 (save $450)

• Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Cooler — $649 $899.99 (save $250.99)

• Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 — $799 $1,499 (save $700)

Best early Black Friday headphones deals

• Soundcore by Anker Q20i — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• JLab JBuds Lux — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Sennheiser Accentum Plus — $179.95 $249.95 (save $70)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248 $399.99 (save $151.99)

Best early Black Friday smartwatch deals

• Fitbit Versa 4 — $119.95 $199.95 (save $80)

• Garmin Bounce Kids Smartwatch — $119.99 $149.99 (save $30)

• Garmin fēnix 8 — $849.99 $1,099.99 (save $250)

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a good leader.

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.

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 November 19, 2025 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: Sturdy

• Green: To escort

• Blue: Found in popular writings

• Purple: Body parts

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Stocky

• Green: Steer

• Blue: Second words in Poe stories after "The"

• Purple: Organ plus a letter

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 #892 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Stocky: HUSKY, SOLID, SQUAT, THICK

• Steer: DIRECT, GUIDE, LEAD, SHEPHERD

• Second words in Poe stories after "The": CASK, FALL, MASQUE, PIT

• Organ plus a letter: COLONY, HEARTH, LUNGE, SKINK

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 November 19, 2025

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

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're spiritual.

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 November 19, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 19, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Divinely inspired

The words are related to spirituality.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things pious people.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Religious Figures.

NYT Strands word list for November 19

• Imam

• Rabbi

• Prophet

• Religious Figures

• Buddha

• Priest

• Monk

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a designer.

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 November 19, 2025 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 November 19, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A creator.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MAKER

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 November 19, 2025

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.

One of the distinct joys of art is that sometimes you get to feel like you truly grasp something in a way other people don’t. This is the driving force behind "cult classics," those rare movies or games that get a lukewarm reception at release but turn out to be misunderstood gems. It’s fun to feel like you were right all along, but even more fun to feel like other people were wrong.

Take Kirby Air Ride, a vehicle-based action game starring Nintendo’s spherical pink icon Kirby, originally released for GameCube in 2003. One glance at its Metacritic page tells the whole story: Reviewers didn’t much care for it, but lots of gamers loved it, judging by the user score.

As someone who did play the original and found it kind of forgettable, I went into its Nintendo Switch 2 sequel Kirby Air Riders hoping to be won over. I so badly wanted to believe the critics got it wrong, and expanding the game with more characters, abilities, and modes would give Kirby a triumphant return that proved the haters wrong. 

SEE ALSO: Early preview: 'Kirby Air Riders' is a 'Super Smash'-style racer that triggers all the good brain chemicals

That didn’t happen. Kirby Air Riders may have more going for it than its predecessor, but that’s not saying much. This is still a thin racing action game with one cool mode and a whole lot of "bleh" around it, including a miserable single-player experience.

For Nintendo nerds, it’s cool that Air Riders exists at all Most of the racing tracks look fantastic. Credit: Nintendo

Before I get to all the stuff that bums me out about Air Riders, I want to make one thing clear: I’m happy this game exists, if for no other reason than it’s the first big Kirby game directed by series creator Masahiro Sakurai in more than 20 years. You may or may not know Sakurai from being the public face of the Super Smash Bros. series, but Kirby is his baby, and it makes me happy to know that he got to make something of a passion project for himself before presumably getting back into the Smash mines.

Air Riders also feels like a much-deserved celebration of Kirby in general. It’s full of playable characters who range from basic Kirby enemies to Kirby’s friends or even major villains from throughout the series. The soundtrack mixes great original tracks with fresh re-arrangements of classic Kirby songs, and I would say the music is probably the best thing about Air Riders in general. It’s also a visual feast for the young Switch 2 console, with an exceptionally vibrant color palette, racetracks with awesome-looking setpieces and scenery, and a (from what I can tell) flawless 60 frames per second frame rate holding it all together.

Air Riders looks and sounds great, but then you have to actually play it.

But there’s ultimately almost no meat on the bone here Same, homies. Credit: Nintendo

In case you never played the original Air Ride or missed the marketing or public beta weekends for Air Riders, the key thing to know about it mechanically is that there’s no accelerate button. Unlike most racing or vehicular action games, acceleration happens automatically. There are only two buttons, one that slams the brakes (while also charging up a speed boost that activates once you let go), and another that activates your chosen character’s special ability once a meter is full.

