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If last week's trailer for Dune: Part Three wasn't enough to tide you over until the film's Dec. 18 release, you're in luck. You might be able to catch exclusive footage from Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic before screenings of The Odyssey.

Roughly four minutes of footage from Dune: Part Three will play before IMAX 70mm screenings of The Odyssey. The large film format is The Odyssey director Christopher Nolan's preferred way for audiences to see the movie, and only 41 theaters in the world are capable of screening it.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' has made IMAX 70mm a status symbol

If you're one of the lucky few who snagged tickets to these sold-out screenings, you'll be able to head back to the universe of Dune a little bit sooner. Just be sure to get to the screening on time! However, if you got tickets to any other format, including non-70mm IMAX, you'll tragically be Dune-less for a little while longer.

Last year, The Odyssey pulled a similar marketing tactic, showing six minutes of footage before IMAX 70mm re-releases of both Sinners and One Battle After Another. While that footage was exclusive to the 10 theaters showing those re-releases, the same footage later screened in front of all IMAX showings of Avatar: Fire and Ash. Hopefully, Dune: Part Three will keep following The Odyssey's playbook and similarly broaden its footage to more screenings.

What happens in the Dune: Part Three footage that plays before The Odyssey? Javier Bardem in "Dune: Part Three." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Now, what if you didn't get IMAX 70mm tickets to The Odyssey, but desperately want to know what happens in it? You've come to the right place.

Earlier this year, at CinemaCon, Warner Bros. screened footage from a battle sequence in Dune: Part Three. The same footage screened again, in IMAX, at July 8's trailer release event, at which Villeneuve said "a glimpse of this scene" would play before The Odyssey.

Having seen the extended footage, I can confirm it is spectacular. It depicts a fleet of ships flying down to an unnamed planet. Onboard the ships is an army of soldiers, including Fremen leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem), ready to wage war in the name of now-Emperor Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). The planet they head towards is a far cry from Arrakis: cloudy, muddy, and rainy as can be. For some of the Fremen in the group's ranks, this is their first time seeing water fall from the sky, making it a monumental occasion.

That wonder dissipates once the soldiers land and the planet's surface becomes a horrifying war zone. A gargantuan gun tower rises from the ground. Lasers mow down Stilgar's soldiers. An explosion shakes the ground (and the theater). The entire sequence is grimy and visceral and loud, reminiscent of classic war movies like Saving Private Ryan. It marks a major shift from the sandy battles of the first two Dune films, making it a perfect introduction to the darker horrors of the galaxy under Paul's rule.

A shortened version of this sequence is what plays before The Odyssey, so all of the details above may not be present before those screenings. However, come December, everyone headed to Dune: Part Three will be able to catch this battle in all its terrible, thundering glory.

The Odyssey is now in theaters. Dune: Part Three hits theaters Dec. 18.

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey follows one of literature's most famous and most laborious voyages home. In Homer's epic tale, Odysseus (Matt Damon) is challenged by the gods, the elements, and a fair few mythological creatures on his way home from the Trojan War.

Many of these myths will be easy to spot for classical mythology enthusiasts and newcomers alike, with goddess of war and wisdom Athena (Zendaya) being Odysseus' constant companion, the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron) keeping Odysseus marooned for almost a decade, and the mighty cyclops Polyphemus (Bill Irwin) crunching his way through the more known moments of the poem.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey's ending makes it a stealth 'Oppenheimer' sequel

But what of the hinted-at, untold stories buried in The Odyssey? What of Circe's (Samantha Morton) bird sister, of the fallen soldier Sinon (Elliot Page), and the ill-fated sisters Helen and Clytemnestra (Lupita Nyong'o)? I'm going to drag out my uni textbook, Barry B. Powell's Classical Myth, as well as Edith Hamilton's Mythology, alongside Emily Wilson's translation of Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey (the latter of which Nolan leaned on), and more, to give you a little overview.

What happened with Helen and her sister, Clytemnestra? Lupita Nyong'o attends "The Odyssey" London premiere. Credit: Jeff Spicer / Getty Images for Universal Pictures

As both Helen of Sparta/Troy and her sister Clytemnestra, Lupita Nyong'o plays two of Greek mythology's major female, human players, both of whom suffer enormously at the hands of men. But what actually happened between the scenes we get in The Odyssey?

Let's start with Helen. She's is married to King Menelaus of Sparta (Jon Bernthal), but her abduction by Trojan prince Paris, son of King Priam, sparks the Trojan War. She's "the face that launched a thousand ships," according to Christopher Marlowe. However, in Nolan's The Odyssey, Helen's face has been scarred, a mark of physical abuse, possibly by her husband, possibly by her captors.

