Mashable

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 Monday, Oct. 5, 2025:

AcrossVague assortment of things

• The answer is Stuff.

Prison-related

• The answer is Penal.

Country that's home to the majority of the world's wild tigers

• The answer is India.

Basketball offenses

• The answer is Fouls.

Recently picked from the garden, say

• The answer is Fresh.

DownImprove in appearance, with "up"

• The answer is Spiff.

Second-lowest voice in many choirs

• The answer is Tenor.

Excessive

• The answer is Undue.

Gets an F

• The answer is Fails.

Necessity for photographing in the dark

• The answer is Flash.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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.

Amazon provides a pretty irresistible shopping experience through its speedy shipping (among other Prime member perks), vast range of products, and unbeatable prices. Prime Day (formally called Prime Big Deal Days in October), in particular, can often lead to some regretful impulse buys. Psst: Just because something is down to its lowest price ever doesn't mean you need it.

With another Amazon shopping holiday on the horizon, officially kicking off on Oct. 7, you may be wondering how to return unwanted items purchased at Amazon. Whether you fall victim to the inevitable Prime Day impulse buys, end up with a broken item, or accidentally order two of something, it's actually pretty simple to make returns in 2025.

Here's the step-by-step process to return your Amazon packages:

1. Go to Amazon's website and click on Returns and Orders in the top-right corner of the screen. If you want to make a return on your Amazon app, the process is similar. On the app, click on the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen. Then click on Orders and follow the same steps.

2. A new page displaying your latest orders will appear. Scroll down to the item you want to return and click on the Return or replace items right next to the item listing.

3. The next page that opens up will have a drop-down menu with a list of reasons for returning the item. Select whichever option applies to your purchase and then click the yellow Continue button.

4. Then you will get the option to refund the balance to your Amazon account or debit/credit card. Pick what you prefer — refunds to bank cards usually take a week or so, while refunds to your Amazon account wallet are pretty immediate.

5. The last part of the online return process is choosing where you'll drop your return off. Amazon is pretty flexible with return methods: You can drop off the item for free at your nearest UPS Store, Kohl's, Whole Foods, Staples, or Amazon Store. You can also schedule a UPS pick-up for $7.99. Once you select a method, you'll receive a QR code that can be used to return the package at the drop-off location. If you choose UPS or Kohl's, no original packaging, tape, or shipping label is necessary — just bring the item and scan it.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Though Amazon touts "free returns" on many products, you may see a mystery $1 fee on your account if you did your return at a UPS store. As of April 2023, Amazon has been charging a $1 fee for items returned to UPS when there is a Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh store, or Kohl’s closer to their delivery address.

While the return process is fairly intuitive, Amazon's return policy can be tricky for some purchases. While the website states that most items can be returned in their original packaging with no missing parts within 30 days of receipt, regardless of whether they've been opened, there are some notable exceptions. Some luxury items cannot be returned once opened, for instance. And if you purchased an item on Amazon from a third-party seller, that seller might have their own return policy that differs from Amazon's. Meanwhile, not all items can be returned, such as digital orders, gift cards, and groceries purchased through Amazon Fresh.

TL;DR: Get a feature-packed MacBook Pro for only $279.97 (reg. $1,499) through October 12.

Want a laptop that can keep up with all your multitasking? Whether you’re in need of a laptop for work or school, it’s pretty tough to beat the MacBook Pro. This device is Apple’s most powerful portable option, but there’s usually one big drawback — it comes with a sky-high price tag.

Right now, you can snag this 13-inch MacBook Pro model for only $279.97 (reg. $1,499) until October 12.

This MacBook Pro deal too good to pass up

If you’ve always wanted to get your hands on a MacBook Pro, but haven’t had thousands of dollars set aside to snag one, you’ll want to act fast. This MacBook Pro comes packed with an impressive 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, and Turbo Boost capabilities that enable processing speeds up to 3.5GHz.

All that power doesn’t come with a lot of weight — this device weighs in at just 3.02 pounds. You can get everything done on the 13.3-inch retina display, which features 2560×1600 pixels and 500 nits brightness. With 512GB of storage, you have plenty of room to save important files right on the device, too.

This particular model includes some of Apple’s coolest features — like the Touch Bar, which offers customization and shortcuts right at the top of your keyboard. Speaking of that keyboard, it’s backlit and includes a butterfly mechanism for responsive typing. And a Force Touch trackpad offers precise cursor control.

The 10-hour battery life can last through the workday, and if you need to connect and charge, four Thunderbolt 3 ports are available.

You’re saving more than $1,200 thanks to this model’s grade A refurbished status. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with virtually no signs of prior use, while you enjoy a deep discount.

Bring home a MacBook Pro for only $279.97 (reg. $1,499) through October 12, while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13" Touchbar (2017) 3.1GHz i5 8GB RAM 512GB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished) $279.97
$1,499 Save $1,219.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Downsize your screentime and smartphone with the NanoPhone, now just $89.97 (reg. $199.99) through October 12.

Looking to cut back on your screentime? Why not do it literally? The NanoPhone is a miniaturized, fully functional smartphone that takes some of the temptation out of endless scrolling. And right now, you can secure one of these sleek devices for just $89.97 (reg. $199.99) through October 12.

This credit card–sized phone can do it all

If doomscrolling is taking a toll on your mental health, but you still need to stay connected with your smartphone, the NanoPhone offers a great compromise. It gives you all the functionality of your usual device in a compact design that’s the size of a credit card.

The NanoPhone can actually fit into your pocket, unlike the continuously growing smartphones of today. This tiny screen is a lot less tempting, so you’ll waste less time scrolling.

This petite phone comes with 4G, Bluetooth, and WiFi connectivity, and works with your existing SIM card — no extra data plan required. You can make calls, download apps, and video chat. It even includes a 5MP front camera and 2MP rear camera, so you can take photos and capture memories just like your usual phone.

