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Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 September 2, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A cutting tool.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter K.

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...

KNIFE

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

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

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

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

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 Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025:

AcrossWith 4-Across, another nickname for the Windy City

• The answer is Chi.

See 1-Across

• The answer is Town.

Constellation known for the three stars across its middle

• The answer is Orion.

Burrito bowl topping

• The answer is Salsa.

Whole bunch (of)

• The answer is Slew.

DownSome Silicon Valley execs, for short

• The answer is CTOs.

Dances that involve lifting a married couple in chairs

• The answer is Horas.

"You can count on me"

• The answer is I Will.

Front part of an airplane

• The answer is Nose.

"Heck ___!"

• The answer is Naw.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

Lexus, Toyota, and Subaru drivers are facing not one but two new recalls that could impact whether their cars are safe to drive.

A distant asteroid that a Japanese spacecraft is en route to visit could be a much harder target to reach than previously thought, according to new telescope data. 

The asteroid, known as 1998 KY26, is about one-third the size of earlier estimates and spins about twice as fast in space as predicted, with each rotation taking just over five minutes. At about 36 feet wide, the asteroid is roughly the length of a school bus. It also reflects more sunlight than expected. Together these traits will likely make touching down on its surface more difficult.

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, expects its spacecraft to rendezvous with the asteroid in July 2031. The destination is part of an extended mission, called Hayabusa 2, following the spacecraft's successful return of samples from another asteroid, Ryugu, in 2020.

Astronomers had a rare chance to study the little asteroid with several telescopes during its close approach to Earth last summer, which provided the new measurements. The results are now published in Nature Communications. 

"The smaller size and faster rotation now measured will make Hayabusa2’s visit even more interesting," said co-author Olivier Hainaut, a European Southern Observatory astronomer, in a statement, "but also even more challenging."

SEE ALSO: Strange red dots in the early universe may be new kind of space object

The new findings suggest the asteroid could either be a single solid rock or a "rubble pile" loosely held together by weak forces. 

Astronomers believe asteroids are the rocky leftovers from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Most of that ancient material orbits far from Earth. But occasionally pieces get nudged into the inner solar system, which is why NASA and other organizations try to track them.

To better understand these objects, JAXA has visited asteroids Itokawa and Ryugu. NASA performed its own sample collection from asteroid Bennu through the OSIRIS-Rex mission, which successfully dropped off the specimen in a Utah desert in 2023. Another NASA mission, Psyche, is on its way to a metal-rich asteroid in 2029.

About 20 years ago, NASA and the University of Arizona considered 1998 KY26 among potential targets for OSIRIS-Rex, Dante Lauretta, the mission's principal investigator, told Mashable. It was eventually ruled out, he said, because the team already knew it was on the small side and unlikely to host the loose material needed for a sampling operation. 

Regarding the newly published insight into the asteroid, Lauretta doubted the new measurements would significantly alter JAXA's extended mission.

"I don’t think this will change the Conops," Lauretta said, referring to the mission's goals and strategies, "the operational challenges are similar." 

But according to the new paper, a smaller, faster, and brighter target will have an impact. Firing a metal projectile at the asteroid to make a crater, for instance, might not work as well because of its size. The brightness of the asteroid could "blind" navigation sensors. Its quick spin also may make it harder for instruments that need to stare at one spot for a long time. 

"Importantly, these factors have been identified six years ahead of the rendezvous," the authors wrote, allowing mission planners time to consider their options.

JAXA intentionally selected tiny asteroids for the extended Hayabusa 2 mission because none have been studied up close before. Credit: ESO / M. Kornmesser. / T. Santana-Ros / JAXA / University of Aizu / Kobe University infographic

JAXA selected 1998 KY26 out of more than 350 candidates. Those candidates were all of the known celestial objects within reach of the spacecraft, which had about half of its xenon fuel left. The team then narrowed the list to the most scientifically interesting candidates.

The Japanese space agency settled on two asteroids — the other being 2001 AV43 — for the extra 11-year extension. The Hayabusa 2 spacecraft should reach 2001 AV43 first in November 2029.

The team intentionally picked tiny asteroids because none have been studied up close before — prior missions have only explored larger asteroids. Getting to know these small bodies and how they work is just as important, researchers say, because asteroids of this scale hit Earth more often than the dinosaur-killing ones. 

And despite their small size, little space rocks can still have catastrophic consequences. An undetected meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013, for example, causing an airburst and shockwave that affected six cities. That rock was just 60 feet across, according to NASA.

This is one of the main reasons why scientists believe robotic missions to study asteroids are so crucial.

"We are excited to see this new target up close," Lauretta said. "Any encounter with an asteroid yields surprises and new knowledge."

TL;DR: Stop renting Office and buy it outright for $69.97. This deal on a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 is on sale for a limited time.

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Here’s what’s included: Word for polished documents, Excel for number-crunching, PowerPoint for presentations that don’t put your audience to sleep, Outlook for wrangling email and calendars, Teams (basic) for collaboration, and OneNote for all the scribbles and ideas you’d otherwise lose on sticky notes. It’s everything most Mac users need day-to-day, and it’s the Home & Business edition — meaning it works just as well for freelancers and small teams as it does for students or families.

