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Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a true crime fan.

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 June 21, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 21, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An excuse.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter I appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

ALIBI

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 21, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 21, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 21 Pips

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 21 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 21 Pips

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 1.0 The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, June 21, 2026:

Across"Black" or "Yellow" dog, familiarly

• The answer is Lab.

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No-no for the lactose intolerant

• The answer is Dairy.

On the ocean

• The answer is At sea.

Subway commuter's annoyance

• The answer is Delay.

Like the logos of Marvel and Netflix

• The answer is Red

Down"See ya!"

• The answer is Later.

Pathway for an airplane beverage cart

• The answer is Aisle.

No-no for the gluten-free

• The answer is Bread.

Apt palindrome for Father's Day

• The answer is Dad.

Apt palindrome for Father's Day

• The answer is Yay.

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know golf history.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

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

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

• Yellow: Top athletes

• Green: Football terms of affection

• Blue: Geographically specific

• Purple: Classic sports words

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: A team's best players

• Green: Informal nicknames for NFL teams

• Blue: Brazilian soccer greats

• Purple: Old terms for golf clubs

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #636 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A team's best players: A-TEAM, FIRST STRING, REGULARS, STARTERS

• Informal nicknames for NFL teams: BOLTS, G-MEN, PACK, VIKES

• Brazilian soccer greats: KAKÁ, MARTA, PELÉ, RONALDINHO

• Old terms for golf clubs: BRASSIE, CLEEK, MASHIE, NIBLICK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Connections.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Satire.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

IRONY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Nemesis.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RIVAL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Type of snake.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

COBRA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Banishment.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

EXILE

Final Hurdle hint

Particular.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

PICKY

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

It's now the First Quarter, which means the Moon is half full, and there's plenty surface area illuminated to spot features.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, June 21, the Moon phase is First Quarter. Tonight, 54% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

With just your naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Mares Fecunditatis, Serenitatis and Crisium. With binoculars, you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. If you have a telescope, this will help you see all this plus the Linne Crater, the Descartes Highlands, and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it travels around Earth. As a result, we see the Moon appear in different shapes over the course of a month, from slender crescents and half moons to a bright Full Moon. This repeating sequence of phases is known as the lunar cycle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's official: Microsoft is terminating future support for its popular Office 2021 suite of productivity applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

While the computing giant claims that your apps "may continue to function," it also warns of exposure to "serious and potentially harmful security risks" if you continue using their now unsupported software after Oct. 13, 2026, the official end date.

In all likelihood, Office 2021 will continue to work as intended for most users in most use cases, much as you can still use Office 2010 or Office 2013, provided you're willing to put up with the limitations of those iterations.

And for all the consumers concerned with owning rather than leasing their software, Office 2024 offers a "lifetime license" purchase, conferring permanent access to essential applications like Word, Powerpoint and Excel without the costly infrastructure of cloud storage or frequent, down-the-line software updates. 

Otherwise, upgrading means switching to Microsoft 365.

To learn more about the end of support for Office 2021, Microsoft has an entire post on its support section with all the details.

In its most recent firmware update for Beats headphones, 1B211, Apple fixed a terrifying security flaw that allowed malicious actors to potentially eavesdrop on private conversations within Bluetooth range of the brand's popular Studio Buds. 

According to reporting by Sead Fadilpašić of TechRadar, it was actually the third-party security firm ERNW and its researchers, Dennis Heinze and Frieder Steinmetz, who first discovered the vulnerability, all the way back in 2025, when it was assigned an 8.8/10 severity score. In effect, it allowed hackers to impersonate a device that had previously been connected to the headphones, not only granting them access to the microphone and headphone audio but eventually even learning some devices' call histories and contact lists.

If you own a pair of Studio Buds, is it likely you've been targeted? Thankfully, no. The same researchers who discovered the exploit told TechRadar that the degree of coordination, complexity, and planning required to execute this hack would have made it worthwhile only for very high-value targets, and, as of now, there are no reports of anyone being negatively impacted by the security vulnerability. 