Add in a spin attack that you can do by wiggling the left stick back and forth, and that’s your entire moveset. Air Riders is, to its credit, very easy to learn thanks to its inherent simplicity as well as a series of playable tutorials that make sure none of the nuances (which mostly exist in the form of vehicles that all control and behave pretty differently) get past the player. It is worth going through all of these just because, unlike most driving games, most of the vehicles in Air Riders can fly, which is one of the easiest ways to pick up speed and win races.

The problem is that there just isn’t a whole lot to do once you’ve finished the tutorials. You can compete against CPUs or friends in the racing-based Air Ride mode, the top-down Top Ride mode, and the more open-ended action mode City Trial, or check out Road Trip, which technically counts as a single-player story mode. More on that later.

City Trial was the highlight of the GameCube original, and it’s still the main reason to play its sequel. This mode places up to 16 players in a big city map for exactly five minutes, during which time they have to find vehicles and power them up by collecting items that spawn in a variety of ways. You can destroy boxes to juice up your car, but random challenges like short races or even boss fights will appear from time to time, each coming with the opportunity to collect a lot of power-ups simply by participating in them.

I love this guy. Credit: Nintendo

Once those five minutes are up, players are cordoned off into Stadiums, which are basically just mini-games. Some of them prioritize speed, others prioritize flight or combat ability. City Trial is all about embracing whatever machine you ended up with and whatever stats it has at the end of the match, and just trying your best in whichever Stadium you do. There are technically winners and losers, but really, the joy here is in zooming around a map for five minutes and collecting floating icons that make numbers go up. 

Air Riders is at its best when City Trial is at its most hectic, with meteors raining from the sky or some wacky boss wrecking the place while everyone is just trying to power up their ride. I do find some joy in getting to the point where my vehicle is so fast that it’s barely controllable, but that also makes completing specific challenges not especially fun at times. Still, City Trial (especially online, and especially with people you know) is a good time. 

I wish I felt the same about Air Ride, the racing mode. These races aren’t terrible by any means, but they’re usually exceedingly short and insubstantial. City Trial works as well as it does largely because it’s full of random nonsense that can throw you off your game or work to your benefit. Air Ride races, meanwhile, are kind of the same every time, unless you really get into trying different combinations of characters and vehicles. I appreciate that every character can suck up enemies on the road and copy their powers like Kirby can, but even those abilities only add a tiny bit of variety to the proceedings. 

Top Ride is also barely worth talking about. These mechanics don't translate super well to a top-down perspective, and making turns can be more of a chore than I'd like. It feels like a Mario Party mini-game.

City Trial and (to a lesser extent) Air Ride are where you’ll spend most of your time in Air Riders, as they both support local and online multiplayer. Speaking of online, you can host a bunch of friends in a paddock, which works as a social lobby where you can show off your characters or rides, which can be customized using unlockable parts and decals. It’s fun to jump around and do dumb emotes for a while before a City Trail match.

Road Trip is a bust Imagine doing this for 90 minutes. Credit: Nintendo

Unfortunately, there is also a single-player side of Air Riders. Road Trip is an approximation of a solo adventure mode in which you choose a rider and spend somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes completing challenges, collecting machines, powering up said machines, and occasionally fighting bosses. Most of the challenges are plucked from the other modes; short races on Air Ride tracks or Stadium sessions against CPUs make up the bulk of Road Trip’s runtime. Every now and then, you see an uninteresting cutscene as a reward for your efforts, too.

In theory, I’m sort of into a roguelike mode where, by the end, you have a big roster of souped-up machines. Sadly, Road Trip is immeasurably dull. Challenges quickly become repetitive, as you might find yourself doing the same race on the same slice of the same Air Ride track half a dozen times during one Road Trip. I also found that the challenge level stayed pretty much the same. Challenges only got more difficult near the end of a run for me, and only because my machines were so powered up that they became more difficult to control. I actively disliked the late-game boss fights that required a slight modicum of precision, which is not really what Air Riders is good at.

I just can’t personally see myself playing any more of Road Trip than I had to for the purposes of writing this review. At best, it’s somewhat pleasant and boring. At worst, it’s actively frustrating and, again, felt like a chore. I did, on occasion, get a small dopamine rush from completing in-game achievements to fill out a big checklist, which sometimes rewarded me with new characters to play as or new machines to use. The problem with this is that a huge majority of those achievements reward you with stickers or other cosmetic items instead. 

Kirby Air Riders, in that sense, simultaneously has a lot to do and next to nothing to do. You can theoretically pump hours and hours into this game to unlock everything, but the process of doing that isn’t particularly enjoyable beyond the satisfaction of completing something. Air Riders is overflowing with stuff, but most of it is truly just “stuff,” if you catch my drift. 

