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Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a cinephile.

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 4, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 4, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: F-I-L-M

The words are related to cinema.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe short-named films.

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 Four Letter Movies.

NYT Strands word list for November 4

• Jaws

• Cars

• Clue

• Heat

• Four Letter Movies

• Milk

• Dune

• Hulk

• Babe

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult 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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 4, 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: To lead

• Green: A covering

• Blue: Found on a digital document

• Purple: A musical instrument

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Steer

• Green: Thin layer

• Blue: File extensions

• Purple: ___ Guitar

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 #877 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Steer: DIRECT, DRIVE, GUIDE, PILOT

• Thin layer: COAT, FILM, LEAF, SHEET

• File extensions: DOC, MID, TIFF, ZIP

• ___ Guitar: AIR, ELECTRIC, RHYTHM, SLIDE

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 4, 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.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 4, 2025

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 November 3, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 4 Pips

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answers are 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 4 Pips

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

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answers are 5-6, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answers are 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 4 Pips

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

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answers are 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answers are 1-6, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Best National Sex Toy Day deals: Best deal overall Namii 2 $101.15 (save $17.85) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Le Wand Rechargeable Vibrating Massager $116.99 (save $63) Get Deal

Black Friday may be the day to get the best deals on tech, but Nov. 4 (aka National Sex Toy Day) is one of the best times to fill your cart with pleasure products. This is like the pre-game before the holiday season officially kicks off, and tons of retailers are offering steep discounts on a variety of goodies, including vibrators, anal toys, male sex toys, and more.

To help you find the best deal, here’s a shortlist of retailers running National Sex Toy Day sales.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: biird Namii 2 $101.15 at biird
$119 Save $17.85 Use code NSD at checkout Get Deal Why we like it

Biird is hands-down one of my favorite sex toy retailers of all time. Its products are chic, beautifully packaged, and super effective at getting the job done. And right now (through Nov. 5), you can get up to 15% off sitewide with the code NSD.

What to buy: Biird has so many bangers that it’s hard for me to choose just one, but if I had to pick, I’d recommend the Namii 2. It’s an updated version of the Namii (which is one of my favorite clitoral suckers, ever). It has seven suction strengths, six vibration modes, and a bigger mouth for a broader range of stimulation. You can get it in mint, lilac, and sakura pink. It also comes with a super-cute charging base that doubles as a night light, a storage pouch, a travel charger, a cable, and a fun little sticker.

Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand Rechargeable Vibrating Massager $116.99 at Le Wand
$179.99 Save $63.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Le Wand is iconic. Full stop. The only reason I’ve put it as a runner-up is because biird never has sales, and Le Wand is pretty generous with its discounts. On National Sex Toy Day, you can get up to 50% off select Le Wand toys, or you can shop the Clearance Sale (up to 80% off) if you’d rather have something that isn’t brand-specific. Wand attachments are also on offer (up to 40% off), and there’s a pretty wide selection of wand and mini vibrators to choose from, too.

What to buy: There’s a lot going on at Le Wand right now, so if you’re feeling a little decision paralysis, take a quick second to think about what gets you going (suction, vibration, internal, external, etc.) and then browse for toys within that category. If you’re looking for a new wand vibrator (that’s what Le Wand is known for — it’s literally in the name), then I recommend the Le Wand Rechargeable Vibrating Massager. It’s powerful, has tons of positive reviews, 10 distinctive, rumbly vibration speeds, and 20 vibration patterns to explore.

More National Sex Toy Day deals

• Babeland: Get up to 60% off wand vibes or get 15% off a single full-priced item with code YESPLEASE

• Bellesa boutique: Get up to 80% off sitewide with code SAVE80

• B-vibe: Get up to 85% off select sex toys

• Good Vibes: Get up to 70% off select sex toys, up to 40% off anal plugs, and 50% off the Good Vibes Radiant Rose

• Kiiroo: Get up to 70% off select sex toys

• LELO: Get up to 50% off select toys, plus a free gift

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• Lovers: Get 25% off Evolve, Playboy Pleasure, Zero Tolerance, and Gender X toys with the code EVOLVED25

• ZALO: Get 15% off sitewide with code ZALOLOVE

• Zumio: Get 40% off sitewide

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you have some knowledge on college basketball.

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. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: High-motor guy

• Green: Blue blood basketball teams

• Blue: Portland's first son

• Purple: Types of fouls

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Energy

• Green: Men's College Basketball Teams with the Most Championships

• Blue: Associated with Damian Lillard

• Purple: Foul____

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 #407 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Energy - PEP, VERVE, VIGOR, ZIP

• Men's College Basketball Teams with the Most Championships - KENTUCKY, UCLA, UCONN, UNC

• Associated with Damian Lillard - 0, DAME TIME, TRAIL BLAZERS, WEBER STATE

• Foul____ - OUT, SHOT, TERRITORY, TIP

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

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

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

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

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 Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025:

AcrossQuickly fall asleep after a long day

• The answer is Crash.

1/16 of a pound

• The answer is Ounce.

Where chess, shampoo and the number zero were invented

• The answer is India.

Uproar

• The answer is Furor.

Opposite of saved

• The answer is Spent.

DownFancy hairdos

• The answer is Coifs.

Period preceding a big event

• The answer is Runup.

Tennis great Agassi

• The answer is Andre.