SEE ALSO: Office 2019 is reliable, updated, and affordable at just $30

Setup is painless, too. The code ties directly to your Microsoft account (not your device), so you’re good to go once redeemed. Download links and license keys hit your inbox instantly, and you’re up and running without any confusing hoops. Plus, you’ll stay compatible with macOS 13, 14, and 15 with updates included.

Stop feeding the subscription machine and take advantage of this deal on a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Mac for a one-time payment of $69.97 (reg. $219).

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TL;DR: The Grade A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2017) is just $324.97 (reg. $1,499) through Oct. 5.

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It’s an ideal buy for students, entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants a pro-level MacBook at a fraction of the price. Get a like-new MacBook Pro while it’s just $324.97 (reg. $1,499) through Oct. 5.

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Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand-new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're hankering for incredible animated adventures, new crime thrillers, or a chance to catch 2025's Superman, we've got something just for you.

16. Smurfs

The Smurfs come back to the big screen in this family adventure, which sees the return of familiar characters like Smurfette (voiced by Rihanna), Papa Smurf (voiced by John Goodman), and evil wizard Gargamel (voiced by JP Karliak). When Gargamel and his brother Razamel (also Karliak) kidnap Papa Smurf, it's up to Smurfette and her friends to head to the real world and save him. Along the way, they'll make new friends, including Papa Smurf's brother (voiced by Nick Offerman).

Despite its A-list voice cast and the fact that it features a new Rihanna bop, Smurfs failed to wow critics. (It's currently sitting at 21 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.) However, if you want to hear the word "smurf" a bunch of times in a row, then this is your best bet on this list. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman

How to watch: Smurfs is now streaming on Paramount+.

15. Next Gen Chef

If you're a fiend for high-stakes culinary competition shows like MasterChef and Top Chef, Next Gen Chef should be on your radar. The Netflix series sees 21 American chefs under the age of 30 attempting to become the next Kristen Kish (look, we all want to be the next Kristen Kish, but there can only be one). These Gen-Z chefs will be challenged with various tasks at the Culinary Institute of America, the prestigious alma mater of top chefs from Anthony Bourdain to Roy Choi. A career-changing $500,000 is up for grabs, so every dish will count.

Influencer Olivia Culpo hosts with James Beard–nominated Top Chef winner Kelsey Barnard Clark and master sommelier Carlton McCoy as the show's judges — and of course, there's a lineup of guest judges in store. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: Next Gen Chef is streaming on Netflix in two batches, with the first seven episodes debuting on Sept. 17 and the finale on Sept. 24.

14. The Case Against Adnan Syed, Part 5

Sarah Koenig's 2014 investigative journalism podcast Serial drew global attention to the conviction of Adnan Syed for the 1999 murder of fellow Baltimore student Hae Min Lee. Then, in 2019, Amy Berg's HBO documentary The Case Against Adnan Syed delivered new revelations. As Jess Joho wrote of the original series in 2019, "The Case Against Adnan Syed's greatest accomplishment is restoring some personhood to the murder victim." When Syed's conviction was overturned by a judge in 2022 (after he spent almost 22 years in prison), Serial released a new episode. And now, the HBO series also has a new part that promises to chronicle Syed's release. According to the trailer, the series includes an interview with former Baltimore state attorney Marilyn Mosby, who identified issues with evidence in Syed's trial which led to his overturned conviction and release. — S.C.

How to watch: The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 5 premieres Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

13. Night of the Reaper

Writer/director Brandon Christensen is responsible for some of the scariest movies on Shudder (hello Z and Still/Born), so any new movie from him is at least worth a look. Night of the Reaper swaps his usual supernatural scares for some '80s slasher vibes, following college student Deena (Jessica Clement) as she takes a babysitting job while back home only to catch the attention of a serial killer terrorising the neighborhood. Throw in some mysterious video cassettes being sent to local law enforcement, walkie talkies and a masked killer, and Night of the Reaper should be a fun throwback for fans of the genre. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Jessica Clement, Ryan Robbins, Summer H. Howell, Matty Finochio, Max Christensen, Ben Cockell, and David Feehan

How to watch: Night of the Reaper hits Shudder Sept. 19.

12. The Morning Show, Season 4

It's time to tune back into UBA, because The Morning Show returns this fall. Season 4 picks up two years after the events of Season 3. The UBA-NBN merger is officially complete, and several new players are entering the broadcasting game to either ally themselves or butt heads with the likes of Alex (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley (Reese Witherspoon). New cast members include Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, William Jackson Harper, and Boyd Holbrook.

The Morning Show showrunner Charlotte Stoudt has teased that Season 4 will touch on pressing concerns like deepfakes and AI. But more importantly, what will the show do to top sending Bradley to space in Season 3?* — B.E.

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Karen Pittman, Greta Lee, Nestor Carbonell, Jon Hamm, Nicole Beharie, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Boyd Holbrook, William Jackson Harper, and Aaron Pierre

How to watch: The first episode of The Morning Show Season 4 is now streaming, with new episodes every Wednesday.