Critics in 2003 were right

I was not reviewing video games in 2003 because I was nine years old. Playing Kirby Air Riders in this capacity made me feel some solidarity with reviewers from back then, though, as I think this game is roughly as good in a 2025 context as that one was in a 2003 context. Unfortunately, the 2025 version costs $69, and it's just not worth that much.

Yes, the sequel has more playable characters, machines, ways to customize both of those things, and tons of other crap to unlock. The new and improved City Trial mode is genuinely a lot of fun at times, too, and Air Riders is a gorgeous game both visually and aurally. Longtime Kirby aficionados will also surely enjoy the amount of fan service at work here.

But Air Riders still feels woefully thin to me. If you aren’t playing City Trial online, you might as well just play something else. Air Ride mode wears out its welcome pretty quickly and Road Trip is only marginally more fun than driving across Kansas in real life. 

I just don’t think there’s enough hidden depth here to make even City Trial interesting for more than a couple of weeks. All I wanted out of this game was to be persuaded that the original Air Ride was secretly great, and just needed a second chance to truly shine. Needless to say, I remain unconvinced.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Kirby Air Riders' $69 at Amazon
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MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 19, the Pokémon TCG White Flare Booster Bundle is $50.99 at Amazon, which is the going rate and market value compared to TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG White Flare Booster Bundle $51.35 at TCGPlayer
$58.95 Save $7.60   Get Deal

Mega Evolution boosters and Phantasmal Flames is the focus right now for most people, but the Scarlet and Violet era is dominating early Black Friday deals. Specifically, the White Flare Booster Bundle is available for $50.99 at Amazon. That's market value compared to TCGplayer.

However, if you apply for an Amazon Visa card and get accepted, you'll get an instant $60 Amazon gift card credited to your account. This can then be used to pay for the Booster Bundle in full, leaving $9.01 for your next purchase.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Chase cards in Black Bolt and White Flare are some of the most valuable in the Scarlet and Violet era, but it's still likely to turn out cheaper to buy something outright than ripping open endless packs. Here's what they're going for right now alongside links to TCGplayer to catch your favorite Pokémon:

1. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $430
   Market price: $468.99
   Most recent sale: $430

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $420
   Market price: $432.27
   Most recent sale: $440

3. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $420
   Market price: $480.87
   Most recent sale: $445.98

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $368
   Market price: $371.22
   Most recent sale: $375

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $231.37
   Market price: $238.43
   Most recent sale: $230

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $180.99
   Market price: $188.80
   Most recent sale: $186.23

SAVE $130: As of Nov. 19, the Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV $169.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $130   Get Deal

Early Black Friday deals are ramping up, and we couldn't be happier about it. And if you're looking to treat yourself to a new TV before Christmas movie season starts, there's a great deal on the Insignia 50-inch Class F50 at Amazon. As of Nov. 19, this impressive TV is down to just $169.99, saving you $130. That's also the lowest price for this model according to camelcamelcamel.

This TV gives you gorgeous 4K Ultra HD with HDR10, so movies and shows look sharp, colorful, and incredibly detailed, and all for under $200. It also uses Amazon’s Fire TV operating system, giving you quick access to apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and free services such as Fire TV Channels, Tubi, and Pluto TV, and it's all laid out neatly on the home screen.

You can even use this TV as a smart home hub to check cameras, adjust lights, or start robot vacuums cleaning.

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For sound, enjoy an incredibly impressive audio experience with the DTS Virtual:X, an immersive sound format that creates a three-dimensional feel. You'll also get HDMI eARC which supports high-quality audio setups. It’s packed with handy ports too, from HDMI to USB to Ethernet. Plus, it’s wall-mountable, so it's nice and easy to install seamlessly into your space.

Pick up this great early Black Friday TV deal from Amazon now.

Donald Trump is facing so many questions over his relationship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that some of his other controversies are slipping through the cracks.

In the Jimmy Kimmel Live! video above from Tuesday night, the host brings up a recent clip of the U.S. president insulting Bloomberg's White House Correspondent Catherine Lucey on Air Force One — when the journalist asks Trump a question about Epstein, he responds, "Quiet piggy."

"He called her piggy," says a shocked Kimmel. "He said, 'quiet, piggy' to a reporter and it barely made the news. If a man spoke like that to a female co-worker in like a workplace harassment training video, you'd go, 'Ah, that's over the top. Nobody would do that.' If the pilot on Air Force One behaved like the president, he wouldn't be allowed to fly the plane."