A long battery life lets you use this smartphone all day. The NanoPhone is also super durable, made to withstand everyday wear and tear. It’s a great option for when you want to travel light — from nights out to gym sessions or a late-night run. It’s also a great emergency backup option.

Shrink your smartphone with the NanoPhone, on sale now for $89.97 (reg. $199.99) through October 12.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: NanoPhone NanoPhone - A Mini 4G Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $89.97
$199.99 Save $110.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: Why spend hundreds on a new laptop when you can make your current one feel brand new? Right now, you can grab a lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (reg. $199) during Deal Days.

If your PC’s starting to feel a little sluggish (or just plain outdated), upgrading to a new operating system can make a huge difference. And right now, during StackSocial’s Deal Days event, you can grab a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license for just $9.97 (reg. $199) — but heads up, this deal ends on October 12.

Windows 11 Pro is built for the way we work (and play) today. You’ll get a cleaner interface, better multitasking tools with Snap Layouts, smarter voice typing, and a faster search function — all designed to streamline your digital life. Plus, with access to Copilot, your built-in AI assistant, you’ll have help writing emails, organizing tasks, and automating daily workflows.

Gaming also gets a performance bump, thanks to DirectX 12 Ultimate, which improves graphics rendering and speeds. Whether you’re into casual gaming or more intense workloads like video editing, the improved efficiency is noticeable. And for work, tools like Microsoft Teams, Windows Sandbox, Azure AD, and BitLocker encryption are ready to go out of the box.

Need remote desktop access? That’s included, too. Windows 11 Pro is designed with professionals in mind — from IT admins managing multiple systems to freelancers handling sensitive client data. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or working from your favorite coffee shop, the OS helps you stay connected and protected.

The OS also introduces better hardware support, more responsive touchscreen gestures, and smarter integration with peripherals. It’s basically a fresh start without replacing the whole machine.

So instead of shelling out hundreds on a new laptop, give your current setup a second life.

Upgrade your PC’s performance when you grab your Windows 11 Pro lifetime license for just $9.97 (reg. $199). Act now before this Deal Days offer expires on October 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03 Get Deal

As noted philosopher Danny Elfman once wrote, "Tender lumplings everywhere / Life's no good without a good scare." But why stop at just one good scare? We want scares spilling on us like blood rain, especially here in the abundant days of home-streaming services. We live in a world where, with the push of a single button, we can switch from sightless cave dudes swinging off stalactites to Broadway veteran Tammy Blanchard wielding a butcher knife like nobody's business. 

Indeed, whether your preference is for slasher-killers or devil girls or something uncannily in between, there's too much blood-curdling content to choose from nowadays. So we've gone and sliced and diced the crowd down for you. Narrowing the entirety of what's available to one unforgettable collection of spine-tinglers, this list here has got something ghoulish for every soul — as long as you're ready to not sleep tonight... or ever again!

1. The Descent Credit: Celador / Pathe / Kobal / Shutterstock

Experiencing Neil Marshall’s spelunking nightmare The Descent in the cinema was truly a singular experience, especially if you had no idea you were in for a nasty little thriller about six female friends who reunite one year after a tragedy to explore an underground cave system together — as you do — only for it all to go terribly horribly wrong — as it does! The theater walls themselves seemed to close in on you as the film grew tighter, more constricted, and claustrophobic, and that was even before any of those creepy crawlers showed up. 

SEE ALSO: 'Strong Female Character' questions everything we've ever been taught about women onscreen

Even at home, the film still plays like gangbusters. Just wrap a blanket over your head and turn off all the lights, and you will feel like you’re right there in the Bava-esque underground alongside former besties Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) and Juno (Natalie Mendoza), third-wheel Beth (Alex Reid), sisters Rebecca (Saskia Mulder) and Sam (MyAnna Buring) — and who could forget the smidge-too-enthusiastic Holly (Nora-Jane Noone)? — as the walls close in and the blackness starts blinking, then biting, back.   

How to watch: The Descent is now streaming on Tubi.

2. The Queen of Black Magic  Credit: Shudder

Some of the best horror happening in the world right now is coming out of Indonesia. While I don’t want to say it’s all due to one man, you would be remiss to be unaware of the name Joko Anwar. Two of his recent directorial efforts, Satan’s Slaves from 2017 and Impetigore from 2019, are streaming on Shudder, and they’re both highly recommended — the latter has one of the greatest, freakiest opening sequences to a horror film I’ve seen in some time. But for sheer scare factor, I’m recommending instead a movie that Anwar only wrote the script for, with Kimo Stamboel directing. 

The Queen of Black Magic is a rollicking rollercoaster of a horror flick about a group of relatives and friends who’ve returned to the rural orphanage where they were raised to say their goodbyes to their sickly caretaker, only to find that things at the orphanage have gone a little haywire. It’s the sort of bonkers throw-out-all-the-stops ride that brings to mind Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films or Nobuhiko Ôbayashi’s Hausu. It throws everything at you, and I do mean everything. By the time a character starts stuffing fistfuls of furry caterpillars into their mouth, you’ll be the one crawling up the walls to escape. 

How to watch: The Queen of Black Magic is streaming on Shudder.

3. Gerald's Game Credit: Netflix

Before The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass and most definitely before The Fall of the House of Usher — even before he adapted Stephen King’s The Shining sequel, Doctor Sleep — writer-director Mike Flanagan turned in one of the very best King adaptations with his 2017 take on one of King’s very best stories. 

Flanagan players Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood star as a married couple whose attempt at spicing up their stale sex life with some kink at a remote cabin goes very, very, very wrong. This film manages to capture the horror of what King laid forth in a perfect and precise fashion. Exquisitely simple and terrifying, and a terrific showcase for what an underrated marvel of a performer Gugino can be.

How to watch: Gerald’s Game is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Threads 

There are loads of legitimately terrifying TV movies from back in the heyday of the format. (Ghostwatch and Salem’s Lot both pop straight to mind!) But none will leave you shuddering in the corner in shock quite like 1984’s BBC-produced nuclear war horror Threads. 