11. Black Rabbit

Jude Law and Jason Bateman team up for Netflix's crime drama Black Rabbit. Law plays Jake Friedken, manager of the hip Manhattan restaurant Black Rabbit. Just as he's about to take his business to the next level, the return of his estranged brother Vince (Bateman) throws his world into chaos. As the two fight to pay off climbing debts, they'll have to fend off relentless criminals and confront their past traumas. Will these two brothers escape New York's criminal underworld unscathed?

Law and Bateman shine in Black Rabbit, especially when the series centers on Jake and Vince's screwed-up codependency. The rest of the series doesn't fare quite so well, bogged down with undercooked plot lines and characters that don't quite coalesce until the show's anxiety-inducing final episodes. I praised these final episodes and their nail-biting action sequences in my review, saying, "They're claustrophobic tears through a gritty underworld that force Jake and Vince to confront the gnarled ties that bind them. But with such a bloated journey to get there, is it really worth following this screwed-up pair down the rabbit hole?" — B.E.

Starring: Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Dagmara Domińczyk, Chris Coy, Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Odessa Young, Robin De Jesus, Amir Malaklou, Don Harvey, Forrest Weber, Francis Benhamou, Gus Birney, John Ales, and Steve Witting

How to watch: Black Rabbit is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Relay

Riz Ahmed and Lily James lead this New York-set thriller directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water). In Relay, Ahmed plays Ash, a fixer who manages hefty payoffs between whistleblowers and the dodgy companies they could expose. Protecting his identity (and that of his clients) is of the utmost importance, so Ash uses a phone call relay system used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing. James plays a whistleblower named Sarah, and the pair need to dodge those corporate bigwigs who want company secrets to remain so, led by Sam Worthington. — S.C.

Starring: Riz Ahmed, Sam Worthington, Lily James, Willa Fitzgerald, Jared Abrahamson, Pun Bandhu, Eisa Davis, Matthew Maher, Seth Barrish, and Victor Garber

How to watch: Relay is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

9. Griffin in Summer

Writer/director Nicholas Colia's feature debut is a queer coming-of-age film with a world of buzz around it since premiering at Tribeca Festival last year. Griffin in Summer hinges around the eponymous Griffin Nafly (Everett Blunck), a 14-year-old playwright whose work is inspired by his own divorced parents (Michael Esper and Melanie Lynskey). He produces these theatrical gems with his friends in the basement and would rather stay home penning new plays than cannonball into any pool party, much to his mother's chagrin. With the arrival of 25-year-old performance artist and handyman Brad (Owen Teague), the film explores burgeoning desire despite the absolute racket Brad has been making while our protagonist is trying to write dammit. — S.C.

Starring: Everett Blunck, Owen Teague, Abby Ryder Fortson, Kathryn Newton, Melanie Lynskey, Michael Esper, and Johanna Colón

How to watch: Griffin in Summer is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

8. Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian

You may know Caleb Hearon from his podcast, So True with Caleb Hearon; his roles in projects like Sweethearts and Overcompensating; or for being more influential than Mr. Beast. Now, Hearon unleashes his comedic chops in his HBO stand-up special, Model Comedian.

The hour-long special is a riot, featuring everything from Hearon dissecting his complex relationship with his late father to him absolutely slamming homophobic and transphobic Republican politicians. (If you've caught Hearon's side-splitting interview with Ziwe, you'll have an idea of what to expect.) Whether you're a Hearon novice or one of his loyal "she/they shooters," check out Model Comedian for some much-needed laughs this week. — B.E.

Starring: Caleb Hearon

How to watch: Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian premieres Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

7. American Sweatshop

One of our favorites out of SXSW 2025, American Sweatshop is a "cyberthriller for the doomscrolling age," as I declared in my review.

Riverdale's Lili Reinhart stars as a young woman who makes rent by working as a content moderator at a video site. There, she and her co-workers are subjected to truly heinous footage of violence and depravity, which director Uta Briesewitz shrewdly keeps offscreen, so your imagination fills in the terrible gaps.

Haunted by a seeming snuff film, Reinhart's righteous heroine seeks some sort of real-world justice for the mysterious victim. Along the way, American Sweatshop builds dark thrills alongside even darker jokes. As I wrote in our review, "[It] gets under your skin, creeping up your spine to bend your brain. Like the internet videos that are its grim inspiration, it's not easy to shake off the chills American Sweatshop triggers."* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Lili Reinhart, Daniela Melchior, Jeremy Ang Jones, Josh Whitehouse, and Joel Fry

How to watch: American Sweatshop debuts on Fandango at Home on Sept.19.

6. Haunted Hotel

Rick and Morty fans, your new cartoon obsession may be close at hand in Netflix's Haunted Hotel. Created by Rick and Morty writer Matt Roller, the series is also executive produced by Dan Harmon and Steve Levy. That's already a lot of creative overlap between the two shows, even before we get to Haunted Hotel's zany premise.