TL;DR: As of Nov. 19, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Booster Bundle is $55.01 at Amazon, which is $14 higher compared to TCGplayer. But if you successfully apply for an Amazon Visa Card, you could grab a $60 gift card and get it for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Booster Bundle   Get Deal

The Mega Evolution Booster Bundle is $14 more at Amazon compared to TCGplayer, but you can still get it for free with credit to spare if you successfully apply for an Amazon Visa Card at Amazon. I can't believe this offer is still available.

Now I'm not suggesting you get a store card and go crazy with Pokémon TCG (as tempting as that is). You don't even need to spend anything on it for this deal. Simply apply for the Amazon Visa card, and if successful you'll get an instant $60 gift card credited to your account. Leave the Visa card alone and use the credit to grab the booster bundle and have $4.99 left over towards your next purchase.

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If you don't want the temptation, TCGplayer is currently selling Mega Evolution Booster Bundles for $41.01, so you can still catch a brilliant saving without the gift card and credit application.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Mega Evolution single card prices are crashing right now compared to launch, so it's a great time to snag that expensive chase card you've been looking for. Here's the current top Mega Evolution chase cards, with links to buy them right now on TCGplayer and up-to-date market value:

1. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $435
   Market price: $476.09
   Most recent sale: $418.69

2. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $345.98
   Market price: $369.14
   Most recent sale: $317.52

3. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $267.50
   Market price: $222.33
   Most recent sale: $205

4. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $224.99
   Market price: $213.52
   Most recent sale: $225

5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $155
   Market price: $157.42
   Most recent sale: $155

My pro tip: Take advantage of Black Friday deals on Sony headphones

Whether you’re looking for an AirPods alternative, budget cans under $50, or a wireless headphones with a wider sound range than the best Bose headphones, Sony has you covered on all fronts.

And with Black Friday just around the corner, you can get almost all of these headphones for even cheaper than usual. In the weeks leading up to the shopping event, the flagship XM6s received a small $20 discount, the mid-range WH-CH720 headphones are on sale for under $100, the CH-520 headphones are all the way back down to $38, and the noise-cancelling WF-C710N are just $79. We're also watching the XM4 and XM5 models very closely. In other words, the sale prices are starting off strong.

So which should you buy? I spent the past several months testing and re-testing all of Sony's most popular headphones and earbuds (and the better part of a decade reviewing headphones) to help you decide.

Now, let’s check out the best Sony headphones of 2025.

How to choose the best Sony headphones

Sony headphones and earbuds juggle several priorities, including ANC, battery life, hi-res sound, and multipoint pairing. However, you may need to compromise on some of these features if you're not willing to spend $300 or more, the minimum price for flagship headphones in 2025.

If you want audio you can tailor to your liking, look for headphones carrying Sony’s adaptive sound features: 360 Reality Audio, DSEE, and Find My Equalizer. Travelers and road warriors need a model with ANC powerful enough to eliminate sounds across the entire frequency spectrum, not just airplane engines. Those who live active lifestyles or exercise regularly can find buds with a transparency mode that keeps them aware of their surroundings. Lengthy playtimes and wireless perks (e.g., Bluetooth multipoint, mobile app) have their benefits as well. And while Sony doesn't specialize in sports earbuds like Beats (and increasingly Apple as well), the Sony LinkBuds Fit let you stay in the Sony ecosystem while you work out.

As in all shopping decisions, it all comes down to preference and budget.

Recent changes to this guide The Sony XM5 and XM6 headphones. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

• Sony WH-CH520 on-ear headphones: We added these headphones in September 2025 after re-reviewing them and having a positive experience. We've named them our new "Budget pick."

• Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones: Previously our "Budget pick," we named them the "Best Sony headphones under $100" in our most recent update.

THREE MONTHS FREE: As of Nov. 19, Amazon is offering three months free of an Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan for new subscribers. Once the promotional offer comes to an end, the plan will auto-renew at $11.99 per month for non-Prime members or $10.99 per month for Prime members.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited (3 Months for Free)   Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale doesn't officially kick off until Nov. 20, but the retailer already has some exciting early deals available for shoppers. This includes an excellent offer of three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free, which is a fantastic treat for those looking to test out the service before making a commitment.

For a limited time, new subscribers to Amazon Music Unlimited can sign up to an Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan for free. Keep in mind that once the three months are up, your plan will auto-renew at its usual cost of $11.99 per month for non-Prime members or $10.99 per month for those with Prime. You can cancel this automatic renewal at anytime.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

With an Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan, you can listen to an abundance of songs on the service ad-free with unlimited skips. You'll also be able to listen to podcasts and audiobooks, so there's plenty to keep you busy over the next few months. On top of that, it also offers HD and spatial audio so you can enjoy it all with high-quality, immersive sound.