It's also worth mentioning that Apple wasn't the only company caught up in this exploit. In the original report released by ERNW that identified the flaw, the security firm listed dozens of compromised devices, including those from manufacturers like Sony, JBL, and Bose, and those were just the brands that publicly listed their system suppliers, leaving potentially hundreds more devices yet to be named. In the words of the security researchers in the report, the unknown scope of the problem "creates a huge blind spot in vulnerability management due to the nature of the supply chain." 

Thankfully, Apple isn't the only company taking active measures to protect its customers. According to Ecoustics reporting back in January, both Bose and JBL have also taken steps to close off the vulnerability through firmware updates. 

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 in full swing, and fans from all over the world traveling across the United States to cheer on their home teams, beloved Sesame Street character Elmo took to X in a Team USA jersey to declare his support for the American squad. 

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The explicit partisanship isn't an accident but an inside joke. Earlier this month, as the NBA's San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks battled for a championship, Elmo expressed hope for both teams to have fun.

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The social media world wasn't having it. Knicks fans, already riled up by the intensity of the series, weren't pleased.

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Other brands got in on the joke. The roasting continued after the Knicks won, with at least one fan dressing in an Elmo suit to hold up an apology sign at the victory parade in New York.

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Even Cookie Monster didn't hold back, saying he would teach Elmo how to pick a team.

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As a public figure with an international audience, Elmo is definitely in a tough spot, but declaring that you love everyone while wearing your nation's soccer uniform is probably your best shot at minimizing the fallout.

The sky-high cost of RAM has claimed another victim: budget smartphones. The cofounder of Nothing company, Akis Evangelidis, recently took to X to announce that there will be no successor to last year's popular CMF Phone 2 Pro, a credible iPhone competitor that launched for just $279 and won plaudits up and down the tech world for its design and budget-friendly pricing. 

Nor was Evangelidis shy about naming the problem: "We were working on a successor, but with memory prices where they are right now, we can't build a phone that feels like a genuine step forward at a price that makes sense for CMF."

If you're totally oblivious about what he's alluding to, check out this series of charts from PCPartPicker, detailing the rise in RAM costs over just the last 18 months. Two standout examples: a basic 2x8GB configuration of DDR4 RAM went for about $50 in January of 2025 and now sells for over $150 in June of 2026, while a more speedy 2x16GB configuration of DDR5 RAM went for under $100 in January of 2025 and today costs close to $500!

And while RAM is the most talked-about culprit behind the price spikes, solid-state storage (SSDs), the kind used in mobile phones, high-end gaming computers, and consoles, has also shot up dramatically in price, currently priced at 20 times the equivalent hard disk drive (HDD). 

The driver of these price hikes is the AI revolution currently underway across the entire tech space, as deep-pocketed companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet (parent company of Google) are projected to spend some $700-$900 billion per year on AI-related infrastructure, growing to as much as $1.6 trillion in 2031, according to reporting from Goldman Sachs. 

Unfortunately, because chip makers and RAM suppliers are seriously constrained in their production capacity, this newfound demand has created a bidding war, with budget smartphone shoppers and trillion-dollar tech companies all competing for the same finite supply of materials. The result, at least in the near term, will be not only the abolition of budget smartphones like the CMF Phone 2 Pro, but also inevitable price hikes for compute-heavy devices like smartphones, tablets, and personal computers that are already quite expensive. Apple's outgoing CEO Tim Cook said these developments are "unavoidable."

What is a budget-savvy shopper to do in 2026? The best solution for the time being might be to hold on to your old phone, tablet, or computer for as long as possible.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 20, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 20, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips

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

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, June 20, 2026:

AcrossThe "I" of TGIF

• The answer is Its.

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

"Psych!"

• The answer is Not.

Batman villain played by Aaron Eckhart in "The Dark Knight"

• The answer is Two Face.

Repressive governments

• The answer is Regimes.

Folding art

• The answer is Origami

Opposite direction of NNW

• The answer is SSE

Streaming issue caused by slow wi-fi

• The answer is Lag

Raggedy ___ (doll)

• The answer is Ann

DownIcebreakers, e.g.

• The answer is Intros.

"The Two ___" (second installment of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy)

• The answer is Towers.

Cigar, informally

• The answer is Stogie.

Presidential candidate Harris

• The answer is Kamala.

2026 #1 album for Drake

• The answer is Iceman.

Word after "interior" or "intelligent"

• The answer is Design.