Directed by Mick Jackson, the man who also somehow gave the world the scarf-light pleasures of The Bodyguard and L.A. Story (human beings sure contain multitudes, huh?), Threads dropped on the unsuspecting populace of Great Britain on Sept. 23, 1984, like, well, several megaton bombs. And it’s been melting our faces off ever since. Aiming for as much realism as they could achieve at the time, what the film lacks in modern whizz-bang special effects it more than makes up in dire nihilism, despair, and oodles of unrelenting cruelty piled on every single character that it spent its first hour kindly introducing. (Mum!) It’s a disaster movie for those who snark at the outrageously unlikely happy endings that the genre typically embraces — Threads ain’t playing around. 

How to watch: Threads is now streaming on Shudder and Tubi.

SEE ALSO: The scariest horror movies on Shudder to keep you up at night 5. Nope Credit: Universal Pictures

A chimpanzee in a party hat. A white shoe inexplicably balanced on its tip. A dusty field full of inflatable tube men dancing in the breeze. In just three films (Get Out, Us, and Nope), writer-director Jordan Peele has proven exceptional at creating iconic imagery out of truly ridiculous things. And his 2022 alien-invasion terror set in the remote hills outside of Hollywood where the movies were born is his imagination unleashed on a larger-than-life scale. 

Not that Peele doesn’t keep it grounded where it counts – the relationship between grieving brother OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) keeps the stakes and the heart real even as the skies pour blood and a crowd full of curious looky-loos find out just a hair too late that maybe it’d be better to turn away just this once.  

How to watch: Nope is now streaming on Peacock.

SEE ALSO: What's the deal with Gordy the chimp in 'Nope'? 6. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Credit: Shudder

The greatest serial killer movie of all time is Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs, and that movie is streaming on Max right now. Have at it. But the scariest serial killer movie of all time is another beast altogether — with the sincerest apologies to Buffalo Bill and his lil Precious. 

This dubious honor belongs to John McNaughton’s relentlessly bleak Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which is inspired by the real-life gruesome twosome Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole. It is Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange with all of the humor and the sheen lasered off, leaving a simple, bloody pit of filth and despair in its wake. Turning the viewer themselves into Henry’s ride-or-die, it’s like the shower clean-up scene from Psycho stretched out to one hour and 23 minutes. How far is the audience willing to empathize and commiserate with a cold-blooded psychopath? No matter how far you make it, we can only promise you that you’ll feel worse about yourself in the morning. 

SEE ALSO: The 20 most chilling true crime documentaries on Max

How to watch: Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is now streaming on Tubi and Prime Video.

7. Green Room Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Director Jeremy Saulnier’s relentless 2015 panic attack of a movie stars Anton Yelchin (RIP), Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner as a punk band on cheapo tour who find themselves performing at a skinhead bar in the middle of nowhere, Oregon. And that’s not even the worst of it.

The worst comes when the band accidentally witnesses a murder in the green room. And their hosts don't want to leave any witnesses alive. Barricaded in the beer and piss-soaked back room of the title, the foursome find themselves besieged by a troupe of baddies, led by a terrifying Patrick Stewart, who is clearly relishing the opportunity to drop his StarFleet uniform for the cause of deeply freaking us out. Be warned, this one get gruesome.

How to watch: Green Room is now streaming on Paramount+.

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street Credit: New Line / The Elm Street Venture / Kobal / Shutterstock

Before knife-fingered slasher Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) told one too many jokes only to become a joke himself, Wes Craven’s 1984 original presented the burned man in the boiler room who’s come to haunt your dreams as a true object of terror. It’s not at all funny when he slices off his own finger and green goo shoots out — it’s disgusting and awful and we just wanna wake up now, please. 

Final Girl Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) watches as each of her friends is picked off, each in a more elaborate and gruesome fashion than the previous. Tina (Amanda Wyss) pulled up the wall and slashed to ribbons. Rod (Jsu Garcia) strangled in his prison cell. Glen (Johnny Depp) turned into a geyser of gore. So, she decides to hunt down the red-and-green-sweatered horror icon once and for all, parents be damned. A Freudian teenage hellscape awaits — one two, Freddy’s come for all of us.

How to watch: A Nightmare on Elm Street is now streaming on HBO Max. 

9. Backcountry 

Sometimes a single scene is enough. Writer-director Adam MacDonald’s crystal-simple survival horror flick from 2014 is much more than one scene – especially once that one scene happens, and the fall-out tension from that one scene follows relentlessly through to the movie’s end. But you know those scary moments, those ones that get burned into your psyche like a terrible brand? Ones that you still see sometimes when you close your eyes? Backcountry has one of those — hoo boy, does it ever. 

Telling the story of lightly bickering city couple Alex and Jenn (Jeff Roop and Missy Peregrym), who decide to take a hike in the Canadian wilderness only to stumble a strange hiker (Eric Balfour), and then a little later on, there’s that rustling in the bushes... We’re loath to give away too much. And while a statement like “This movie did for fill-in-the-blank as Psycho did for showers” always gives pause, Backcountry very seriously does this for camping. Seriously, the Overlook Hotel’s ghosts seem welcoming compared to this.

How to watch: Backcountry is streaming on Tubi.

10. The Exorcist  Credit: Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures / Sunset Boulevard / Corbis via Getty Images

Sometimes you just gotta go with the classics, like vanilla ice cream or Levi’s 501s or William Friedkin’s multiple-Oscar-winning adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s bombshell book about a child possessed by the devil. We don’t know for sure if the kids today are still finding the pea-soup shenanigans of Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) and her lil friend Captain Howdy scary after all these many years, or whether all of the countless riffs and rim-shots that the movie’s been subject to have dulled its impact. But for most of us, those have never been the scariest moments. 