The blame laid on Helen for the Trojan War reeks of misogyny. Wilson writes in her Odyssey translation, "In The Iliad, Helen tells Priam she wishes she had 'chosen death' rather than leave her husband for Paris… In The Odyssey, a much more self-possessed and cheerful Helen declares that the Greeks made war 'for the sake of’ her face — a formulation that suggests that the woman’s appearance is the men’s supposed motive, but does not imply that it, let alone its owner, can be blamed for their actions." In The Odyssey film, Helen is back on her Spartan throne beside Menelaus, and it's here they're visited by the young Telemachus (Tom Holland).

Featured Video For You What It Was Like Shooting One of Oppenheimer’s Most Remarkable Moments

And now, to Clytemnestra, Queen of Mycenae. In The Odyssey film, we learn the wife of King Agamemnon remained ruling their kingdom during the Trojan War. However, before he set sail, the king murdered their daughter Iphigenia as a sacrifice to Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the moon. This isn't detailed in Homer's Odyssey, but it's in Aeschylus' Oresteia. We see these flashbacks in Nolan's film, as well as Agamemnon's fate, which is in Homer's poem. We learn that Clytemnestra schemes with her lover, Aegisthus, to murder Agamemnon in vengeance on his return from Troy, as the dead king himself tells Odysseus of his plight in Hades.

In The Odyssey poem, Clytemnestra also kills Cassandra, the Trojan priestess abducted by Agamemnon after the war. Per Wilson's translation, Agamemnon tells Odysseus, "You must never treat your wife too well. Do not let her know everything you know. Tell her somethings, hide others." OK, guy. Enjoy the underworld.

Who is Sinon, the soldier played by Elliot Page? Elliot Page attends "The Odyssey" London premiere. Credit: Jeff Spicer / Getty Images for Universal Pictures

Not a character from Homer's Odyssey, Sinon (Elliot Page) can instead be found in the Aeneid, the epic poem by Roman poet Virgil. An Achaean soldier who fought alongside the Greeks in the Trojan War, Sinon is tasked with staying behind to convince the Trojans to take the colossal horse inside the city walls. Virgil writes, "When Sinon, favour'd by the partial gods, Unlock'd the horse and op'd his dark abodes; Restored to vital air our hidden foes, Who joyful from their long confinement rose."

Nolan does a couple of things here, namely Page's Sinon does not know the Greeks are inside the horse, instead thinking it's a genuine gift. It's the major betrayal he calls Odysseus out for in Hades. "You lied to me," he says, having drunk from the sacrificial blood puddle that enables him to speak as a shade. "I needed you to believe," Odysseus replies. In the Aeneid, Sinon volunteers for the job, which Odysseus kind of hints at him doing in Nolan's film, but the key thing here is Sinon thought the horse was empty. It's unclear how the Greek army hid inside it without him knowing. 

In his film, Nolan makes Sinon an Ithacan shepherd boy, who is pressured by the wealthy Antinous (Robert Pattinson) to take his place in the Trojan War. Avoiding conscription by trading tokens with the boy who Odysseus would later betray will come back to bite Antinous in the ass. But just know that Sinon and Antinous aren't associated in Homer's Odyssey or Virgil's Aeneid.

Who is Circe's sister, turned into a bird, in The Odyssey? Samantha Morton attends "The Odyssey" London premiere. Credit: Jeff Spicer / Getty Images for Universal Pictures

In Nolan's Odyssey, Odysseus' encounter with Circe (Samantha Morton) is a standout scene. A sorceress who can transform anyone she so wishes into animals, Circe quite literally molds Odysseus' men into pigs, stretching their jaws and shaping their bodies into porcine forms as they greedily throw back her stew. 

However, these aren't the only humans Circe has transformed. Her hut entrance is guarded by a lion, tiger, leopard, and panther, who could be humans, though Homer writes in The Odyssey of Circe's home, "Round it were mountain wolves and lions, which she tamed with drugs," so they very well could be actual animals. Italian Renaissance artist Dosso Dossi painted Circe and Her Lovers in a Landscape, with the sorceress surrounded by seven animals — so if you thought those big cats were once men, you're not the only one.

However, another transformed human becomes very clear during Circe's meeting with Odysseus, when she speaks of her sister, referring to a caged raven on the table. "We get on better this way," she says, indicating that she has used her transfiguration magic on her own sibling. 