Kind of tree that the Buddha is said to have meditated under

• The answer is Fig.

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know collegiate sports.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

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

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

• Yellow: Baseball nicknames

• Green: Cyclist clothing

• Blue: Geographically specific

• Purple: Same word, different meanings

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: New York Yankees, informally

• Green: Tour de France jerseys

• Blue: Locations of Big 12 Schools

• Purple: What "boot" might mean

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #635 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• New York Yankees, informally: BRONX BOMBERS, EVIL EMPIRE, PINSTRIPES, YANKS

• Tour de France jerseys: GREEN, POLKA DOT, WHITE, YELLOW

• Locations of Big 12 schools: BOULDER, FORT WORTH, MANHATTAN, WACO

• What "boot" might mean: CLEAT, EJECT, KICK, MISHANDLE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Connections.

SAVE UP TO $65: Through July 15, HBO Max is offering one of its best streaming deals to date. New and returning subscribers can get 40% off any annual subscription, knocking the cost of the Basic tier (with ads) down from $109.99 to $78.99, the Standard (no ads) tier down from $184.99 to $132.99, and the Premium tier (no ads + 4K) down from $229.99 to $164.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max 40% off annual subscriptions Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max (Prime Video add-on) 40% off annual subscriptions Get Deal

A really impressive Black Friday HBO Max streaming deal is always inevitable. A Prime Day HBO Max deal, on the other hand, is unheard of — until now, that is. For the first time, the premium streamer has decided to hop aboard the Prime Day train and the deal is pretty epic.

Through July 15, HBO Max is offering new and returning subscribers 40% off annual subscriptions. Yes, that includes ad-free tiers for once. Usually the HBO Max annual subscriptions cost $109.99 for the Basic with ads tier, $184.99 for Standard (no ads), and $229.99 for Premium (no ads + 4K). With this Prime Day deal, however, those costs drop to just $78.99, $132.99, or $164.99, respectively.

To put that into perspective, the ad-free Standard tier is just $11 per month if you break it down. This honestly might be the deal that finally gets me to sign up for my own HBO Max account.

You can sign up on the HBO Max app or website directly or in the form of a Prime Video add-on. After you choose your tier on Prime Video, the landing page should let you select the annual plan instead (see below).

Be sure to tick the box for an annual plan to save. Credit: Prime Video / HBO Max

The deal is only valid on your first year of HBO Max, so be sure to cancel before the year ends if you want to avoid paying full price. Still, that's 12 whole months of streaming for a total steal. You'll be able to catch House of the Dragon Season 3, Glen Powell's How to Make a Killing, the internet-hyped Backrooms (likely coming next month), and so much more.

TL;DR: Through June 26, Prime members who buy or lease a new car through Amazon Autos will receive a $1,500 Amazon gift card after pickup.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Autos Amazon Autos Through June 26, Prime members who buy or lease a new car through Amazon Autos will get a $1,500 Amazon Gift Card. Get Deal

Buying a car through Amazon might not be something most people expect from Prime Day, but that’s exactly what’s on the table right now. Amazon Autos is offering Prime members a $1,500 gift card when they buy or lease a new vehicle through the platform for a limited time.

The promotion runs through June 26, and applies to new cars purchased or leased on Amazon Autos. Once the vehicle is picked up from a participating dealership, the $1,500 Amazon Gift Card is sent via email within two weeks. There’s no extra code needed — just complete the purchase on Amazon, finalize pickup, and the bonus will follow.

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Here’s how it works:

• Start by choosing a new car on Amazon Autos and begin your purchase or lease. Used cars aren’t part of the deal, and you’ll need to be a Prime member to qualify.

• Complete checkout and submit your order by June 26.

• Schedule a pickup time through Amazon. You’ll still need to sign final documents at the dealership, and credit approval may be required if you’re financing or leasing.

• Pick up your car from the dealer by June 29.

• After pickup, Amazon sends a $1,500 gift card by email within two weeks. It’s non-transferable and can’t be exchanged for cash.

Buying a car through Amazon might feel strange, but Amazon Autos is set up to keep the process fairly straightforward. You can browse and select a new vehicle online, start checkout through Amazon, and then complete the final steps at a participating dealership, including signing documents and taking a test drive before everything is finalized.