The series checks viewers into the Undervale, a hotel plagued with all manner of ghosts and demons. Single mother Katherine (voiced by Eliza Coupe) runs the establishment with help from her estranged brother Nathan (Will Forte), who also happens to be one of the hotel's ghosts. Expect ridiculous hauntings with a sweet family story at their core.* — B.E.

Starring: Eliza Coupe, Will Forte, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson

How to watch: Haunted Hotel premieres Sept. 19 on Netflix.

5. Gen V, Season 2

Gen V took the gore and shock value of The Boys to college in its spectacular first season. Now school's back in session at Godolkin University, and things look bleak for Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) and her crew.

Off-campus, war is brewing between humans and supes, as Homelander (Antony Starr) rules America with an iron fist. On-campus, Godolkin has a sinister new dean (Hamish Linklater) who's determined to push students to their limits. Plus, the mysterious Project Odessa — also mentioned in Season 4 of The Boys — keeps coming up. That's not the only The Boys crossover on display, though. According to Gen V Season 2's trailer, Marie will cross paths with Annie/Starlight (Erin Moriarty). Could this be an incredible team-up, or will it end in disaster for both heroines?* — B.E.

Starring: Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, and Asa German

How to watch: The first three episodes of Gen V Season 2 are now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes every Wednesday.

4. Futurama, Season 13

They're back, baby! Futurama has returned with a new season and 10 new episodes of sci-fi mayhem. 

Along with fresh fun with Fry, Leela, Bender, and the Planet Express gang, Season 13 promises the return of such wild fan favorites as the Robot Devil and Robot Santa Claus, plus callbacks to Bender's Big Score. Futurama, which was created by The Simpsons' Matt Groening and thus shares some sibling-like sensibilities, has never shied away from irreverent humor. This season Futurama will take on climate change, steroid use, and much much more — including math! So strap in, things are about to get hilarious, smart, silly, and stupid all at once. — K.P.

Starring: John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, and David Herman

How to watch: All episodes of Futurama Season 13 are now streaming on Hulu.

3. Elio

Pixar's Elio may have bombed at the box office, but don't let that stop you from checking out this sweet, original sci-fi film. Protagonist Elio (voiced by Yonas Asuncion Kibreab) is a lonely misfit with a passion for space and aliens. After spending ages desperately trying to get aliens to abduct him, he finally gets his wish and is whisked away to the Communiverse, where great minds from across the galaxy co-mingle. There's just one catch: The members of the Communiverse think Elio is Earth's leader.

As Elio tries to cement his spot among his new alien companions, he forges an unlikely bond with alien Glordon (voiced by Remy Edgerly), the son of a warlord hellbent on destroying the Communiverse. That relationship becomes the film's heart, and as I wrote in my review, "What follows is a sweet, empathetic look at how to find connection in the unlikeliest of places. That idea isn't exactly new to Pixar — see: Up, WALL-E, and many more — but Elio's inventive setting and lovable main character help cast these eternal themes in a weird and wonderful new light."* — B.E.

Starring: Yonas Asuncion Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Brad Garrett, and Jameela Jamil

How to watch: Elio is now streaming on Disney+.

2. Ne Zha II

"You've never seen a movie quite like Ne Zha II before," I cheered (and warned) in my review for Mashable. A sequel to the smash hit Ne Zha, this fantasy epic arrived on American shores already a titan at the international box office, having wowed critics and audiences. 

Continuing the adventures of Ne Zha, a young boy with the powers of a demon but the heart of a hero, this sequel follows him on a series of trials so he might save his bestie Ao Bing, son of the Dragon King. There's just one catch. Until Ne Zha can secure a special magical item to reconstitute Ao Bing's body, they'll need to share his. Hilarity ensues as martial arts showdowns include bonkers action, gross-out gags, and boyish drama. But beyond that, a massive war is brewing between the dragons and an army of sky-high immortals. And the way this plays out is eye-popping, but also a bit scary for all ages to watch. So, check out our review for a better sense of what's to come, and whether this is a family night watch or better for once the kiddos (or the squeamish) have gone to bed. — K.P.

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Crystal Lee, Griffin Puatu, Aleks Le, Vincent Rodriguez III, Rick Zieff, William Utay, Christopher Swindle, Kari Wahlgren, Daniel Riordan, Damien Haas, and Grace Lu

How to watch: Ne Zha II is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

1. Superman

Now you can catch one of 2025's biggest films (and dare I say, its best superhero film) at home, as Superman hits HBO Max this week. Directed by James Gunn, this reboot reintroduces all the Superman staples: Clark Kent/Superman (David Corenswet), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), along with the film's animal MVP, Krypto the superdog.

Gunn doesn't hem and haw over Superman's origin story, instead launching viewers straight into an action-packed adventure. Does it occasionally move too fast? Sure. But the film's optimism and the cast's exquisite chemistry help smooth out even the bumpiest of stretches. Look, I left the theater wanting to work at the Daily Planet, hug my dog, and save a squirrel, and you can feel that way too, with the help of Superman.