Descendant of a wealthy family

• The answer is Scion.

Symbol for "like" on Instagram

• The answer is Heart.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

SAVE OVER $500: As of Nov. 4, the Hisense 85-inch Canvas TV is on sale for $1,947.99 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-Inch Canvas TV $1,947.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $552.00   Get Deal

The dark nights are drawing in, with more of us spending our nights on the couch. So it's not the season for an old, hardly working TV.

Luckily, the Hisense 85-inch Canvas TV is on sale for its lowest-ever price at Amazon. As of Nov. 4, this TV is reduced by $552, now down to $1,947.99. If an 85-inch TV is too big for your space, all other sizes of this TV are also discounted by at least $200.

SEE ALSO: Get speedy streaming with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus which just dipped to a record-low price

The TV boasts 4K QLED and Quantum Dot technology, so everything you watch will have rich, accurate colors. And if you're a gamer, the 144Hz Game Mode Pro with Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Auto Low Latency Mode, and Low Latency MEMC will keep things running smooth, with minimal lag.

But the main selling point of this TV is its art mode. When not in use, you can transform the TV screen into a digital piece of art. The matte effect adds to its realism. It even has an ultra-slim wall mount to let you hang it flush against the wall, further creating the idea of framed art. The frame surround is magnetic, so it can be swapped between teak, white, or walnut to suit your home aesthetic.

The CanvasTV runs on Google TV, so you will get the benefits of an easy-to-navigate interface that puts all your streaming services and subscriptions in one place.

Get this impressive TV ahead of Black Friday.

SAVE $140: As of Nov. 4, the 50-inch Fire TV 4 Series is on sale for $259.99 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 50-inch Fire TV 4 Series $259.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $140   Get Deal

It's almost the season for Christmas movies and bringing out all your favorite festive rewatches. In fact, depending on where you fall on the early celebration scale, it may already be the season. So, with that in mind, why not treat yourself to a new TV to make the season of nights in on the couch feel that much better. And if you've been on the hunt for a good deal before taking the plunge, we've found you something special on the Amazon Fire TV 4 Series 50-inch.

As of Nov. 4, this impressive TV is reduced to $259.99, bringing it down to its best-ever price. This price is specific to the 50-inch model, but you can also find discounts on the 43-inch and 55-inch models.

SEE ALSO: The Google TV Streamer 4K is at its lowest-ever price — act fast to save $25

With an Amazon TV, you're of course going to reap all the Amazon product benefits. This includes built-in Alexa so you can ask it to search the web, find certain movies across different streaming platforms, or download apps. It will also come with the Fire OS which means you'll have a great, uncomplicated user interface, will all your shows displaying right on the home screen.

The TV also supports 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, so everything you watch will be bright, colorful, and top quality.

Get it from Amazon now at this record-low price.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 4, the Echo Show 8 is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 8 $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal

Smart home devices are the norm nowadays. There are constant innovations that seek to make our day-to-day lives a little easier, from robot vacuums, voice activated speakers, and even digital lightbulbs. And if you've been looking for the perfect smart home device to add to your home, look no further than the Echo Show 8.

The Echo Show 8 is a smart home hub that lets you control your devices, watch videos, and stay connected, all from one compact touchscreen device. And as of Nov. 4, it's on sale at Amazon for $99.99. That's a $50 saving, and both glacier white and charcoal devices are at this price so you can choose something that will seamlessly blend into your home.

SEE ALSO: Audiophiles can now enjoy all the benefits of Alexa+ with the new Amazon Echo Studio

It has an 8-inch HD touchscreen and spatial audio, so this device can give seriously immersive video and music experiences. You can even use it to watch Prime Video, Netflix, or any other streaming service. It also has video calling capabilities, and you can do so with great quality thanks to the 13 MP auto-framing camera.

The Echo Show 8 is also perfect for pairing and controlling devices compatible with Zigbee, Matter, and Thread without an extra hub, managing lights, cameras, and routines.

Get this smart home hub deal from Amazon.

SAVE $60: As of Nov. 4, the Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale for $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 38% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $60.00   Get Deal

If you're looking for an affordable fitness tracker that will become your new best friend for sports and lifestyle tracking, meet the Fitbit Charge 6. It's a great all-rounder tracker, with features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and advanced fitness metrics. But above all, it's affordable.

As of Nov. 4, you can get it on sale for under $100 at Amazon. Currently at its lowest-ever price, the Fitbit Charge 6 is priced at $99.95. This price is for all colors, so pick from black, red, or white.

SEE ALSO: The Fitbit Versa 4 just got its biggest discount of 2025 — save $80 right now

So for under $100, what can this smartwatch do? For accurate sports tracking, the Fitbit Charge 6 includes built-in GPS. This helps to track the pace and distances of runs, cycles, hikes, and any other outdoor activity.

This watch also benefits from its PurePulse 2.0 sensor. This provides round-the-clock heart-rate tracking, giving you an idea into your resting rate, workout zones, and unusual spikes or drops. The device also monitors SpO₂ levels overnight for a picture of oxygen saturation and recovery. Sleep tracking will also break down light, deep, and REM stages, giving you an easy-to-read sleep score each morning.

It also has several lifestyle features, including notifications on your wrist. See texts, phone calls, and who liked your latest Instagram post.

Get this Fitbit deal from Amazon while it's still on sale.