There’s no shortage of Prime Day deals right now, but this $1,500 Amazon Autos gift card feels like one of the more unexpected offers in the mix. Especially if a car upgrade was already on your radar.

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Ivory Coast in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is showcasing some really interesting matchups this weekend, including Germany vs. Ivory Coast. Both teams won their opening games, meaning the winner here will claim top spot in the group. Expect big performances from the likes of Wirtz and Diomande as these entertaining sides battle it out.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Ivory Coast in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Ivory Coast?

Germany vs. Ivory Coast in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on June 20. This fixture takes place at the Toronto Stadium.

How to watch Germany vs. Ivory Coast for free

Germany vs. Ivory Coast in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Germany vs. Ivory Coast for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Germany vs. Ivory Coast for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Germany vs. Ivory Coast (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Germany vs. Ivory Coast in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

The 2026 World Cup has been a great watch so far, and the action's still just getting started.

Today, June 20, is well worth watching, with Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden — all potential big players at this World Cup — taking to the pitch for the second round of group games.

The soccer action kicks off from 1 p.m. ET. We've broken down the details for you below. Here's what you need to know to tune in live today.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 20

• Group F: Netherlands vs. Sweden (Houston Stadium) — kickoff at 1 p.m. ET

• Group E: Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Toronto Stadium) — kickoff at 4 p.m. ET

• Group E: Ecuador vs. Curacao (Kansas City Stadium) — kickoff at 8 p.m. ET

• Group F: Tunisia vs. Japan (Monterrey Stadium) — kickoff at 12 a.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games todayWatch Netherlands vs. Sweden

The Netherlands have the players and the tools to go far in this World Cup, but they couldn't hold back Japan in an exciting 2-2 draw last week. That means the Dutch will throw everything at Sweden in this second-round fixture to grab an all-important three points. Sweden could prove tough opposition — they smashed Tunisia 5-1 in their last game. Live coverage will be on FOX and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Germany vs. Ivory Coast

Germany thrashed the lower-ranked Curacao 7-1 in their opening game, a statement win following a few shaky performances from Germany in recent World Cups. Most football fans would expect the Germans to dominate Ivory Coast, though Ivory Coast are coming off a win in their opening game and are looking for another three points. Live coverage will be on FOX and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Ecuador vs. Curacao

Neither Ecuador nor Curacao managed to scrape a point in their opening fixtures. Ecuador conceded against Ivory Coast in the 90th minute while Curacao looked set for a Cinderella story when they scored against Germany to make it 1-1 — but proceeded to let in another six. This is sure to be a hard-fought battle with both teams still hopeful to advance to the knockout stages. Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Tunisia vs. Japan

It's a late start, kicking off at midnight. Tunisia took a 5-1 hammering from Sweden in the opening match, which led to the Tunisian coach being fired. Will a recalibrated Tunisia fare any better? Japan, meanwhile, fought back against the Netherlands to secure a draw, which felt more like a victory. Japan are in the midst of a golden generation and will see this second-round game as an opportunity to show what they're capable of. Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (3-Month Subscription) $39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (Spanish Language) Starting at $10.99/month Get Deal More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpresVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

An enormous world orbiting a sun-like star just 57 light-years away in space may have a pink hue and a sky filled with clouds of salt.

Astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study a distant object called GJ 504 b, and for the first time, detailed in a new study, they captured its light in enough detail to study its atmosphere directly rather than relying on rough brightness calculations.

"Distant object" is about as precise of a label as it gets for this thing. Despite the Pink Planet nickname, astronomers aren't even sure what it is. Some studies have suggested it might be a giant exoplanet, while others argue it could be a brown dwarf, a sort of failed star too small to generate its own nuclear power. For now, astronomers are comfortable calling it a "planetary-mass companion."

The problem is that GJ 504 b is cold, faint, and difficult to study. But with Webb, researchers finally had a chance to gather a spectrum, a technique that splits the world's light into its component colors. The presence or absence of different shades can reveal the mix of elements in its atmosphere. 

SEE ALSO: Astronomers see a 'galaxy in a bottle' near the Milky Way's core

The most striking finding was that this place has clouds — and not just any clouds — salt clouds. Though previous work has theorized salt clouds should be able to form in worlds between 400 and 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, astronomers haven't really found evidence of them over the past 15 years, said Aneesh Baburaj, a Northwestern University astronomer, who led the study.