SEE ALSO: 10 terrifying religious horror movies you can stream right now

No, the scariest moments for us have have always been the jittery jerky spinal-tap scenes – the ones where a little girl is screaming and convulsing as the best doctors a movie-star mom can buy (holla, Ellen Burstyn, legend!) shred little Regan’s innocence off, one trauma on top of another on top of another. (Learning the onscreen technician was later convicted of a murder and inadvertently inspired Friedkin to make Cruising just makes it that much more horrifying.)

I mean, who isn’t turned into a monster, their spirit relentlessly broken, by the American Healthcare System?

How to watch: The Exorcist is now streaming on Max.

SEE ALSO: Grim 'The Exorcist: Believer' clip teases a church service from hell 11. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre  Credit: HA / THA / Shutterstock

It was just one innocent little question: “Who will survive and what will be left of them?” Okay, perhaps not so innocent! But The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s tagline sure is to the point, as is everything about this nitty-gritty proto-slasher classic, which deserves every grisly ounce of its legendary reputation and then some. 

In 1974, director Tobe Hooper dragged his poor cast and crew into the sweltering desert outside of Austin, and he didn’t come back until he’d left his great big mark across horror history by leaving several more great big marks across the torsos and limbs of his cast of pretty young people. (And Franklin. Poor, annoying Franklin.) 

But, aye, that’s the rub — watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre again and revel in how very little on-screen violence we actually see. This movie is all atmosphere, all churning sound (that relentless gas generator) and chicken bones. Oh, and one iconic flesh-mask grinning out from every doorway, no matter how much you run, and scream, and run, and scream, and run...

How to watch: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is streaming on Shudder and Tubi.

12. Cujo Credit: Taft / Kobal / Shutterstock

The film that literally gave me my very first panic attack (ahh, memories), Cujo is one of those titles that has become so iconic it's like Kleenex – an eponym standing in for all rabid dogs. So I probably don’t have to tell you what Cujo is about, but let’s. Based on Stephen King’s book, a sweetheart of Saint Bernard is out chasing a bunny when he gets bitten on the nose by a bat instead. And before you know it, it’s the whole foaming-at-the-mouth treatment for the pupster. 

Cut to an unlucky (to put it mildly) lady and her little boy (Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro), whose car breaks down in the mad dog’s path, and what you’ve got here is the claustrophobic thriller to end all claustrophobic thrillers. The dog keeps them trapped in the car during what appears to be the hottest week in the history of the planet. Simple and absolutely histrionically terrifying.

How to watch: Cujo is now streaming on Pluto.tv.

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked 13. The Invitation  Credit: Drafthouse Films

Some of the greatest horror films prey on our societally bred instincts to play nice and not rock the boat until we’re well past the point of no return. But not many have tightened this vise of politeness as ruthlessly as does Karyn Kusama in her 2015 slow-burn nightmare, The Invitation. 

The Invitation follows a group of estranged friends who have been invited to dinner by one of their own who’s been through it… only they don’t seem to have any idea what she’s come out the other side of “it” as. But they sure will by dessert! The film boasts a top-notch cast, including Logan Marshall-Green, Michiel Huisman, and the aforementioned Tammy Blanchard. And like Zodiac before it, this movie knows how to use the mountainous John Carroll Lynch to his most terrifying effect. We’re all trapped at the world’s worst dinner party, watching as Kusama slams every exit shut tight, one by excruciating one. This one is a legitimate masterwork on how to build tension and then let it all out in one sudden, unbearable shriek.

How to watch: The Invitation is now streaming on Peacock, Tubi, and Shudder.

14. Skinamarink  Credit: IFC Films / Shudder

This movie either works for you or it doesn’t — there seems to be no in-between whatsoever. I just happen to be one of the people who fell hard under its slow, slow, slow brand of hypnosis, and so I will continue recommending it in the hopes that others will make the effort and let Skinamarink wash over them until they too feel like they’re drowning in its unfathomable darkness. 

The film's ambiguous story centers on two children who get left home alone one night with some horrible, whispering presence sneaking around the hallways. Skinamarink demands extreme patience. Often, viewers are left to just stare at a corner of the wall or the floor for minutes at a time, as disassociated voices and cartoon music loops relentlessly. But the weirdnesses keep piling up, and the eventual trance-like trapped-inside-a-nightmare effect, as the horrible whispering presence comes for us, is still rattling my bones.

How to watch: Skinamarink is now streaming on Shudder.

SEE ALSO: What the heck is a 'Skinamarink'? Explaining the abstract horror gem 15. [REC]  Credit: Filmax / Kobal / Shutterstock

Most of the time you watch a found footage movie, you find yourself getting angry at the characters that they keep bungling into the path of horror and don’t run away. Or, even more unlikely, that they keep carrying the camera to document everything! The best solution to these narrative problems is simple — make the lead character a journalist. Because who else would be running toward the disaster while all the sane people run away? 

Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza’s 2007 found footage masterpiece is possibly the best, clearest example of this, and their film gives us one hell of a newsperson to root for with Manuela Velasco’s beat-reporter turned kick-ass Final Girl, Ángela. Of course, firefighters and police officers would also be running toward the disaster, so there’s a bunch of those, too. And although they’ll mostly be gobbled up by the zombie-demon-things that have begun terrorizing a quarantined apartment building in downtown Barcelona, at least it makes sense! We certainly understand why Ángela keeps holding up that camera of hers, even in the most dire situations. You’d be surprised how far these little touches of behavioral realism go toward making the zombie-demon-things even scarier. And bonus points (a whole score of ‘em) for one of the most terrifying final scenes of all time, with a final shot that’s been aped too many times to count in the years since.

How to watch: [REC] is now streaming on AMC+.

16. Lake Mungo

By far the most subtle film on this list (no caterpillar feasts here!), Joel Anderson’s 2008 “true crime mockumentary” out of Australia goes for the kind of scares that insinuate themselves into your brain rather than the kind that stab you in the crotch with a crucifix. But Lake Mungo’s scares will creep up on you, and Lake Mungo’s scares will refuse to let go once they have dug their fingers in. 