But who is Circe's sister? In Greek mythology, that would be Pasiphaë, the wife of King Minos and mother of the formidable Minotaur, the half-man, half-bull creature that stalks Minos' labyrinth on Crete, according to Powell's Classic Myth. There's no mention of a woman-turned-bird in this story, however. It's a stretch, but The Odyssey could be referencing another myth. The brutal Athenian story of sisters Procne and Philomela, recounted by Roman poet Ovid in Metamorphoses, sees the women turned into a swallow and a nightingale by the gods after they murdered Procne's son Itys, and served him to his father, Tereus, for dinner — it was an act of vengeance, but wow. However, Circe's sister bird in The Odyssey film is a raven, so it's probably a coincidence. 

The Odyssey is now in cinemas.

Critics have been singing the praises of Christopher Nolan's much-anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey, not only for its ambition but also for its astounding execution. The British American filmmaker looked to an ancient Greek epic to unfurl a joltingly sharp critique of contemporary American politics. And it turns out that casting Matt Damon in the lead role was Nolan's secret weapon for this cutting commentary. 

Damon, who'd previously appeared in Nolan's Oppenheimer and Interstellar, stars as Odysseus, a lauded hero of the Trojan War whose journey home is packed with peril. The Odyssey is the story of his quest to get home, but in Nolan's hands, not one that regards him purely as a noble hero. So, why cast Matt Damon?

Let's get into it. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' review: Christopher Nolan turns an epic myth into a movie masterpiece The Odyssey begins with Odysseus as a good man and a kind king.  Matt Damon (center) is Odysseus in "The Odyssey." Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures

In a move sure to rile so-called Odyssey traditionalists, Nolan's film starts with a bard (Travis Scott) theatrically singing an antiquated song of Odysseus. He uses heightened language to emphasize the extraordinary elements of the story, but he is cut off by Odysseus' long-waiting wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway), who's had enough of this telling. 

Notably, this mention of Odysseus is not his visual introduction to the film. Instead of a flashback to the Trojan War, we hear those who knew him personally speak of his worth, like the smarmy suitor Antinous (Robert Pattinson), who recounts Odysseus teaching the boys of his kingdom to hunt. Close-up shots of Odysseus' strong arms prepping and plucking his bow reveal his physical might. However, Nolan still doesn't show the face of his protagonist yet.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' has made IMAX 70mm a status symbol

Damon's face isn't revealed until his loyal servant Eumaeus (John Leguizamo) tells Odysseus' son Telemachus (Tom Holland) how the king saved the puppy Argos from being pitched off a cliff. Here, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema tilts his camera up from the fluffy pup being held in strong hands to Damon's face, which is licked by the grateful doggo. 

In screenwriting, this scene might be described as the "save the cat" moment, in which the film's protagonist does something the audience likes, making us more inclined to root for him. That it's literally saving a dog feels like Nolan's version of a wry filmmaking joke. Beyond that, this scene introduces Odysseus not as an epic warrior but as a good man who taught the youth of his community and cared for a helpless animal. In that respect, of course you cast Matt Damon. 

Matt Damon is the modern American hero.  Matt Damon is Odysseus and Zendaya is Athena in "The Odyssey." Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures

Yes, yes, this is a Greek story — one in which everyone speaks in American accents, in a modern dialect. Far from this being a decision to pander, Nolan's translation uses elements of American culture (including our accent, diction, and most well-known actors) in his anti-colonizer critique. He does so by setting up The Odyssey like a traditional American action movie. 

It's not enough that Odysseus is strong and brave. We also need to see his soft side. Like John McClane fights for his wife in Die Hard, Bryan Mills for his daughter in Taken, and John Wick for his puppy in John Wick, Odysseus has loved ones he cares for and will protect at all costs. 

And rather than choosing a gruff American action icon for this role, Nolan chose the '90s star who changed the genre with The Bourne Identity. With his boyish charm, Damon brought a new kind of action hero to prominence, one who could be hard-hitting and wide-eyed all at once, shifting things away from the stoic James Bond model.

Many jokes have been made online about how between Saving Private Ryan, The Martian, and now The Odyssey, untold fortunes have gone into getting Matt Damon home. But even this recurring element in the actor's filmography reflects how audiences see him, cling to him, and root for him. He's our guy, a good guy, even when things get violent or bleak. Of course, Damon has occasionally subverted this expectation. Yet even in Martin Scorsese's Boston mob thriller The Departed, where Damon plays a corrupt cop, his all-American good looks and winsome charm are used as a terrific façade for his character's devious nature. 