"Salt clouds are unusual," Baburaj told Mashable. "GJ 504 b provides some of the first evidence that salt clouds exist in the atmosphere of such cold objects."

At roughly 550 degrees Fahrenheit, GJ 504 b might not seem cold. But compared to most directly imaged exoplanets, that temperature is quite balmy. 

The researchers attribute the lower temperature to its age. While most gas giant planets are extremely hot at birth, they cool over time. The new study estimates GJ 504 b is 2.5 to 4 billion years old. 

The James Webb Space Telescope hints that the 'Pink Planet' has planet-forming origins, but a brown dwarf scenario for the distant object can't be ruled out, researchers say. Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus illustration

As for those salt clouds, the salt is not table salt or even Pink Himalayan Rock Salt, though that would go splendidly with the theme. The paper, published in The Astronomical Journal, describes them as clouds made from tiny particles that form when gases cool down just enough to condense into solids or liquids. 

On Earth, clouds form when water vapor condenses into droplets that drift through air. But on GJ 504 b, the same process happens with far more extreme ingredients. The atmosphere contains gases that can combine into mineral-like compounds at high temperatures, and when conditions shift, those compounds condense into microscopic grains. Those grains then float through the atmosphere and scatter light.

These clouds are likely made of alkali metal compounds, such as potassium chloride, or perhaps sulfide compounds, like manganese sulfide. 

"We do not have enough evidence to say exactly what kind," Baburaj said.

The cloud layer likely plays a major role in the GJ 504 b's appearance. The team describes a faint pinkish tone in the way the light travels through the atmosphere. That means GJ 504 b might not shine pink, per se, but its atmosphere filters its star's light in a way that leaves a faint warm tint in the spectrum.

Despite the new detail provided by Webb, astronomers still haven't settled the debate over whether the Pink Planet is indeed a planet. The chemical evidence appears richer in heavy elements, like carbon, than its host star. That pattern often shows up in planets that form within a disk of gas and dust around a young star. But there are enough uncertainties that the researchers still can't rule out its being a brown dwarf. 

If it is a planet, it's one that weighs about 25 times more than Jupiter, the most massive planet in our solar system.

Take a look at our Best TV list for 2026, and you'll find a motley crew: vampires, football stars, even an aspiring James Bond.

They're all part of the astonishingly varied TV shows that have premiered in the first half of this year, which include the triumphant return of dramas like Industry and The Pitt, the premiere of yet another Game of Thrones spin-off, and even more Bridgerton. And that was just January!

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer TV preview: Every TV show you need to know about now

Beyond that, genre TV has dominated 2026, with horror-comedy Widow's Bay, dystopian Handmaid's Tale sequel The Testaments, and sci-fi twist-fest Paradise earning critical acclaim. This year's superhero offerings, Wonder Man and Spider-Noir, also delivered on their promise with fun takes on an oversaturated genre.

On the comedy front, Hacks delivered what might be the most satisfying series finale of the year, Jury Duty pulled off its magic trick yet again in Season 2, and Shrinking and Rooster proved that Bill Lawrence is still the master of the feel-good hangout comedy. Drama lovers were spoiled for choice too, Love Story's historical romance, Half Man's bleak examination of toxic masculinity, and The Audacity's Silicon Valley satire. In the mood for a true dramedy? The always-excellent Tatiana Maslany has you covered in the darkly funny thriller Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.

All this is to say, there's been a lot of TV to start out 2026 — and a lot of it has been great! But 10 titles rose above the rest for us. Here are the 10 best TV shows of 2026 (so far).