However, not everyone is as psyched about the film as I am. In his Mashable review, Siddhant Adlakha wrote, "Superman is big summer fun, with just enough laughs and action to get by. However, it also makes several lofty promises, by way of narrative and theme, that it doesn't always keep. It's a grand old time (until it isn't). But its off-kilter visual approach is surprisingly effective, shaping the contours of a detailed, politically charged comic book universe that, for better or worse, never slows down."* — B.E.

Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, and Nicholas Hoult

How to watch: Superman hits HBO Max Sept. 19.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

It's fitting that the title of Netflix's miniseries Black Rabbit conjures up a dark twist on Alice in Wonderland. Like Alice's harried guide into Wonderland, Black Rabbit serves as a gateway to a hidden world itself, although it's not one that anyone would describe as wonderful.

SEE ALSO: Fall TV preview: 25 TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

Instead, the series invites viewers deep into the seedy underbelly of New York, where you'll find more criminals than you will Cheshire Cats or Mad Hatters. Still, the way Black Rabbit sees it, anyone who enters this world must be a little mad — especially brothers Jake and Vince Friedken (Jude Law and Jason Bateman). The pair are experts at digging costly holes for themselves, and Black Rabbit follows their increasingly desperate attempts to climb out of their mistakes. But what should be a propulsive crime thriller never quite gels, and that starts with Black Rabbit's aggravating structure.

Black Rabbit opens with a tired TV trope. Jude Law in "Black Rabbit." Credit: Netflix

Black Rabbit kicks off with one of the most aggravating tricks in the TV book: an in medias res opening that drops us right in the thick of the action, then rewinds the clock to show how the characters got to that to the point.

There's no doubt the move can be executed well, with shows like Breaking Bad and Severance offering up thrilling, discombobulating opening scenes that immediately immerse us in their worlds. But more often than not, these beginnings are a tired way to hook the audience with the promise of payoff — a choice that sometimes reads as the show not having faith in its chronological starting point. Such is the case with Black Rabbit.

The show begins at a party at the Black Rabbit, Jake's ultra-cool Manhattan restaurant and VIP lounge nestled right in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. Drinks are flowing and spirits are high, until two masked men crash the party and rob the Black Rabbit's guests at gunpoint. From there, we flash back to one month earlier. Jake is hoping to open a new high-end restaurant in Midtown with the help of chef Roxie (Amaka Okafor) and designer Estelle (Cleopatra Coleman). However, his plans go off the rails when his estranged brother Vince arrives back in New York.

SEE ALSO: 25 best crime shows on Netflix

Vince owes serious money to some serious gangsters, led by Joe Mancuso (Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur, CODA). Meanwhile, Jake has to rustle up enough money for his new restaurant venture. You can see where this is going: rising debts, owing favors to the wrong people, and a series of choices so mind-bogglingly destructive, you'll get a headache from all the disapproving head-shaking you'll be doing.

All this ties into the initial robbery in an unfortunately predictable way, to the point that when you return to the opening scene, the additional context doesn't do much to paint the robbery in a bold new light. The road to get there is overloaded as well, tying in a troubling sexual assault plot involving bartender Anna (Abbey Lee); the rocky relationship woes of Estelle and her boyfriend Wes (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), who's also Jake's friend and the Black Rabbit co-owner; and Vince and Jake's disturbing (but again, predictable) family trauma. It's almost enough to smother the show's spark: the relationship between Jake and Vince.

Jude Law and Jason Bateman are a great pair in Black Rabbit. Jude Law and Jason Bateman in "Black Rabbit." Credit: Netflix

Black Rabbit is at its best when it dials in on the relationship between Jake and Vince. As one character in their orbit puts it, both brothers are addicts. Vince is addicted to substances and gambling, while Jake is addicted to his brother. That's a potent recipe for codependency, leading the brothers to essentially jump in a pressure cooker of their own making, crank the heat as high as it can go, and lock the lid.

Bateman and Law bounce off each other wonderfully as Vince and Jake. Bateman's Vince is a slippery ball of energy, always hunting for a scheme that can improve his standing — or an escape route when said scheme inevitably goes wrong. As Jake, Law capably channels several contradictions. Jake is an encouraging leader of his Black Rabbit team, but his sleazy nightclub connections often wind up getting his employees hurt. He's vowed not to have anything to do with Vince, yet welcomes him back almost immediately.

The tensions between Jake and Vince crystallize most clearly in points of peril, like a blowout argument under the Brooklyn Bridge, or a mad dash car ride across New York City. The latter, which comes towards the end of Black Rabbit, is among the most thrilling and anxiety-inducing sequences of the series, which frequently draws inspiration from the Safdie brothers' nail-biters Good Time and Uncut Gems.

Black Rabbit's tightly paced action sequences are proof of what the show could have been with more rigid timing constraints. (Episodes tend to run over an hour, but they certainly don't need to.) They're claustrophobic tears through a gritty underworld that force Jake and Vince to confront the gnarled ties that bind them. But with such a bloated journey to get there, is it really worth following this screwed-up pair down the rabbit hole?

Black Rabbit is now streaming on Netflix.