Simply put, audiences love Matt Damon and expect to like him in movies. Nolan knows that. In an interview with Brut, he said, "He's a movie star who is capable of bringing the audience with him into his way of seeing the world. And as a filmmaker that lets you to leave the character's rough edges. It lets you have the character be more challenging. Because you're confident that the audience trusts Matt. They go with him. So you can sort of use that, challenge that relationship with the audience a bit."

Because he cast Damon as Odysseus, audiences will expect this translation of the character to reflect Damon's usual niche of hard-hitting good guy. Flashbacks before Troy show this king of Ithaca hunting honorably, by plucking his bow as a warning to his prey. Besides cuddling a puppy, Odysseus is also seen canoodling with his wife, and having a tough conversation about what it means to go to war with Troy, for their family and their country. 

This is Damon in his comfort zone — or perhaps our comfort zone for him. But as the story shifts to Odysseus' years-long journey home, red flags arise. 

The Odyssey reveals Odysseus is its anti-hero.  Director Christopher Nolan on the set of his film "The Odyssey." Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures

Sailing home, Odysseus and his three ships stop at islands to refresh their provisions. But they are shocked when a humble village is abandoned as they approach. While the soldiers interrogate an old man, thatch roofs burn in the background. Nolan curiously skips over Odysseus' men setting the blaze, but shows the results as Odysseus marvels that he and his men weren't greeted as guests like Zeus' law demands. But are they guests? 

Again and again, Odysseus and his men show up unannounced and armed to the teeth. Yet they are offended when they're perceived as threats. They also have the attitude of colonizers, where everything is theirs for the taking. Perverting Zeus' law to treat others as you would like to be treated, they expect others to treat them as they want to be treated, and respond with violence when those expectations aren't met. 

Consider the cyclops (Bill Irwin). They show up on his island. They invade his home, which they recognize by pointing out the fire in the cave and the cheese hanging high on its walls. Without even waiting for the resident to return, Odysseus begins eating the cheese. (As a cheese lover, I may have gasped in alarm. That's not your cheese, sir!) His men await for more sheep, presumably to slay them for their meat. But instead, they become a meal for the returning cyclops. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' hints at 3 myths without detailing them. Here are the untold stories.

Though in Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus and the monster speak to each other, Nolan's protagonist never even considers this creature so different-looking from him could possibly speak. His ignorant sense of superiority will cost him. He and his men defer to violence. Even when they are on the brink of escape, Odysseus fires on the already blinded cyclops again.

It's cruelty, and it's something that Circe (Samantha Morton) senses as soon as they roll up onto her island. When Eurylochus (Himesh Patel) intrudes on her and her cottage, she surrenders immediately, offering all of the soldiers soup. Of course, then she uses her magic to turn them into pigs, insisting to Odysseus this is who they really are — greedy pigs who take, take, take without mercy.

At this point, Odysseus begins to understand how he and his solders are perceived by those they accost. And while he's able to cajole Circe into giving the men back their human forms, they will later be doomed by their sense of entitlement when they eat the cattle of Helios. 

The sack of Troy in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey." Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures

Through Odysseus' story, Nolan delivers an incisive critique of American exceptionalism. Wherever Odysseus and his soldiers go, they expect to be embraced as guests and liberators, even when their arrival is unwelcome, disruptive, and violent. They expect to be treated with honor and kindness, even if they don't offer that in return. 

Finally, when Odysseus reflects on what happened at Troy, we see the truth of this war. A ten-year siege — which began for murky reasons — ends in senseless slaughter of women, including Cassandra (Zendaya). Where Odysseus brushes off most of the trauma he's caused over his years away, her decapitation haunts Odysseus for years to come, as hers is the face he sees when he calls upon Athena. 

Here, in a grizzled gray beard and racked with remorse, Damon delivers the strongest leg of his performance. In these scenes, it's not enough to be tough. He is weighed down not only by age and exhaustion, but also by the guilt for what hell his actions have wrought for others. He wears the rags as disguise, but also, arguably, to suffer under the same cruelty and disrespect that he has subjected others to.

Early on in the film, Damon embraces his standard persona, a winsome good guy who can be tough when toughness is required. Then, over the course of The Odyssey, we the audience are challenged to overlook our affection for Damon to see what sins his charisma is covering. 