10. Shrinking Season 3 Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in "Shrinking." Credit: Apple TV

TV's most relentlessly optimistic show refuses to let you be a glass-half-empty person in yet another magnificent season. Created by Jason Segel, Bill Lawrence, and Brett Goldstein, Shrinking has become one of my go-to reflections on life, relationships, and finding unconventional ways to gain perspective on your Stuff™️. Though hilarious, Season 3 is all about the fear of moving forward, with Jimmy (Segel) and his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) staring down college, Gaby (Jessica Williams) navigating commitment, Brian (Michael Urie) moving into parenthood, and more. But it's Harrison Ford who steals the show this season, with Paul saying much more than just "f*** Parkinson's." As I wrote in my review, "It's this humans-will-surprise-you magic that makes Shrinking so wonderful, a laugh-out-loud comedy that reminds you that asking for support and supporting others in turn is an everyday superpower. An adamant champion of human complexity for three seasons, this show is so good it boggles my brain." — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Ted McGinley, Brett Goldstein, Damon Wayans Jr., Wendie Malick, Cobie Smulders, Jeff Daniels, Candice Bergen, and Michael J. Fox

How to watch: Shrinking Season 3 is now streaming on Apple TV.

9. The Pitt Season 2 Sepideh Moafi and Noah Wyle in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

Don't let the bizarre online backlash fool you: The Pitt's sophomore outing is a tremendous season of television. The series stays true to its real-time gimmick, but shakes things up just enough with new arrivals, like Sepideh Moafi's Dr. Al-Hashimi, as well as a slate of afflictions that range from fascinating to heartbreaking. When it comes to medical dramas, R. Scott Gemmill's HBO series remains the new gold standard.

In addition to its impressive surgery sequences and a series of escalating emergencies, The Pitt Season 2 manages to look even deeper inward than its predecessor. It pushes everyone to their breaking point, then sits quietly in the aftermath. Nowhere is this clearer than with Noah Wyle's Dr. Robby, who puts himself — and especially his team — through hell in the show's thorniest arc yet. More challenging than Season 1, Season 2 remains, as I wrote in my review, "empathetic, educational, and totally unforgettable." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Noah Wyle, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, and Sepideh Moafi

How to watch: The Pitt Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max.

8. Beef Season 2 Charles Melton, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, and Cailee Spaeny in "Beef." Credit: Netflix

Lee Sung Jin serves up a delectable new feud in Beef Season 2, a sharp examination of the intersection between capitalism and love. Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny star as two couples at war. As each pair fights tooth and nail to come out on top, Beef weaves a dazzling web of scams, blackmail, and rage that stretches all the way from California to Seoul.

SEE ALSO: Warring couples keep 'Beef' juicy: Season 2 review

That international reach is just one of several ways Beef Season 2 goes bigger than Season 1. (See also: doubling the number of beefing people.) What follows is a tad less focused than Beef's first entry, but it more than makes up for that with its astounding lead performances and awe-inspiring execution. As I wrote in my review, "Beef Season 2 is ambitious, impeccably acted, and proof that the series, while brilliant as a stand-alone, does have legs as an anthology." — B.E.

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho, Jang So-yeon, Mikaela Hoover, BM, and William Fichtner

How to watch: Beef Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. The Comeback Season 3 Lisa Kudrow in "The Comeback." Credit: Erin Simkin / HBO

Between Hacks' generative AI writing program QuikScribbl and The Pitt's AI charting tool, 2026 has been the year where TV confronted AI in the workplace. But no show has been more laser-focused on the topic than The Comeback Season 3, which turns a swan song for Lisa Kudrow's all-time great character Valerie Cherish into an urgent warning about the future of the entertainment industry.

SEE ALSO: 'The Comeback' Season 3 review: Lisa Kudrow warns us of the AI apocalypse

Naturally, The Comeback Season 3 is a riot, but it's also a deeply bleak, deeply prescient look at the devaluation of art in favor of AI. Kudrow is magnificent throughout, playing Valerie like a frog stuck in a pot of boiling water as she embraces AI without understanding the consequences. The Comeback understands the consequences loud and clear, though, and the result is as somber as it is funny. If this is truly, truly the last time we see Valerie Cherish, it's a hell of a way to go. (And proof that yes, she's still got it.) — B.E.

Starring: Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, Damian Young, Tim Bagley, Matt Cook, Jack O’Brien, Ella Stiller, John Early, Barry Shabaka Henley, Abbi Jacobson, Tony Macht, Brittany O’Grady, Zane Phillips, Julian Stern, and Andrew Scott

How to watch: The Comeback Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max.

6. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander, and Tracy Morgan in "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins." Credit: Scott Gries / NBC

What do you get when you cross 30 Rock's breakneck rhythm with the mockumentary format? Sitcom gem The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, starring Tracy Morgan as a disgraced football star and Daniel Radcliffe as the documentarian tasked with rehabilitating his image.