The Palmer family is in deep mourning after the loss of their teenage daughter Alice, who mysteriously drowned, but their search for answers leads to more questions — and strange discoveries. They enlist a parapsychologist who opens a whole other can of supernatural worms, and soon the audience is being treated to all sorts of clues and whispers and glimpses of things we wish we could unsee.

Like all of the best ghost stories, Lake Mungo is steeped in a pervasive sadness and grief, but there is a single shot in here that belongs in the Scariest Shots Hall of Fame. Anyone who’s seen this movie before knows which one we’re talking about, just by looking down at all of the hairs standing on their arms right this very second. 

How to watch: Lake Mungo is now streaming on Tubi and Prime Video.

17. Speak No Evil Credit: Shudder

One of the most reliable and yet under-appreciated weapons in horror stories isn’t the scythe or the sickle. And it’s definitely not the football with a sword attached in the slasher Graduation Day. No, the weapon that gets them every time and will absolutely turn the audience’s stomach into gruel watching it get wielded is kindness. Manners. Politeness. Danish writer-director Christian Tafdrup gets that, and he weaponizes these seeming virtues to such an uncomfortable degree in this brutal 2022 horror thriller that the tension, as it builds, becomes suffocating. 

The setup is simple. Two families meet on vacation and hit it off. So, one family invites the other to come stay at their country house for another much-needed getaway. But shortly after their arrival, the visitors realize that this was a very bad idea indeed. Not wanting to seem rude, this frightened family keeps ignoring red flags, even as every single member of the viewing audience is stamping their feet and screaming “RUN” in unison.

How to watch: Speak No Evil is now streaming on Shudder.

SEE ALSO: We need to talk about 'Speak No Evil's twisted ending 18. The Fog

People will fight about what scary movie is John Carpenter’s best. The master of horror has been so good at what he does that there are several correct answers. But for my buck, I just keep coming back to his utterly perfect vibe of a 1980 ghost story The Fog.

Set in the oceanside town of Antonio Bay in Northern California, The Fog introduces its vaporous villain through the sultry voice of DJ Stevie Wayne (Adrienne Barbeau), whose call echoes out across every house and nearby boat as she warns that that glowing green bank of fog just seems to be moving in the wrong direction. On one side this spooky movie has got waterlogged pirate ghouls, all seaweed and sinister intentions, on the hunt for their stolen gold. And on the other, it’s got Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Atkins, Hal Holbrook, and the Janet Leigh, all trying to survive the night. The dark. The fog.

How to watch: The Fog is now streaming on Roku.

19. Funny Games  Credit: Wega Film / Kobal / Shutterstock

Despair, thy name is Michael Haneke.

This 1997 home-invasion thriller cemented the acclaimed Austrian director as someone keenly interested in human brutality. It's not just that Funny Games involves horrific acts, which are often performed with a harrowing shrug or off-screen, but that it wallows in the rippling outward effects that they have. Thus, the plight of the tormented characters bleeds through the screen, reflecting our indifference and our numbness in participating in this world. 

Ulrich Mühe, Susanne Lothar, and Stefan Clapczynski star as a family of three who go on what should be a carefree lakeside vacation. But almost immediately, they are interrupted by two disturbingly polite and well-mannered young men (Arno Frisch and Frank Giering), who say they’re friends of the neighbors. And before you know it, the neighborly act of borrowing some eggs has descended into horror.

Callous and as cruel as they come, Funny Games is built to make you furious, squirming in your helplessness, and boy, does it ever.

How to watch: Funny Games is now streaming on HBO Max.

UPDATE: Oct. 3, 2025, 2:36 p.m. EDT This post was first published on Oct. 8, 2022. It has been updated to reflect current streaming options.

It might look full, but the moon isn't at 100% illumination tonight. We still have a few days to go, but that doesn't make tonight's moon any less exciting.

Keep reading to find out what's happening tonight, October 5.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Oct. 5, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, and according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 96% of its surface is illuminated tonight.

With so much of the moon on display, there's a lot we can look out for. Some of the highlights include: the Copernicus Crater, the Aristarchus Plateau, and the Mare Tranquillitatis, all visible without any visual aids. With binoculars, you'll also see the Apennine Mountains, the Mare Frigoris, and the Endymion Crater. If you have a telescope, you can also spot the Apollo 16 and 17 landing spots and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 7. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

NASA explains that the moon goes through phases as it completes its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth cause the different phases we observe. From Earth, the moon can look full, partially lit, or even disappear entirely, but we always see the same side. What changes is the amount of sunlight reflected from its surface, depending on its position in orbit.

The eight main moon phases are as follows:

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.

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

If you're devoted to playing the latest newest games online, you'll know the pain of network issues. We're talking the kind of frustrating lag that comes from having a sluggish WiFi connection. That's a fast track to dropping out of your game.  

Unless you're playing with a wired LAN connection, these issues are almost inevitable. Online game sessions will drop out. You will experience lag. It's going to affect your gaming. It can be maddening. But there's a solution: A high-powered gaming router.

But buying a gaming-friendly router comes with the same problems as any other high-end device. Unless your deeply embedded in the tech, it's almost impossible to decipher all the jargon and know exactly what you're buying. Does that sound confusingly familiar? Well, we're here to help. Here's some useful information on gaming-specific routers and a selection of the best models available right now.

Why do you need a router for gaming?

Today's gaming-centric routers offer power, convenience, and quality in relatively inexpensive packages. You can get something very good for around £200, which is far cheaper than all the other hardware needed to run your games. A router can make all the difference when it comes to an impressive Call of Duty kill/death ratio, for instance, and keep you competing for longer in your favourite online tournament. 

Do you need a new router?

Before you go out and buy anything, look at what’s connected to your router. Every single device in your home — be that a phone, tablet, TV, or smart-home devices like Alexa — takes bandwidth from your router. If all you're doing at home is browsing the web and streaming the odd film, you probably won't need an upgrade. But if you're planning on doing some heavy-duty gaming without a decent router — on top of having lots of connected devices — you’re going to run into annoying lag issues.