This protagonist is no hero, but a thief, a liar, a colonizer, and a killer. If Nolan had cast an actor more known for playing villains, the third-act reveal of Odysseus' trespasses wouldn't be so disturbing. Casting might have telegraphed it. Instead, by choosing Damon, Nolan creates a brilliant bait and switch. We come in expecting another Hollywood movie in which a handsome American action star plays a good guy with a gun (or in this case, a bow and arrow), who knocks down all the foreign baddies to protect his home and family. Then, Nolan subverts this expectation, not only by chipping away at Odysseus' reputation through revealing a critical perspective of his actions and so-called enemies, but also by grounding the audience in the chaos he has caused at home. 

His wife, loyal and strong, is preyed upon by gold-digging, power-hungry fools. His son is threatened by this lot, while his servant is beaten, and his dedicated dog is literally left on a pile of shit to die. And why? As Odysseus returns home, aged, battered, and dressed as a beggar, this is the question he and his audience is left to answer. What does it mean to have sacked Troy? What is the bloodspilling and the lost years worth? What does it really mean to be a hero? 

Through using Damon, a movie star audiences have happily related to for decades across genres, Nolan urges us not just to take in the shock and awe of Odysseus' journey, but to reflect on how this translates to our lives right now. 

The Odyssey is now playing in theaters and IMAX.

TL;DR: Geeky Sex Toys limited-edition Pokémoan Collection goes live on July 21 at 7 p.m. ET. (Note: These will sell out.)

Becoming a Pokémon "master" just got a brand-new meaning...

In 2016, Geeky Sex Toys released a small collection of Pokémon-inspired sex toys (which they very cheekily named "Pokémoan"), and it sold out instantly. (Because, like, of course it did.)

SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.

Now, 10 years after its first launch, Geeky Sex Toys is blessing Pokéfans with a brand-new, limited-edition collection of sex toys. I'm not a Pokémon fan per se (cue collective gasps, I know), but I always thought that Pikachu and Rapidash were super cute. And, after taking a peek at this collection, I have to say I'm coming on to Bulbasaur.

The new lineup includes four toys:

• Bulbypulse ($169): Bulbypulse is an air-pulse suction toy that features eight patterns and three speeds. It also has a pretty impressive runtime of two hours and 30 minutes (do with that what you will).

• Charmybuzz: ($169): Charmybuzz is a curved G-spot vibrator. It has eight patterns and five speeds, with a runtime of two hours and 15 minutes.

• Squirtyblast ($169): Squirtyblast (my fave name of them all) is a flexible-head wand vibrator with rumbly power. A rumbly wand is the best wand, IMO. It has eight patterns, five speeds, and a runtime of an hour and 20 minutes. Pro tip: Try deep, G-spot stimulation followed by clitoral stimulation to help yourself squirt.

• Pikyplug ($69.00–$100.00): The Pikyplug is a non-vibrating, tapered, silicone butt plug. It comes in three sizes (hence the pricing structure). The Small is 7 inches long / 4 inches circumference, the Medium is 8.5 inches long / 5 inches circumference, and the Large is 12 inches long / 7 inches circumference.

The new lineup includes four toys. Credit: Geeky Sex Toys

Each individual toy comes with a unique, 350gsm holographic trading card and a magnetic charging cable. You'll also get a hard case with the vibrating toys, but it doesn't look like the butt plug comes with one. (They're all IPX7 waterproof too, so you can take them into the bath or shower.) The site limits two of each toy per customer.

If you want to go all out, you can buy the Ultimate Collectors Edition box set on sale for $399. (This is a total steal; if you do the math, buying each toy individually is way over that price.) The full collector set includes all four toys packed in a hard case, plus an exclusive fifth "Master Bedroom" holographic card.

You'll have to act fast if you want to add these to your collection, though. The limited first-edition drop goes live on July 21 at 7 p.m. ET, and there are only 151 public collector sets available worldwide. Want to be one of the first ones to know when it goes live? You can sign up for "early access" by entering your email on the site. (At the time of writing, 299 people had already signed up.)

TL;DR: T-Mobile is giving away the iPhone 17 for free this weekend. Here's how to qualify for this limited-time offer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now

Everyone is talking about Samsung right now.

Samsung Unpacked is taking place on July 22, and everyone is prepping for Samsung's next batch of foldables to launch. It's an exciting time for Android users, but what about Apple fanatics? Are they supposed to just sit back and watch Samsung get all the attention? No, they should check out T-Mobile's latest batch of free deals on iPhones:

• Apple iPhone 17 — free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

• Apple iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

T-Mobile isn't simply handing over new iPhone without some strings attached. The world doesn't work that way. Instead, the retail cost of your new phone is offset by 24 consecutive monthly bill credits. Your monthly statement will show a standard charge for financing the phone, which is immediately balanced out by an equal credit.