SEE ALSO: 'The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins' review: Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe are a match made in comedy heaven

Bursting with killer cutaway gags and pop culture zingers, Reggie Dinkins filled the 30 Rock-shaped hole in my heart that few other shows can. (Shout-out to Girls5eva and The Other Two, gone too soon.) Plus, it's blessed with the funniest ensemble on television, from Living Single's Erika Alexander to Saturday Night Live's Bobby Moynihan. At the heart of it all, of course, is the odd-couple of Morgan and Radcliffe, which proves a gift from the comedy gods. As I wrote in my review, "While their Reggie Dinkins characters gel like rubber and glue at first, Morgan and Radcliffe are the comedy equivalent of peanut butter and jelly: perfectly complementary, and a joy to savor." — B.E.

Starring: Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander, Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall

How to watch: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins is now streaming on Peacock.

5. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Credit: Steffan Hill / HBO

I fully expected to experience franchise fatigue with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the latest Game of Thrones spin-off. I have never been happier for a TV show to prove me wrong. 

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' review: 'Game of Thrones' prequel is a surprising comfort watch

Based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms goes smaller in scale, focusing not on a Westeros-wide war but on a single tournament. There, hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) crosses paths with sassy squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). The pair's ensuing friendship offers up a surprisingly comforting take on Westeros, complete with a supporting cast of good people genuinely trying to do the honorable thing. This isn't to say A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is devoid of Thrones-style tragedy, but as I wrote in my review, "It's a welcome switch-up in HBO's Game of Thrones lineup, and proof that the world of Westeros can be more than just a brutal cage match between warring families. More than that, though, it's a balm for the soul." — B.E.

Starring: Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Tanzyn Crawford, Daniel Ings, and Sam Spruell

How to watch: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is now streaming on HBO Max.

4. Bait Guz Khan and Riz Ahmed in "Bait." Credit: Prime Video

If you haven't spent the three hours watching the entirety of Riz Ahmed's exceptional series Bait, cancel your plans. The Oscar winner's sharp satire begins with a seemingly simple question — who will play the next James Bond? — and uses it as a jumping off point to examine questions about identity and ambition for actors of colour, especially in the treacherous court of public opinion. Ahmed plays British Pakistani actor Shah Latif, whose 007 audition tanks, so he seizes the opportunity to start rumours about his potential casting through the press — and the effects are chaotic.

With co-writers Prashanth Venkataramanujam (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj), Azam Mahmood (Ramy), and Karen Joseph Adcock (The Bear), and directors Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli), and Tom George (This Country), Ahmed has crafted a crucial, moving, and hilarious show, with jaw-dropping surrealism, '60s cinematography, and a banger soundtrack. But it's the star's performance that will stay with you, as I wrote in my review, "Ahmed really pushes himself to the brink in Bait, through deadpan comedic stylings to romantic yearning and wholehearted drama. As Shah loses his sense of control, of his identity, and of who exactly people demand him to be, Ahmed brings his characteristic intensity and finesse to each stage." — S.C.

Starring: Riz Ahmed, Guz Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Aasiya Shah, Sajid Hasan, Ritu Arya, Weruche Opia, Rafe Spall, and Nabhaan Rizwan

How to watch: Bait is now streaming on Prime Video.

3. The Vampire Lestat Sam Reid in "The Vampire Lestat." Credit: AMC+

Seasons 1 and 2 of AMC's sublime Interview with the Vampire focused on a saga told by Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) — and his clingy immortal boyfriend Armand (Assad Zaman). Season 3, rebranded The Vampire Lestat, is all about the POV of the Brat Prince. And as Lestat (Sam Reid) is seeking both a rewrite of his tarnished image and to become a rock god by spilling vampire secrets, this season is a wild ride of sex, drugs, rock n' roll, and incest. Yep. Turns out Lestat is a real motherfucker.