What makes a router good for gaming?

There are various features designed for gamers. Look for a gaming router that offers prioritisation for your gaming systems and applications. If you live in a home with multiple gamers, you might also want to get a router that allows you to control how much bandwidth everyone in your household gets. Some also have a modified management console to adjust bandwidth priorities depending on your needs. Also consider looking for routers that have a Geo-Filter because that can limit the distance to the host server you play on, which will reduce lag. 

Other features you might want to consider include Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology for faster data streaming, beamforming, and wider channel bandwidths up to 160Hz. You’ll also want at least four gigabit LAN ports, at least one USB port, and a router that offers robust cyber security.

What's the difference between dual-band and tri-band?

A dual-band router offers two frequency bands — 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Compared to the older single band routers, dual-band routers relieve congestion and give you a faster connection. Tri-band routers are even more impressive, offering one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands. Tri-band routers tend to be better for high-demand gaming because you can reserve one of the 5 GHz bands specifically for your gaming. It depends on how much bandwidth your gaming will eat up. If you're more of a casual gamer, a dual-band will almost certainly be enough.

How fast are gaming routers?

It really depends on how much you're willing to spend, or how serious you want to get with the tech. The routers on the list below begin at theoretical speeds of just over 1Gbps and go from there. But it also depends on the WiFi technology you have. Routers and devices that use WiFi 5 — which is the more standard version — can go up to 3.5 Gbps. WiFi 6, which most people are yet to upgrade to, can go up to 9.6Gbps. The faster the better when it comes to gaming that puts heavy demands on your internet, such as AR or VR gaming, but the theoretical speeds are likely faster than you'll ever need. WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 — the latest WiFi technology — go even faster. Recommended speeds for PS5 gaming range between 3Mbps and 100Mbps. In other words, you'll be fine with any of the routers listed below.

What is the best gaming router?

To make things simple, we've selected the best gaming routers on the market. No matter your budget, whether you don't want to miss a second of the action in Fortnite or simply want a stronger wireless signal all around the house, these gaming routers are sure to boost your gaming experience. Just connect and lock and load.

These are the best gaming routers in 2025.

There's nothing like a good trip to the barbers. You always money well spent. But there's nothing to stop you getting the tools yourself i.e. a set of hair clippers.

Perhaps you like to touch up the edges or you have a cropped style that you can cut yourself in the mirror. Maybe you're a dab hand at cutting hair yourself and need clippers for styling your partner or housemate's hair. It's just sensible to have a set of clippers in the house. And when t comes to cutting the hair on your head, electric shavers and beard trimmers just won't cut it. (See what we did there?)

But take it from us: Whatever you do, don't attempt to cut your own hair with anything other than a set of good quality, well-researched hair clippers. If you're buying a set, you might as well buy the best. To help you choose, we've put together this quick guide and researched some of the best hair clippers available right now.

Are there different types of hair clippers?

It comes down to just two choices — corded and cordless. Corded clippers pack more power and are usually sturdier, but they’re not as portable or convenient. You have to take the time to plug them in and you need the mains to be near a mirror. Cordless clippers can be used anywhere and will suit someone who’s always on the go or short of time. The drawback, of course, is that they run our of juice after a few cuts so you need to ensure they're always charged up and ready to cut.

What’s a good battery life for hair clippers?

Different models have different levels of power. Specialist or professional grade models, such as the Remington Quick Cut, may have significantly lower runtimes. But as a general rule, a good runtime for cordless clippers is about 60 minutes or more.

What are clipper combs?

Sometimes known as guide combs or guards, these are plastic attachments that clip onto the head of your clippers. They essentially adjust the length of the cutting action, allowing you to cut your hair to a specific length. Most clippers come with a selection of combs as standard. If you’re cutting for a whole family’s worth of different styles and lengths, look out for models that have a good selection of combs and length settings.

What other accessories come with hair clippers?

Hair clippers sometimes comes with barber’s scissors, combs, and brushes. We’re of the opinion that when it comes to grooming, you can never have too many accessories. Its always good to have a well-stocked hair styling toolkit.

How do you clean hair clippers?

Many hair clippers are made with completely washable blades. That means you can just run them under a tap for a thorough clean. Others come with special cleaning oils to use on the blades. Cleaning your clippers is really important to keep them in the best possible condition — and to ensure they’re giving you the best possible performance.

What are the best hair clippers?

Fortunately, you have plenty of options when it comes to hair clippers. We've lined up a selection of the very best models for you to consider. There is something for every budget — not to mention every head — on this list. The only thing you need to do is pick a favourite. Trust us, these are a cut above.

These are the best hair clippers in 2025.

Happy Saturday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Today's games are harder than they initially seem, but we have all the tips you need to navigate them.

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 October 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 October 4, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 5 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 5 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (13): Everything in this space must add to 13. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 5 Pips

Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add to 8. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add to 8. The answer is 2-3, placed; 5-3, 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will challenge your knowledge of a popular winter sport.

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: Position in the league

• Green: Dog teams

• Blue: Teams that love this orange-brown color

• Purple: Types of balls

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

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

• Yellow: Ways to Show Standing in Different Sports

• Green: Teams Named After Dog Breeds

• Blue: Teams Whose Nicknames are Colors

• Purple: ___Ball

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 #377 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Ways to Show Standing in Different Sports - LEADERBOARD, RANKINGS, STANDINGS, TABLE

• Teams Named After Dog Breeds - CONNECTICUT, GEORGIA, GONZAGA, WASHINGTON

• Teams Whose Nicknames are Colors - CINCINNATI, ST. LOUIS, STANFORD, SYRACUSE

• ___Ball - BANANA, BREAKING, MEDICINE, PING-PONG

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.

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

A slice.

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

PIECE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A ring.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHIME

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An Indian king.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

RAJAH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A location.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PLACE

Final Hurdle hint

A group.