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This limited-time offer won't last for long. Act fast to grab three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free.

There's plenty more to check out ahead of Amazon's Black Friday sale. Check out our breakdown of the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon for even more discounts available now.

I'll never claim to be an artist; I have a way with words more than I do lines and colors. But I dabble in graphic design, and I love the feeling of pen on paper, going back to basics when so much of my writing takes place on the keyboard. However, as someone who tests tablets, I'm familiar with the world of drawing tablets, particularly Wacom's offerings.

Drawing tablets are a departure from mainstream tablets, like iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs. The Wacom One 14 was my first experience with a drawing tablet, and as a beginner, it was the ideal model for learning how to use one. I utilized my expertise — and amateur artistry — to become familiar with the Wacom One 14, and I believe it's an accessible and intelligent piece of technology.

Wacom One 14 $249.95 at Amazon
$299.95 Save $50   Shop Now at Amazon Wacom One 14 Specs and Price The Wacom One 14 allows you to use a stylus with your computer to support your creative endeavors. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

• Dimensions: 13.2 by 7.9 by 0.4 inches

• Display Size: 14-inch

• Screen Resolution: ‎1920 by 1080

• Weight: 1.65 lbs

• Power Source: USB-C

• Compatibility: Windows 10, macOS 13, and the latest version of ChromeOS

• Pen: Electromagnetic resonance technology

• Price: $299.95

How to use the Wacom One 14

Having never used a drawing tablet before, I found the setup for the Wacom One 14 to be easy, with only some minor troubleshooting required. The Wacom One 14 operates as a peripheral device and requires a computer connection; think of it more as an extension of a computer rather than a standalone device.

Once connected to a computer or laptop via the USB-C port, the device will turn on. When you first turn it on, you might encounter a couple of things. The screen may appear as a blank desktop, which means you need to access your system settings and ensure that 'mirror screen' is enabled. The included stylus will start working, but may require calibration. For that, you'll need Wacom's software.

The Wacom One 14 is not a touchscreen, and you'll navigate the tablet using the stylus, which allows you to click, draw, write, and select items on the screen. It can operate either as a mirror of your main display or as a secondary monitor, and you can even set the button on the Wacom stylus to cycle through different displays.

What should you use the Wacom One 14 for? In addition to creating beautiful pictures, you can use the stylus like you would a mouse. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Wacom tablets, including the Wacom One 14, are primarily known as drawing tablets, meaning you're going to use them for just that. The creative applications are virtually endless. You can use it to draw, sketch, animate, edit photos, and create 3D models. Beyond the creative activity, it's also convenient for annotating and taking notes.

The screen itself has a lovely matte feel, adding a little bit of friction to the screen so it feels like actual pen and paper. I liked it much more than the slick, smooth surface of an iPad and Apple Pencil.

SEE ALSO: Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Colour: Which e-reader is better for journaling?

Its digital note-taking capabilities make the Wacom One 14 an excellent application for teaching. As I used the tablet, which allowed me to draw and have the image reflected on the laptop screen, I remembered the projectors of my youth, where teachers would write out equations and project them onto the screen. The Wacom One 14 feels like it's an advanced version of that.

The Wacom One 14 comes with a range of programs to help you get started, but it also works with free programs like Canva, which is how I tested the Wacom tablet.

Who is the Wacom One 14 for?

Using the device is incredibly intuitive. I'd never used a drawing tablet before, but I was up and running within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box. It's an approachable device even for beginners. Educators, even those not in creative fields, will find the Wacom One 14 helpful in the classroom as well.

It's also an affordable unit at $299.95, cheaper than any iPad on the market. That being said, it's best for anyone who wants to use the device with a computer and isn't looking for a standalone tablet.

Should you buy the Wacom One 14? The Wacom One 14 is an excellent drawing tablet for beginners. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Wacom One 14 is an excellent drawing tablet, particularly for beginners. The device's setup is straightforward and allows you to get started quickly, without a steep learning curve. Plus, it's somewhat affordable at $299.95. If you have a teen or tween in your life who is interested in digital art or you're looking to try it out yourself but don't want to make a considerable investment, this is a well-valued starting point.

It won't be for everyone. It's not for someone who wants a standalone tablet or a more advanced drawing tablet. For that, consider looking into a tablet with an OLED display and better resolution — such as the iPad Pro with the M5 chip.

But if you're just getting started, the Wacom One 14 is a novice-friendly drawing tablet.

Wacom One 14 $249.95 at Amazon
$299.95 Save $50   Shop Now at Amazon