SEE ALSO: 'The Vampire Lestat' review: 'Interview With the Vampire' Season 3 delivers sex, blood, and a rock n' roll odyssey

Kicking off with rollicking energy and plenty of action (of every kind), The Vampire Lestat already has fans giddy. The thrills of the show have spread thanks to Reid's live performance in character for a one-night-only concert and an accompanying soundtrack of glam rock songs of lust, love, and loneliness. Drinking up those lyrics and his velvet-tongued singing is wickedly intoxicating, but trust us, things are just going to get wilder this season. And be warned: reading the books won't safeguard you from surprises. This adaptation is off the rails in the best way possible. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Sam Reid, Jennifer Ehle, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, and Delainey Hayles

How to watch: The Vampire Lestat is now streaming on AMC+.

2. Widow's Bay Matthew Rhys in "Widow's Bay." Credit: Apple TV

There's nothing on TV like Widow's Bay. That's not hyperbole: There's genuinely no show out right now that has carved out such a singular niche, in such a self-assured manner. Part small-town spookfest, part riotous bureaucratic sitcom, Katie Dippold's series about the mayor (Matthew Rhys) of a cursed New England island effortlessly blends horror and comedy, and it somehow always winds up with the best of both worlds. 

SEE ALSO: 'Widow's Bay' review: Your new favorite TV town awaits in this tremendous horror comedy

Take the show's superlative fourth episode, where Kate O'Flynn's Patricia (a perfect character whose existence alone earns Widow's Bay a spot on this list) throws a cocktail party gone horribly, horribly wrong. Eerie and hysterical in equal measure, it's a miraculous half-hour that defies easy genre categorization. The same goes for the rest of the show. Even while paying homage to horror classics like Jaws and Halloween, Widow's Bay deftly charts its own path to excellence. Forget being the next Martha's Vineyard; Widow's Bay is the next great TV town, and I can't see anyone dethroning it anytime soon. — B.E.

Starring: Matthew Rhys, Stephen Root, Kate O'Flynn, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Kevin Carroll, and Dale Dickey

How to watch: Widow's Bay is now streaming on Apple TV.

1. Industry Season 4 Myha'la and Marisa Abela in "Industry." Credit: Simon Ridgway / HBO

There are few greater joys in a TV critic's life than watching a show level up each season, and that's exactly what Industry has done. After blowing up Pierpoint in its Season 3 finale, Industry aims even higher in its spectacular fourth season. Its ambitions have never been more lofty, its execution has never been so confident, and its themes have never been more timely.

SEE ALSO: 'Industry's Myha'la and Marisa Abela break down Harper and Yasmin's devastating Season 4 farewell

In its quest to illuminate the networks of greed, power, and desire that govern us all, Industry delivers standout episode after standout episode. Henry Muck's (Kit Harington) costumed birthday dinner becomes a meditation on past trauma, while Sweetpea Golightly (Miriam Petche) and Kwabena Bannerman's (Toheeb Jimoh) trip to Accra is a haunting thriller. Threading through it all is the cat and mouse game between Harper Stern (Myha'la), Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela), and Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella). It's a slippery slope that causes one of Industry's leads to rise to her fullest potential, while the other sinks to almost unimaginable depths. Both arcs are masterfully crafted and exquisitely performed by Myha'la and Abela, and as Industry hurtles towards its fifth and final season, it's hard to imagine it getting even better than this. Given the show's past track record, though, I'm ready and excited to be proven wrong.

Starring: Myha’la, Marisa Abela, Kit Harington, Ken Leung, Max Minghella, Miriam Petche, Sagar Radia, Toheeb Jimoh, Charlie Heaton, Amy James-Kelly, Roger Barclay, Andrew Havill, Kiernan Shipka, Kal Penn, Jack Farthing, Stephen Campbell Moore, Claire Forlani, and Edward Holcroft

How to watch: Industry is now streaming on HBO Max.

For the best movies of 2026, Mashable's got you covered.

TL;DR: Live stream Tunisia vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup rumbles on with more interesting fixtures, including Tunisia vs. Japan.

The Japanese will be looking for their first win after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Netherlands in their opening game. Tunisia were well beaten by Sweden, but they now have a new manager. Could they turn things around against Japan?

If you want to watch Tunisia vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Tunisia vs. Japan?

Tunisia vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 12 a.m. ET on June 21. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Monterrey.

How to watch Tunisia vs. Japan for free

Tunisia vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Tunisia vs. Japan for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Tunisia vs. Japan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Tunisia vs. Japan (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Tunisia vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.