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

BATCH

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

Save $45: As of Oct. 4, the Owl edition of Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow is 50% off, down $45 from its list price of $90 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow $49 at Amazon
$89 Save $40 Get Deal

Amazon’s Alexa device built for kids is on sale right now. This is coming on the heels of their recent reveal of their new models of the Echo, Amazon’s Alexa-enabled smart speakers. The Kids Echo Dot with Echo Glow is a smart speaker designed especially for family use. Set timers with different color lights, play music, listen to bedtime stories, or audiobooks on the Echo Dot. This particular bundle comes with a year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which gives you access to tons of stories, games, and educational Alexa features.

Parents have complete control of the device through the Amazon Dashboard, which can set limits on use, filter any media, and review the device use history at any time. The Echo Dot and Echo Glow can foster creativity and independence by letting kids set their own timers for chores, call approved contacts, or control smart lights.

You can even change the color of the Echo Glow to signify things like dinner time, bedtime, or quiet time. Together, both devices can improve and streamline routines and expand their imaginations during play.

Amazon states that privacy is a major priority for this device, which has a prominent mic-off button and strict data protection. 

SAVE $150: As of Oct. 4th, this 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo is on sale for 33% off. That’s $150 off its list price of $449 on Amazon. 

Opens in a new window Credit: 3I 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $299 at Amazon
$449 Save $150 Get Deal

This 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo is a deal when it’s not discounted. It’s new patented technology compresses dust and dirt, allowing you to forgo emptying the device and avoiding the self-emptying station situation. Mashable’s senior shopping reporter Sarah Stodart says it's "The most impressive robot vacuum under $500."

Right now, though, it’s under $300. Stodart reported that on her test run, the 3i G10+ robot vacuum’s advanced LiDAR technology expertly and correctly mapped her apartment, taking care to note bedrooms and bathrooms via distinguishing items like toilets and beds.

“The G10+ also steered around socks and fake pet waste (clumps of brown sugar). While it did identify most phone and laptop chargers in the app, it drove over some of them anyway,” Stodart reported. “But even the most advanced robot vacuums I've ever tested don't have a perfect track record with cords.”

The G10+ can identify and detect different types of dirt or mess and respond accordingly. It also has customizable options for carpet cleaning based on your home’s needs. 

"During zone cleanings, the G10+ automatically cleans in a grid pattern like the Shark Matrix vacuums," Stodart says. "The only time I really saw debris left behind was when I intentionally spilled a giant pile of rice on the kitchen floor, and the G10+ cleared about 90 percent of it in two passes."

SAVE $52: As of Oct. 4, this Fire TV Stick HD and Luna Controller bundle is 50% off. Save on both devices, which are down from their list price of $105 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Stick HD + Luna Controller gaming bundle $52.98 at Amazon
$104.98 Save $52.00 Get Deal

Amazon’s bundle deal for the Fire TV Stick HD and the Luna Controller is on sale for half off this weekend. Not only do you get all of the benefits that Fire TV offers as far as streaming goes, but the bundle is also everything you need to get started with Amazon’s game streaming service. Prime and Luma subscriptions are sold separately, but these two products can unlock thousands of shows, games, and game streaming from your favorite streamers and creators. 

The Fire TV Stick HD allows you to stream in fast, reliable, and high-quality HD, which is especially made for HD TVs. The Alexa remote comes with voice control, and the Fire TV Stick also works with compatible smart home devices. 

If you don’t want to sign up for both Prime and Luna, there is good news. Prime members can stream and play Fortnite and a host of games that rotate monthly. For gamers that are down to clown, a Luna+, Ubisoft, or Jackbox subscription gives you the keys to hundreds of games. If you prefer to test out games before purchasing them, this subscription streaming model from Luna+ could be the right choice for you.

Both the Fire TV Stick HD and the Luna controller connect to servers via WiFi, and the controller connects to compatible devices via Bluetooth. 

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will challenge your knowledge of a popular winter sport.

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: At the pool

• Green: Mid NFL division

• Blue: Located in Texas

• Purple: NHL players, informally

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

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

• Yellow: Found at a Pool

• Green: AFC South Teams

• Blue: Texas College Teams

• Purple: NHL Player Nicknames

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 #376 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Found at a Pool - LIFEGUARD, NOODLE, TOWEL, TUBE

• AFC South Teams - HOUSTON, INDIANAPOLIS, JACKSONVILLE, TENNESSEE

• Texas College Teams - BAYLOR, RICE, SMU, TEXAS TECH

• NHL Player Nicknames - MCJESUS, OVI, PASTA, SID THE KID

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.

Wisconsin Democrats have introduced a bill looking to crack down on soaring ticket prices, and, of course, they've named the legislation in honor of Taylor Swift.

The bill, officially called the "Stop Wildly Inflated Fees and Ticketing Industry Exploitation" act, was introduced earlier this week just before the release of Swift's new, somewhat divisive album, The Life of a Showgirl. The legislation would institute "requirements for sellers and resellers for price disclosure, refunds and ticket transferability, along with rules for acquiring and advertising tickets for resale," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

"Live events are one of the great joys of life. If you are a fan, you deserve to go see your favorite artist or sporting event without being exploited by unscrupulous scalpers, third-party bot farms that drive up prices, and other practices that exploit fans, venues, and artists," said Wisconsin State Sen. Kelda Roys — the lawmaker who introduced the legislation, in an Instagram Reel.

View this post on Instagram

Roys mentioned how expensive Swift's last tour proved to be for fans. However, if you ask the head of Ticketmaster, concert tickets are actually underpriced.

As we covered at Mashable, LiveNation/Ticketmaster CEO Michael Rapino said, "The concert is underpriced and has been for a long time."

Rapino argued that sports can actually be more expensive. But an average fan of any big musician knows how expensive concerts can be, too.

Recently, as I was editing an article, I noticed an accent over an “a” that definitely shouldn’t have been there. I backspaced to no avail and even went so far as to make sure my Spanish keyboard wasn’t turned on by mistake. Turns out it was a fleck of dust or dirt, which is how I knew it was time to clean my laptop screen.