TL;DR: Live stream Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League action continues this week with another batch of exciting fixtures, including Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen. The German side have struggled at the start of this new season, but they'll still come into this fixture as favorites. Can Copenhagen upset the odds and secure a strong start to the group stage? You can find out without spending anything.

If you want to watch Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen?

Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 18. This fixture takes place at the Parken Stadium.

How to watch Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen for free

Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, 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 Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen 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 Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Copenhagen vs. Leverkusen in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

President Donald Trump has reacted to Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air, and unsurprisingly he's thrilled. Meanwhile, many in the U.S. are expressing serious concerns about the implications this may have for free speech.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel pulled off the air. This is the monologue that sparked it.

ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from broadcast indefinitely on Wednesday, seemingly responding after Republicans objected to the hosts' live comments concerning right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk's killer. Specifically, Kimmel said, "The MAGA gang [are] desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it." 

"Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done," Trump wrote on Truth Social after Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s suspension was announced.

Trump had pushed for ABC to lose its broadcasting licence earlier this year, claiming that the major network was a biased "ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY" which aired "97% BAD STORIES" about him. A substantial portion of Trump's ire had been directed toward Kimmel, the president having called for him to be taken off air as recently as two weeks ago.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC's broadcasting license and called for it to "take action" on Kimmel.

Following news of Kimmel's suspension, Trump called for talk shows The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers to also face the axe. CBS already cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in July, which the president also publicly celebrated. Colbert’s show was cancelled days after he accused CBS parent company Paramount of taking a “big fat bribe” from Trump.

"Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible," Trump continued in his post on Tuesday. "That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!"

However, not everyone is as gleeful about Kimmel being suspended. Many commentators have expressed serious concerns about the implications this has for freedom of speech.

"An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship and control," sole Democratic FCC member Anna Gomez posted to X on Wednesday. "This Administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression."

"We had a threat of retaliation by a government official for someone not pronouncing government-commanded speech," Atlantic writer David Frum told CNN. "There was an order from the state about what people must say, Jimmy Kimmel did not say that, and his corporation was threatened with consequences by the government official.

"This is not cancel culture because it's not culture. It's state repression. It's an order from the government. 'Here is the script, you must read, if you do not read it, you will be taken off the air.' Jimmy Kimmel didn't read it, he was taken off the air."

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SAG-AFTRA condemned the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a statement:

"Our society depends on freedom of expression. Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on. Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed. The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms."

The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) also issued a statement, declaring, "The WGA stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his writers."

"The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other – to disturb, even – is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people. It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice," the WGA statement reads. "As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent. If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn't have bothered to write it into the Constitution. What we have signed on to – painful as it may be at times – is the freeing agreement to disagree."

UPDATE: Sep. 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m. UTC Added statements from SAG-AFTRA and WGA.

ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from broadcast indefinitely. The decision comes amidst Republican criticism toward Kimmel for recent comments about right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk's killer.

Announced on Wednesday evening, Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s suspension came not long before filming for its next episode had been scheduled to commence. The long-running talk show's future is now unclear, with the looming possibility that its 22-year run may come to an abrupt end.

SEE ALSO: Trump gloats over Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off air amidst free speech fears

"Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be pre-empted indefinitely," an ABC spokesperson told CNN.

The decision followed an announcement from Nexstar Media Group that its ABC-affiliated stations will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! "for the foreseeable future," citing objections to Kimmel's comments on Kirk's death.

Why has Jimmy Kimmel Live! been suspended?

While ABC has not officially stated why it has halted Kimmel's talk show, threats from the Trump administration appear to be a driving factor. Hours prior to ABC's announcement, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr accused Kimmel of deliberately lying about the motives of Kirk's killer, and called for the network to take action against him.

Specifically, Carr took issue with comments Kimmel made during his monologue on Monday, in which the talk show host joked about Republicans' reactions to Kirk's death.

"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said.

Kirk's suspected killer Tyler Robinson was arrested within two days of the fatal shooting, his motives quickly becoming an issue of widespread speculation and debate. Kimmel's monologue did not unequivocally claim that Robinson was right-leaning, only that Republicans have vehemently denied it as a possibility. Even so, his statement was not well-received by conservatives.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," Carr told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday. "These companies can find ways to change conduct — to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead." 

This appears to be an allusion to the FCC's ability to pull the entire ABC network off air, a measure which, while drastic, is not outside the realm of possibility. The FCC is responsible for issuing broadcast licences, without which television networks cannot operate. Carr noted that the FCC can also revoke such licences, stating that they come with "an obligation to operate in the public interest." As such, Carr stated that broadcasters may run the risk of losing their licenses if they continue to air content which displays a "pattern of news distortion" — an offence of which Kimmel is accused.

"There's calls for Kimmel to be fired," said Carr, stating that a public apology from Kimmel would be a "minimal step." "I think you could certainly see a path forward for suspension over this. Again, the FCC is going to have remedies that we could look at."

Trump reacts to Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off air Then-presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump was a guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in 2016. Credit: Mashable edit: Randy Holmes / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; @realDonaldTrump via Truth Social

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for ABC to lose its licence, accusing the network of being biased and airing "97% BAD STORIES" about him. 

He subsequently reacted to ABC's suspension of Kimmel with glee, taking to his social media platform Truth Social to celebrate it as a win. He also called for fellow talk shows The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers to face a similar fate.

"Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done," Trump wrote. "Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!"

Kimmel has not yet made any public statement regarding his show's suspension at time of writing. However, he did express his condolences to Kirk's family days prior to Monday's monologue.

"Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?" Kimmel posted to Instagram shortly after Kirk's death. "On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence."

He also addressed his show's then-hypothetical cancellation two weeks ago, after Trump predicted on Truth Social that Kimmel would be "NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes… and I hope I played a major part in it!"

"You want us to be cancelled because we make jokes about you?" Kimmel said in a monologue earlier this month. "I thought you were against cancel culture? I thought that was like their whole thing? When did you become so woke?"

Meanwhile, FCC member Anna Gomez criticised the Trump administration for pressuring ABC to pull Kimmel off the air. The sole Democrat on the FCC, Gomez has previously expressed concerns that the biggest threat to Americans' freedom of speech is currently the U.S. government.

"An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship and control," Gomez posted to X. "This Administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression."

Late night shows under increasing pressure from Trump administration Viewers protested CBS' cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in July. Credit: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images

U.S. late night shows that are critical of Trump have faced significant trouble recently. The Emmy Awards audience gave the Late Show's Stephen Colbert two standing ovations on Sunday, showing their support in response to CBS' cancellation of the show in July. 

CBS has been widely criticised for axing the Late Show, some speculating that the move was an attempt to appease Trump while its parent company Paramount sought his approval for a merger with Skydance. Trump responded to the news at the time by stating that he "absolutely love[ed] that Colbert got fired," and spruiking a conservative Fox News late night show as "better than all of them combined."

"I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next," Trump posted to Truth Social in July. "Has even less talent than Colbert!"

The Trump administration approved the Paramount/Skydance merger within a week of Colbert announcing The Late Show's cancellation.

"CBS has now made some commitments to us that they're going to return to more fact-based journalism," Carr told Johnson on Wednesday.

Trump previously demanded that CBS be stripped of its license during his presidential campaign, filing a lawsuit alleging that it had deceptively edited a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to be favourable to her ahead of the election. Paramount ultimately agreed to pay $16 million to settle the lawsuit in July, after Trump had taken office. This settlement was heavily criticised by First Amendment and press freedom advocates, with Colbert labelling it a "big fat bribe."

In today’s workplace, teams are often asked to perform flawlessly while also learning and innovating. But trying to pursue both equally can backfire. Teams achieve more when they commit to one clear purpose. Here’s how to keep them focused. Choose a dominant orientation—then commit to it. If your team’s job is to explore new ideas, […]

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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

During.

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

WHILE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To entrap.

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

DECOY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A spectacle.

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

DRAMA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Slimy.

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

GOOEY

Final Hurdle hint

A rod.

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

REBAR

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

The moon is almost completely out of view, which can only mean one thing: the New Moon is almost here. The New Moon is the start of a new lunar cycle, and we're now on day 26.

But what is the lunar cycle? According to NASA, it's a 29.5-day series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. These different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth, so let's see what's happening with the moon tonight, Sept. 18.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Sept. 18, the moon phase is Waning Crescent, and it is 11% lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Visibility is low right now, and there's nothing to see without any visual aids. But if you have binoculars, you'll be able to see the Grimaldi Basin. With a telescope, the Reiner Gamma will also come into view.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 6. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

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.

Pips is the newest game in the New York Times catalogue. Released in August 2025, the new game 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. Like dominoes, the tiles 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 September 17, 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 September 17, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 18 Pips

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 18 Pips

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

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

Number (20): Everything in this space must add to 20. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 4-2, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 18 Pips

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

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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 Mini crossword answers, hints for September 17, 2025 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: Poker shapes

• Green: Can rely on

• Blue: Same last name

• Purple: Part of the alphabet

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: Card Suits

• Green: Dependable

• Blue: ___Allen

• Purple: Sports Terms...or Words in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet

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 #360 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Card Suits - CLUB, DIAMOND, HEART, SPADE

• Dependable - CONSISTENT, RELIABLE, STEADY, UNFAILING

• ___Allen - DICK, JOSH, PHOG, RAY

• Sports Terms...or Words in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet - GOLF, UNIFORM, VICTOR, YANKEE

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

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

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

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

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday unveiled what he called the company's "first AI glasses with high resolution" — the Meta Ray-Ban Display, coming September 30 for $799. But the unveiling didn't quite go as Zuckerberg hoped.

Zuckerberg's MetaConnect 2025 keynote, held at Meta's California headquarters at the unusually late hour of 5 p.m. Pacific (8 p.m. Eastern), was expected to reveal a groundbreaking pair of smart glasses, codenamed Hypernova. What we got: An upgrade to the preexisting Ray-Ban Meta frames; a new sports-focused set of Oakleys, the Meta Vanguard; and the new model, confusingly called Meta Ray-Bans.

"This is one of those special moments where we get to show you something we've poured our lives into," Zuckerberg told a packed house and a livestream with 4,000 viewers. The Meta Ray-Bans had a bright, crisp display rated at an impressive 5,000 nits, he said.

Then Zuckerberg revealed not just the Meta Ray-Bans he walked in with (and quickly stashed), but also a companion device called the Meta Neural Band, a light fabric wristband that picks up on small movements in the wrist. This allows you to enter words on the smart glasses display by pretending to handwrite. "I'm up to about 30 words a minute on this," Zuckerberg said.

And then the CEO stood helpless as a repeated WhatsApp video call from Meta CTO Andrew "Boz" Bosworth appeared on his glasses. Zuckerberg's Neural Band interface was apparently unable to pick up the call; Boz had to join him live on stage.

Zuckerberg's demo game had started strong; the keynote opened with a live view through his Meta Ray-Bans, showing Zuckerberg as he fired up a hype song (the Neural Band also allows for volume control) and replied to incoming texts with a muscle-arm emoji.

But then a live demo of the new Ray-Ban Metas (available now for $379) ran aground on the glasses' "LiveAI feature," which was supposed to be instructing one presenter on how to make a sauce with all of the ingredients in front of him.

"Now that you've made your base ..." the glasses began several times, ignoring the presenter's repeated request for instructions on how to make that base: "What do I do first?"

Zuckerberg later blamed that demo failure on the WiFi, but he was unable to explain why his Meta Ray-Bans could not pick up Boz's call. Finally, a non-live non-demo video purported to show the Meta Ray-Bans being used to design a surfboard and order parts.

Zuckerberg explained this was how the glasses would work with agentic AI, brushing past any concerns about whether agentic AI is a thing that works at all — in live demos or otherwise.

In the wake of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s killing, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer has called on the CEOs of Discord, Reddit, Twitch, and Valve to testify at an Oct. 8 hearing on online radicalization.

The hearing follows claims that the accused shooter — a 22-year-old white man from Utah — may have been influenced by extremist communities online. “Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence,” Comer said in a press release. “To prevent future radicalization and violence, the CEOs…must appear before the Oversight Committee and explain what actions they will take to ensure their platforms are not exploited for nefarious purposes.”

SEE ALSO: After losing their son, parents urge Senate to take action on AI chatbots

Federal investigators are still working to determine the shooter’s true motivations, though Robinson's mother told police he learned left of center politically, according to USA Today. Bullet casings recovered at the scene carried meme-laden inscriptions referencing Helldivers 2, anti-fascist themes, and furry culture jokes from 4chan. While early theories pointed to online radicalization, leaked Discord logs paint a far murkier picture of a young man whose friends describe as apolitical, more interested in video games and guns than ideology. A Reddit spokesperson told Mashable their internal review has so far turned up no evidence that the suspect was active on the site.

Earlier this week, Utah Governor Spencer Cox reported that the shooter remains uncooperative, but lawmakers are pressing ahead with scrutiny of the platforms. These hearings have become a familiar ritual in the United States, where mass shootings are frequent and tech companies are regularly accused of enabling extremist networks. Discord and Twitch were both investigated by state attorneys general after the 2022 Buffalo shooting at a supermarket.

Discord, for its part, has already signaled it will cooperate. "We have received the Committee’s invitation and welcome the opportunity to testify," a spokesperson told Mashable. "We continuously engage with policymakers on these critical issues and look forward to continuing this important dialogue next month."

SAVE $35.97: As of Sept. 17, Amazon is offering three months of Kindle Unlimited for free to Prime members who have never subscribed previously. Usually $11.99 per month, that's just shy of $36 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Unlimited Kindle Unlimited free for 3 months (save $35.97) Get Deal

The Libby app is truly a blessing to readers, but the lengthy wait times on popular titles are the pits. If you're an avid reader and like to stay on top of the latest and greatest releases, Kindle Unlimited is the way to go. Sure, it costs a monthly fee, but if you're a new subscriber, you can get three months for free.

As of Sept. 17, Amazon is giving three free months of Kindle Unlimited to Prime members who have never subscribed previously. It's typically $11.99 per month, so that's $35.97 in savings. While Amazon hasn't specified an end date for the promotion, we expect it to last at least until the Prime Big Deal Days event (Oct. 7 and 8).

Kindle Unlimited unlocks instant access to millions of books in nearly every genre imaginable, including the soon-to-be major motion pictures Regretting You by Colleen Hoover and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, and other popular titles like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. It even includes thousands of audiobooks and magazine subscriptions. And the best part? You don't even need a Kindle device to access Kindle Unlimited (although we highly suggest grabbing one). Just download the Kindle app and you can read on any device — your laptop, smartphone, iPad, or web browser.

Your subscription will automatically renew at full price — $11.99 per month — once the three-month promotional period ends. So be sure to set a reminder to cancel if you want to avoid those charges. Although, like me, there's a good chance Kindle Unlimited will keep you hooked.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC as a lifetime license for $169.97 (reg. $249.99) — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote with no recurring fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC: Lifetime License $169.97
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Office 2024 gives you the latest features professionals rely on — with the simplicity of a one-time purchase.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.