What's happening here is you are signing up for a 24-month commitment with T-Mobile. If you decide to cancel your service, switch to another carrier, or upgrade to the iPhone 18 before the end of the 24-month contract, the remaining unpaid balance will become due immediately. You will also need to cover the standard upfront taxes and a one-time $35 activation fee, but that's a small price to pay for an iPhone that "has never been better."

Score the Apple iPhones 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

The 2026 World Cup final is what everyone is focused on right now, but before we get there, England and France will compete for third place. Both sides suffered disappointing defeats at the semi-final stage, so they'll be desperate to head home on the back of a win.

Here's all the information you need to watch this third-place playoff.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 18

• Third-Place Playoff: France vs. England (Miami Stadium) — kickoff at 5 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games todayWatch France vs. England

Both teams would much rather be competing in tomorrow's fixture, but the World Cup is cruel. The third-place playoff is always a weird event, because nobody really wants to play. That being said, we're hopeful for a competitive matchup between two sides that performed really well over the course of the tournament. Expect some changes from both teams.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement

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

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

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

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

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

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

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

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

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

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has only a couple of games left to play. The focus is firmly on the final, but there's the small matter of the third-play playoff to contest before the showpiece event.

Truthfully, neither team will want to play in this game. Both sides suffered agonizing defeats at the semi-final stage, and they'd probably rather be heading home. That being said, there's still the chance to see some of the stars of this tournament compete for pride. We're hoping to see more from the likes of Mbappé and Bellingham before everything wraps up.

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

When is France vs. England?

France vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on July 18. This fixture takes place at the Miami Stadium.

How to watch France vs. England for free

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

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

Live stream France vs. England for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch France vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

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

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the Summer Tech Sweepstakes promotional period (July 11 to Aug. 11), but you do have a chance of winning an iPhone 17 Pro. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

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

Live stream France vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey draws from the literature of antiquity, but there's an art history reference in the film that's relatively more recent. And deeply gory.

In a major moment from Homer's epic poem, Odysseus (Matt Damon) is heading home from the Trojan War with his men when they stop by an island for food and supplies. It's here they find themselves trapped in the sheep-filled cave of the mighty Polyphemus (Bill Irwin), a towering cyclops who casually changes up his daily diet of homemade artisanal cheese for a bloody feast of weary Ionian soldiers.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' review: Christopher Nolan turns an epic myth into a movie masterpiece

The Odyssey's production design of Polyphemus is terrifying and weird: a colossal, awkward, human-like form with twisted facial features including a solitary, rotated eye. Snatching up Odysseus' crewmates like popcorn, the cyclops stands for a moment crunching on a newly headless man, his bleeding body limp in the creature's hand.

It's this moment that art history nerds (hi) might connect with a familiarly gory scene, of a wild god feasting upon a torso: Francisco Goya's early 1820s masterpiece, Saturn Devouring His Son.

Francisco Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son." Credit: Fine Art Images / Heritage Images/ Getty Images

Nolan has confirmed the cyclops was inspired by the 19th-century Spanish artist's famous work, which depicts a violent moment from ancient Greek myth. As detailed in Barry B. Powell's Classical Myth, Zeus' dad Cronus (called Saturn by the Romans), was the leader of the Titans, powerful beings who sired the Olympian gods. Cronus' mum Gaia (Terra) and dad Ouranos (Uranus) had a prophecy that he would be overthrown by one of his divine children — Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, Hera, or Hades. So, what did Cronus do? He ate them.

In fact, Cronus threw back his kids whole, which is important later in the story (Zeus, who was born in secret, managed to get his dad to vomit up his siblings and they indeed rose up against the Titans). But in Goya's painting, Saturn/Cronus has not eaten his brood whole. With those wild eyes open, he's ripped the head and arms off one of his children and is snacking away on the torso like a baby with a teething rusk. It's pure madness.

And this is exactly how Nolan has Polyphemus feast on the Greek soldiers in The Odyssey. Like a child. A wild child of gods. Which, incidentally, is what Polyphemus is — the son of sea god Poseidon and oceanid or sea nymph Thoosa.

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It's no wonder Nolan had Goya's gruesome visual on his mood board. Back to the original ancient text, Homer's description of the cyclops' feast (translated by Emily Wilson) is just as grisly, as he writes, "Leaping up high, he reached his hands towards my men, seized two, and knocked them hard against the ground like puppies, and the floor was wet with brains. He ripped them limb by limb to make his meal, then ate them like a lion on the mountains, devouring flesh, entrails, and marrow bones, and leaving nothing."

Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens also did a horrifically figurative version of Saturn Devouring His Son earlier in the 17th century, a moment of infanticide and child cannibalism which can't really be unseen.

So, when you're watching The Odyssey, think of Goya's bloodthirsty, paranoid Saturn and one of the most gory snackscapades in art history.

The Odyssey hits theaters July 17.

TL;DR: Save $195 and own Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for $54.99 with a lifetime license for one Windows PC — no recurring subscription fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License $54.99
$249.99 Save $195   Get Deal

Monthly subscriptions make sense for some software. But if you use the same Windows PC every day and simply want Microsoft Office installed and ready to go, paying once can be the simpler option.

That’s what makes Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus worth a look. You can currently grab a lifetime license for $54.99 (reg. $249.99), giving you permanent access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access on one Windows PC.

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The important thing to know is that this version uses a device-linked license, not one tied to your Microsoft account. That’s the trade-off that helps keep the price lower. If you’re buying Office for a computer you plan to keep for a while, that may be a perfectly reasonable compromise.

You’ll also avoid recurring Microsoft 365 payments while still getting the productivity apps most people use every day. Whether you’re building spreadsheets, writing reports, creating presentations, or managing email, the core experience is designed for long-term stability.

It also includes Dark Mode and is built to perform well on a wide range of hardware without requiring an ongoing subscription.

If your goal is simple — a full Office suite on one Windows PC with no recurring fees — this is an easy way to get there.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for a one-time $54.99 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get five years of interactive piano lessons with the flowkey five-year Classic Plan for $64.97 (reg. $899) through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Flowkey flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (5-Year Subscription) $64.97
$899 Save $834.03   Get Deal

Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn piano but never got past a few YouTube tutorials or a dusty keyboard that has taken up residence in your family’s garage. flowkey, a musican learning software, is designed to make practicing less intimidating, pairing interactive lessons with instant feedback so you can build skills at your own pace. You can get a five-year Classic Plan while it’s price-dropped to $64.97 (reg. $899) through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Instead of watching someone else play, flowkey listens while you practice and responds in real time. Wait Mode won’t advance to the next section until you’ve played the correct notes, while Slow Motion lets you work through difficult passages without feeling rushed. If one section keeps tripping you up, the Loop feature makes it easy to repeat it until playing it feels natural to you.

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This software also utilizes synchronized sheet music along with videos of professional pianists, making it easier to connect what you’re seeing on the page with what your hands should be doing. Lessons cover the basics of reading music, chords, rhythms, and hand positioning before progressing to more advanced techniques.

Once you’ve built some confidence, there’s plenty to play. flowkey includes arrangements for beginners through advanced players, with music from composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Brahms, and Mozart. You can even practice with each hand separately before doing everything together, which can make the more challenging pieces feel less daunting.

This five-year subscription works across laptops, tablets, and phones, so you can practice wherever your piano or keyboard is. The app is also available in 11 languages, making it accessible to a broad range of learners.

For beginners or returning players looking for structured lessons and real-time guidance, flowkey offers an accessible way to build confidence over the next five years.

Get flowkey’s Classic Plan for $64.97 (reg. $899) through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: New users can get a one-year Rosetta Stone Sapphire subscription — 25 languages, pronunciation feedback, and real conversation practice — for $127.20 (reg. $159).

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$159 Save $31.80   Get Deal

If you want to learn languages, it’s best to go to a trusted source. Rosetta Stone has over 30 years of expertise, coupled with new technology that helps you travel like a local. A one-year subscription to the Sapphire platform covers all 25 of its offerings, and for a limited time, you start for $127.20 (reg. $159).

Rosetta Stone Sapphire builds fluency through the Dynamic Immersion® method, which teaches you via context, imagery, listening, reading, and speaking — instead of boring drills you’ll give up on by next week. There’s also TruAccent speech recognition that can help improve your pronunciation thanks to advanced technology designed for language learners. This one-year subscription gives you access to their structured programs in Spanish, German, Mandarin, Arabic, and more.

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Rosetta Stone’s quick-hit lessons let you work at your own pace. You can also learn across platforms, with synced progress across your desktop, smartphone, and tablet.

Practice conversations in practical topics like travel, social, and everyday scenarios, go over more than 500 flashcards, and access personalized learning tools geared toward the topics you want to learn most, all on this convenient platform.

New users can grab a year of Rosetta Stone Sapphire and all 25 languages for $127.20 (reg. $159) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you're on a budget, don't panic. You don't need to shell out hundreds of dollars a year on dating apps to find a genuine connection. Dating itself is already expensive enough, so why should the apps eat at your wallet, too? While some platforms roll out premium tiers that cost as much as a car payment (looking at you, Grindr), you don't have to resort to dating an AI just to save cash. Some of the best dating apps are still free to download and use, and even though some are only free for women, we found $0 options for everybody.

But you do have to be smart about which apps you download. Some platforms claim to be "free" but immediately lock basic communication behind a paywall. Take eharmony, for example — you can spend 20 minutes on their quiz only to realize you can't even unblur a match's photo or send a message without paying. Other niche options are disappearing entirely, like Match Group's queer dating app Archer, which shut down in June.

SEE ALSO: I had a Grindr sugar daddy for a day. Then he tried to get a refund. What dating apps are completely free?

The good news is that mainstream staples like Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge still have functional free tiers that let you match and chat without spending a dime. Lex is also a great option for the queer community.

We tested out the best free dating apps to find the ones that really work. Use them to find your forever partner, a casual encounter, or something in between — all without handing over any cash.

Note: All the dating sites in this guide offer a functional free membership option that allows you to talk and match with people at no cost. Though most offer paid premium upgrades, these aren't apps like Match or eharmony, where you need to pay just to read a message. And if you're being pressured to send money to someone on a dating app, block them immediately — you might be dealing with a romance scammer.

Featured Video For You These dating sites and apps are perfect for people on a budget

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Flashy.

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

GAUDY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Assertive.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PUSHY

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Human.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

WIGHT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Cruel.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HARSH

Final Hurdle hint

Gorge.

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

GULLY

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

TL;DR: As of July 18, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo on sale for $989 at Amazon. That's the first time we've seen this beginner-friendly bundle drop below $1,000.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $989 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $610   Get Deal

We're keeping a close eye on DJI drone deals. That's largely because these drones are firm favorites of content creators, but it's also because there are restrictions on DJI products in the U.S.

The new rules only restrict future imports. That means buyers can still purchase and use drones that are already in stock with retailers like Amazon. There will come a time when stock starts to disappear. At this point we expect prices to climb. That time has not come yet, because you can still find record-low prices on top models, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro.

As of July 18, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo on sale for $989 at Amazon. We've never seen this beginner-friendly bundle drop below $1,000, so if you're interested in buying, this is the time to strike.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is an ultra-light, palm-sized foldable drone. It delivers 42GB of internal storage, a 1-inch CMOS sensor that records 4K/60fps HDR video, and a 225° flexible gimbal that lets you take vertical shots and video from multiple angles.

The nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensor with forward-facing LiDAR helps detect obstacles. It also has an upgraded ActiveTrack 360° which keeps the subjects of your shot in frame. It's all you need to start flying and shooting content right out of the box.

Get this DJI drone deal from Amazon this weekend.

After days of almost complete darkness, the Moon is finally illuminated enough to spot some features on its surface once again. What can you see when you look up tonight?

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, July 18, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Crescent phase, with 19% of its surface visible.

Without any visual aids, tonight you can spot the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis. With binoculars or a telescope, you'll also add the Endymion Crater to your view.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon completes one full cycle around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight different phases along the way, NASA explains. Although the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes as it travels around Earth. This changing angle of illumination is what makes the Moon appear to transform throughout the month, from a thin crescent to a half-lit Moon and eventually a fully illuminated Full Moon, before starting the cycle again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a sports fan.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 18, 2026 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: Foul

• Green: POV

• Blue: Virtual earnings

• Purple: Burst

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Commit a basketball violation

• Green: Belief

• Blue: Things tracked in video games

• Purple: Words after "Pop"

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 #1133 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Commit a basketball violation: CARRY, DOUBLE DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, TRAVEL

• Belief: ATTITUDE, MIND, OPINION, VIEW

• Things tracked in video games: HEALTH, LIVES, SCORE, TIME

• Words after "Pop": CULTURE, FLY, QUIZ, TART

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 18, 2026

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a healthy eater.

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 July 18, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A healthy breakfast

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a morning dish.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Bowl of Granola.

NYT Strands word list for July 18

• Sweet

• Oaty

• Nutty

• Crunchy

• Bowl of granola

• Salty

• Wholesome

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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love to dine out.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 18, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 18, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Restaurant seating option.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BOOTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 18, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 18, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 18 Pips

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 18 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 18 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Most of us use the same handful of Excel commands every day, overlooking features designed to make our spreadsheets easier to manage. This weekend, explore five hidden gems that can change the way you work with Excel.