As with most valuable tech devices, there is a right and a wrong way to clean your laptop screen. So, here’s the 411 on exactly how to clean your laptop screen so you’re left with a shiny, sparkly, and almost-new-looking screen.

First off, you definitely shouldn't just pull your sweatshirt sleeve down over your hand and wipe away. That’s totally not what I did when dust was conspiring against my latest writing assignment. “I always use a microfiber cloth with a small amount of a very gentle chemical that specifically states it is 'LCD safe,'" says Pedro Serrano, senior technician at New York Computer Repair. "The number one step is to power off the device before you clean the screen with the cloth.” He recommends you clean your screen with gentle circular strokes and wait for it to dry completely before turning the device back on. 

“I would never use any towels or anything abrasive like regular towels, paper towels, or toilet paper,” Serrano adds. Paper towels and tissues can come apart and leave debris behind on the screen.

And while Serrano's advice covers most LCD and LED screens, we also have some extra advice for OLED displays, which come with some newer laptops. Our advice will also apply to smartphones and similar gadgets with displays.

How to clean your laptop screen1. Shut down your device completely

Serrano added that even though the cleaning solutions may be safe for your screen, absolutely no liquid should be near a running laptop. If it gets near on the hardware while it is running, it could break or damage your device.

2. Use a screen-safe microfiber cloth and an LCD-safe solvent

You don’t want to use anything too harsh, according to Serrano. Even something like a glass cleaner (for example, Windex) can leave rainbow-like stains that could be permanent. For OLED displays, which tend to be more sensitive, MSI specifically recommends using a microfiber cloth and 70 percent ethanol solution.

3. Gently wipe your screen in a circular motion and leave it to dry completely before turning it back on

Serrano stressed that you should use a very small amount of the cleaning solution and let it dry before you return to using your device so that you protect it from any potential damage.

What to avoid when cleaning your laptop screen

Always avoid the following cleaning products:

• Paper towels, toilet paper, or tissues

• Regular towels or cloth fabric (such as your own shirt sleeve)

• Harsh cleaning chemicals with ammonia or bleach 

• Excessive amounts of liquid that could leave drips behind

• Window cleaner

• Dish soap (or soap of any kind)

• Makeup remover

Finally, here are some of our tech reporters' favorite products for cleaning laptop screens safely:

Best products for cleaning your laptop screen EDITOR'S PICK OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner $11.99 (save $3) Shop Now EDITOR'S PICK Pristine Screen 4-pack $17.98 (save $12.02) Get Deal Screen Cleaner Spray Kit $7.99 Shop Now MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths 2-Pack $6.98 (save $3.01) Get Deal YTT Touchscreen Mist Cleaner $6.99 (save $1) Shop Now WHOOSH! Screen Shine Duo $17.99 (save $2) Shop Now Windex Electronic Cleaning Wipes $4.77 Shop Now Fintie Screen Cleaning Pad $8.99 Shop Now

Xbox is planning to add a free, ad-supported tier to its cloud gaming service. That means you should be able to stream certain games without paying.

The Verge broke the news, citing sources familiar with Microsoft's plans. The tech site reported that Microsoft was getting ready to announce the news and had been testing ad-supported gaming internally. The ads would reportedly take the form of a two-minute pre-roll before playing, and there may be limits on how long games could stream.

Wrote The Verge:

"I understand that the free ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming will include the ability to stream some games you own, as well as eligible Free Play Days titles, which let Xbox players try games over a weekend. You’ll also be able to stream Xbox Retro Classics games."

SEE ALSO: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is about to cost more — here's how to lock in a better price

Xbox Cloud Gaming is a key offering from Microsoft and allows gamers to stream with certain Game Pass subscriptions. The company recently instituted a price hike — like everything else these days, it seems — pushing Xbox GamePass Ultimate up 50 percent to $29.99 per month.

Whether you're trying to cut back on subscription fees, avoid auto-renewal after a free 30-day trial, or align your spending more closely with your values, there are tons of reasons you may want to cancel Amazon Prime. We totally get it and make no judgments.

Of course, you might want to keep your Prime membership for October Prime Day (aka Prime Big Deal Days), since Prime members have exclusive access to most of the deals during the shopping event. The fall shopping event falls on Oct. 7 and 8 and promises millions of deals across categories, giving customers a head start on holiday shopping.

Nevertheless, here's a step-by-step guide on how to bid Bezos goodbye if and when the time comes to cut ties with the mega retailer. Trust us; it's not as straightforward as it should be.

How to cancel your Amazon Prime membership in the Amazon app

The process for canceling your Prime subscription via the Amazon app is the same on both iOS and Android.

Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• Smartphone
• Amazon mobile app

Step 1: Open the app and tap the middle button at the bottom (it should look like a person).

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 2: Tap "Your Account."

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 3: Scroll down through the list of options to "Manage Prime Membership" (under "Account Settings").

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 4: Hit "Manage membership" at the top of the page.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 5: Tap "Manage Membership (Update, cancel and more)."

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 6: Tap "End membership."

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 7: Review how many days are left in your current Prime billing cycle. Scroll all the way down to "Continue to cancel."

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 8: Confirm your cancellation by clicking the yellow button that says "End on [date]."

Your membership will officially end once your current billing cycle is over.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon How to cancel your Amazon Prime membership on desktop Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• Laptop or desktop

Step 1: Log in to your Amazon account on your browser. Hover over "Accounts & Lists" in the upper right hand corner. In the menu of options, click "Prime Membership."

You'll pull up your personal Prime membership page with a collection of plan benefits and options.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 2: Click "Manage Membership" in the top right-hand corner. Click "End Membership."

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 3: Review how many days are left in your current Prime billing cycle. Click the yellow button on the lower-right side of the page that says "Continue to cancel."

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 4: Confirm your cancellation by clicking the yellow button that says "End on [date]."

Your membership will officially end once your current billing cycle is over.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon