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Pi-hole is one of the simplest and most useful things you can set up on your home network. It acts as a DNS sinkhole that blocks requests to domains associated with known ad servers or trackers. This gives you a far better browsing experience, but if you're only running a single instance of Pi-hole, things can go wrong.

I love Splatoon. I have loved Splatoon since all the way back to its Wii U debut in 2015. But Splatoon doesn't always love me back.

Every time I boot up Splatoon 3, I rediscover I'm not ready for the series' signature competitive multiplayer arenas. Everyone who still plays Splatoon this long after launch is really, really good — too good for me to have much of a good time. The smattering of solo and co-op experiences that exist on the periphery can't hold my attention for very long.

It is delightful, then, to report that Splatoon Raiders is pretty damn good. The first single-player-focused entry in the decade-old series is one of the most purely fun (on a moment-to-moment basis) games on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Splatoon Raiders synthesizes some of the best side modes in previous Splatoon games into something that grabbed me and didn't let go for several days, thanks in part to some non-competitive co-op features. I can't wait to play more once it goes on sale.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo's potentially last Switch 1 game is absolutely worth your time Splatoon Raiders melds every non-competitive Splatoon mode into one game

I say this not as criticism, but as a compliment: Splatoon Raiders feels like DLC for a mainline Splatoon game that grew out of control.

This is still a third-person shooter where you, as a squid kid, use a variety of weapons to spread ink of your own color across a variety of battlefields. You don't run very fast, but if your ink color is on the ground, you can quickly swim around in it, recovering ammo and health in the process.

Everything about the basic mechanics and controls of Splatoon Raiders is exactly as they are in the previous games in the franchise, including its best-in-class use of gyroscopic aiming.

Where Splatoon Raiders sets itself apart is by excising competitive multiplayer entirely, in favor of something that feels like a combination of modes that existed in previous Splatoon titles. It's got level design and boss fights that are reminiscent of the story modes in the other games, plus the intensity and general flow of combat found in the co-op Salmon Run mode from Splatoons 2 and 3, and a helping of the variable character customization from the Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC.

I love these goofballs. Credit: Nintendo

That means a straightforward progression of hand-crafted single-player levels. Some are linear missions that combine 3D platforming with shooting; others are more open-ended and focused on collecting money and loot.

The amount of variety here feels just about right, as I never found myself getting bored or itching for something new in the 15 or so hours I spent with Splatoon Raiders.

As with the multiplayer matches in a regular Splatoon game, there's little here will take you more than five minutes to complete. Given the occasional need to replay missions for loot or leveling purposes, this is a great relief.

There is a story here, and while it might be fun to chew on for people who care a lot about Splatoon lore, I did not find myself especially engrossed. It's mostly an excuse to spend more time with series regulars Shiver, Frye, and The Big Man. The latter continues to be a very cool dude.

Customization is key in Splatoon Raiders Gadgets are key. Credit: Nintendo

Where Splatoon Raiders won me over was character customization. Not in the aesthetic sense, as that part of the game is pretty basic, but in the gameplay sense.

Your protagonist gains a constant increase in basic stats like health and damage. You can equip one of three different tanks, each coming with a series of cooldown-based gadgets that you can equip in combat.

The Tactical Tank, for instance, comes with an automatic turret you can place wherever you want, but you can also unlock and equip other gadgets that can only be equipped on the Tactical Tank. Same goes for the Speed and Power tanks, which fit the kinds of play styles you'd expect.

Customization really hits its stride once you unlock the ability to customize gadgets. One fun thing you can do with several gadgets (but not all of them) is tell them to activate the moment you hit an enemy with your weapon.

By the last third or so of the story in Splatoon Raiders, I had multiple turrets flying out automatically on weapon hit, alongside a bunch of other nonsense that basically made me a walking death machine, with very little shooting required on my part.

You will learn to love the turret. Credit: Nintendo

By the end of the story, I felt roughly as powerful as you do at the end of Hades or Risk of Rain 2. But this time it came in a game with persistent progression, rather than a random, run-based roguelike.

Splatoon Raiders' solo focus also makes it a lot easier to experiment with new builds and weapon types than the franchise's standard competitive modes. In other Splatoon games, I'm worried about not letting my team down, so I generally stick with what I know can be effective.

Here, the stakes aren't so high, so I can make a ridiculous build centered around an exploding grappling hook and an ink katana without worrying about ruining someone else's fun.

In short, if you like video games where lots of things are constantly exploding in a sort of digital projectile vomit of bright colors, complete with meters filling up and a steady stream of fun upgrades after every single level, Splatoon Raiders is for you.

How co-op works in Splatoon Raiders Hunt for treasure with the homies. Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo has been selling Splatoon Raiders as a single-player experience, and it can be one if that's what you want. Still, almost every single level in it is also playable with up to three other players in co-op. I didn't get a lot of time in the review period to test these features out, but based on a demo session with other game reviewers, the developers made basically every correct design decision.

Chiefly, they seem to have nailed difficulty balancing. In one session my character was level 42 and had completed the story, while another player in my group was only level 10. Splatoon Raiders smartly and dynamically adjusted numerical values so the difficulty feels right for everyone in the game, without arbitrarily strengthening or weakening anyone.

I was able to bring in my stupid endgame loadout and the challenge of combat felt exactly right, even though these were levels I would cruise through if I weren't playing them in co-op.

Every player also gets their own level-appropriate loot in co-op — so not only is it fun regardless of level, but it's productive, too. Nintendo is not the first company to nail this element of co-op play in games with levels and loot, but it's still one of the best experiences I've had to date.

Alas I didn't get to try is the "Call For Help" function, but the idea is you can press a button on the level select screen to matchmake with any players who have flagged themselves as available to assist you. This is similar to the way co-op works in Monster Hunter.

Not all great Splatoon elements made the jump

Unfortunately, Splatoon Raiders does fall a bit short of series expectations in some key areas — specifically, fashion and music.

The other Splatoon games have pretty deep dress-up features that allow you to look fresh and funky as hell. Here, there are a smattering of unlockable outfits, but I didn't love the way most of them look.

Dressing like a greaseball mechanic makes more sense for the treasure-hunting escapades in Splatoon Raiders, but personally, I miss the streetwise fashion of the other games. I just want to wear a snapback with a squid on it.

And while Splatoon Raiders' soundtrack is still a step above most video games, it's a bit disappointing compared to its brethren. The audio direction here goes in the direction of strange, non-standard sounds rather than catchy, hummable rock or pop melodies. Previous Splatoon games have served both ends of the musical spectrum.

Regardless of shortcomings, Splatoon Raiders is another pleasant Switch 2 surprise, along the lines of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and Pokémon Pokopia, both of which also launched this year.

Those were games I was only medium-level interested in prior to release; now they're all some of the best (or at least most interesting) games on the platform. As we wait patiently for the next big Mario or Zelda release, it's nice to experience these fun, experimental takes on existing franchises.

Social media bans for kids are quickly becoming the global legislation trend of the moment.

Children under 16 are finding themselves at the center of political conversations, with countries including Australia, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Austria, and Indonesia, and more attempting to wrangle Big Tech companies' hold on young people's attention.

SEE ALSO: Australia's kid social media ban is ineffective, study suggests

Online age verification laws are taking shape by the month, with governments citing the need to address issues including child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, self-harm, and the impact on kids' mental health, as well as "addictive" design, violent content, and porn. However, these laws have also come under severe criticism for efficiency and their impact on digital privacy and free speech.

Plus, kids are already finding ways around them.

So, where are we at, globally? Which countries have followed Australia's example and are rolling out their own social media bans? Here's the list, alphabetically, and incidentally starting with the one who started it all.

Australia

The first to do it, Australia set a global precedent in Dec. 2025 with its world-first social media ban for children under 16. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act requires social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Snapchat to implement age verification and take "reasonable steps" to prevent kids under 16 from creating accounts. However, a July 2026 study by Australian government advisors found the ban so far ineffective.

Plus, Reddit is suing.

Austria

Following in Australia's footsteps with fewer letters, in March 2026, Austria announced a bill to ban social media use for children under 14. With a draft planned for completion by summer, Austria's legislation would also add a new compulsory subject, "Media and Democracy," to school curriculums to boost awareness of "how to recognise disinformation and radicalisation."

Brazil

Brazil's social media ban, the Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents, came into force in March 2026. The law requires kids under 16 to link their social media accounts with a legal guardian, and tech platforms must add age verification for users wanting to access adult content. It also means social media platforms must limit "features designed to artificially increase, sustain, or extend" time kids spend on the platforms, including automatically playing videos.

Canada

Canada is set to ban users under 16 from holding social media accounts, with a proposed law announced by the Canadian government on June 11, 2026. The Safe Social Media Act will enforce age verification to access online services and legally mandated safety requirements for social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. But Canadian law will also apply to companies that use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

Denmark

Denmark is planning a social media ban for kids under 15, announced back on Oct. 8, 2025, by the country's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen. According to the Associated Press, the law could arrive in 2026, but there's no date or details yet. Reports also suggest parents could allow their children to use social media from the age of 13.

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write? European Union

An EU-wide social media ban for kids under 13 could be coming, announced July 13, 2026. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (the EU's executive body), presented a report on online safety for children, which recommended age-appropriate restrictions on platforms (the EU has launched its own age verification app), parental supervision for social media use, and the insistence that digital platforms "must prove that their services do no harm."

But it won't just be social media that's impacted. As Mashable's Anna Iovine reports, it could apply to "other digital services such as AI companions, video-sharing platforms, and video games."

France

France is ready to approve its social media ban for kids under 15, with the government reaching a compromise on the bill on July 20, 2026. Once it's through, France will be the first European country to officially enact such a ban. According to Le Monde, the social media ban will block under-15s from creating new accounts as of Sept. 1, and in Jan. 2027, all existing accounts will come under the law.

Germany

Germany hasn't yet rolled out a social media ban, but the government is considering it.

Greece

Greece plans to ban social media for kids under 15, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announcing the proposed law on April 8, 2026. In a TikTok video, translated by the BBC, Mitsotakis cited sleep issues and anxiety in children caused by "the pressure to always be online," and he criticized "the addictive design of certain applications." If passed, the measure will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and the PM said age verification is also needed.

Indonesia

Indonesia announced it would ban social media for children under 16 on March 6, 2026. As reported by the BBC, the country's minister of communication and digital affairs, Meutya Hafid, said anyone under 16 with an account on a "high risk" online platform would see it deactivated by the end of March, naming "YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox."

Malaysia

Malaysia has banned social media for under-16s, with communications minister Fahmi Fadzil announcing the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA) in Nov. 2025. The law came into force on Jan. 1, 2026, but it really got started on June 1, 2026. As NBC News reports, requires social media companies to add age verification and to prohibit kids under 16 from creating accounts on platforms with at least 8 million users (that means YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook). The law also requires social media companies "to limit features that increase, sustain, or extend" kids' online time.

Poland

Poland is looking to ban kids under 15 from social media, with Education Minister Barbara Nowacka announcing plans on Feb. 26, 2026. Yes, that would mean age verification on social media sites and big fines for companies not enforcing them.

Slovenia

Slovenia is set to ban social media access for kids under 15, with draft legislation announced by Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon on Feb. 5, 2026.

Spain

Spain announced plans to ban social media for children under 16 on Feb. 3, 2026, with the country's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, promising to "protect them from the digital Wild West." The proposed bill, which still needs to be passed by parliament, will hold social media companies (including their executives) liable for "illegal or harmful content" existing on their platforms. "We will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” Sánchez said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai in February.

Thailand

Thailand hasn't announced a social media ban yet, but there's a lot of discussion about it.

Turkey

Turkey passed a bill on April 23, 2026, that blocks kids under 15 from accessing social media platforms. According to the Associated Press, which cited state media reports, the law will require age verification on social media, rapid responses by companies to "harmful" content, and expanded parental controls.

United Kingdom

The UK confirmed an impending social media ban for under-16s on June 15, 2026, following the rollout of age verification in the country in July 2025 (it's kind of working?). The government explicitly said it "plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia," with the intention of broadening the law to cover other platforms, including livestreaming and gaming sites.

The UK is also considering overnight curfews for teens aged 16 and 17 and blocking infinite-scroll mechanisms for kids.

This story is developing and will be updated as laws are proposed and passed.

Where to pre-order these soundtrack vinyl releases: Blue Velvet Soundtrack — 40th Anniversary Collector’s Vinyl $29.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here Scream 30th Anniversary Soundtrack “Woodsboro Bloodbath” Red Vinyl Reissue $32.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Soundtrack Picture Disc Vinyl $32.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here

Movie scores can stick with us long after the credits roll, and three iconic soundtracks are getting the collector treatment this fall. Varèse Sarabande is celebrating three iconic movie scores with new collector releases for Scream, Blue Velvet, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, with Craft Recordings joining select editions.

The lineup spans horror, cult cinema, and animation, with Marco Beltrami’s genre-defining Scream score returning for its 30th anniversary and Angelo Badalamenti’s haunting Blue Velvet soundtrack celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Blue Velvet 40th Anniversary Collector’s Vinyl Opens in a new window Credit: Varèse Sarabande Blue Velvet Soundtrack — 40th Anniversary Collector’s Vinyl $29.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Varèse Sarabande is celebrating the 40th anniversary of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet with a new collectible vinyl edition of Angelo Badalamenti’s original motion picture soundtrack. Available to pre-order now ahead of its Sept. 4 release, the reissue brings the 14-track album back to vinyl in a special rainbow-foil jacket.

The release celebrates Badalamenti’s haunting score for Lynch’s 1986 classic, with its dreamy melodies and unsettling arrangements that helped define the film’s unique atmosphere. The vinyl features some of the soundtrack’s most memorable moments, from the haunting “Main Title” and dreamlike “Mysteries Of Love” to standout tracks like Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams” and Ketty Lester’s “Love Letters.”

The soundtrack will also be released on CD, giving fans multiple ways to revisit Badalamenti’s iconic score.

Scream 30th Anniversary Red Vinyl Reissue Opens in a new window Credit: Varèse Sarabande / Craft Recordings Scream 30th Anniversary Soundtrack “Woodsboro Bloodbath” Red Vinyl Reissue $32.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

For Scream fans, the phone is ringing again. To celebrate the horror classic’s 30th anniversary, Varèse Sarabande and Craft Recordings are bringing back Marco Beltrami’s iconic original motion picture score with a new collector's reissue arriving Aug. 28. The original 14-track album returns to vinyl in a collectible “blood-soaked” sleeve featuring an iconic image of Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker from the film’s unforgettable opening scene.

The soundtrack captures the tension and chaos that made Wes Craven’s 1996 horror classic unforgettable, with standout tracks including “The Cue from Hell,” which scores the film’s iconic opening scene, “Trouble in Woodsboro,” and the haunting “Sidney Wants It.”

Wallace & Gromit Soundtrack Picture Disc Vinyl Opens in a new window Credit: Varèse Sarabande Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Soundtrack Picture Disc Vinyl $32.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Fans of the beloved claymation duo can bring home a collectible piece of Wallace & Gromit history with the new picture-disc vinyl edition of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, arriving Sept. 18. Released by Varèse Sarabande, the picture disc features Julian Nott’s award-winning original score, produced by legendary composer Hans Zimmer, along with additional music from Rupert Gregson-Williams, James Dooley, Lorne Balfe, and Alastair King.

The vinyl includes 19 tracks across two sides, featuring fan-favorite cues like “A Grand Day Out,” “Anti-Pesto to the Rescue,” “Transformation,” and “Wallace & Gromit.” It’s a fun collector release for longtime fans of Aardman’s iconic characters and anyone who appreciates the whimsical scores that help bring animated films to life.

You know your Samsung Galaxy phone has a fingerprint scanner. But what you might not know is that the fingerprint scanner can be used to launch apps and shortcuts (I didn’t). Samsung hid this ability behind a poorly named feature in Good Lock, and I’m glad to have found it.

TL;DR: The Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) QHD gaming monitor is on sale for $219.99 at Amazon, down from its $349.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) $219.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $130 Get Deal

Bigger gaming monitors can quickly become expensive once you add faster refresh rates and sharper-than-Full-HD resolution, but Amazon has just made Samsung’s 32-inch Odyssey G5 the perfect go-to for upgrading your setup at a bargain. 

As of July 21, the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) gaming monitor is available at Amazon for $219.99. That takes a full $130 off its $349.99 list price, leaving you with a 37% discount and the lowest price we’ve seen for this model so far (confirmed with price tracker, camelcamelcamel).

For the money, you’re getting a 32-inch Fast IPS display with QHD 2560x1440 resolution — which is shipped and sold by Amazon, getting to you as early as the next day if you’re a Prime member (at the time of writing). 

As an upgrade over older standard monitors, it offers 1.7 times the pixel density of Full HD, giving games noticeably cleaner edges and finer environmental detail without demanding as much from your PC as a 4K panel.  

The 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG response time are the draws for anyone regularly playing quick multiplayer games. Whether you’re sprinting through Fortnite, tracking fast-moving enemies in Overwatch, or lining up a last-second shot in Call of Duty, the higher refresh rate should keep movement looking much smoother than it would on a typical 60Hz or 75Hz model.

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For those still worried about shaky movement with certain titles, NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync are both included to keep the screen and graphics card in check, helping reduce image tearing, lag, and choppy action. What’s more, HDR10 adds brighter highlights and more detailed shadows, while the IPS panel provides a wide 178-degree viewing angle. 

Samsung has also fitted the G50F with Black Equalizer to brighten difficult-to-see areas, Virtual Aim Point to add an on-screen crosshair, and Auto Source Switch+ to automatically switch between connected devices. 

The way to use a chatbot is given in the name. They are designed to be used by having two-way conversations with the LLM using natural language. You type something into the chatbot, and it replies. In some cases, continually typing stuff into a chatbot isn't the most efficient way to do things, so I set up a system that does it for me.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 21, the Lego Icons French Café has hit a new low price of $63.74 at Amazon. That's $16.25 off its full price of $79.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons French Café Paris Building Kit (10362) $63.74 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $16.25   Get Deal

Lego sets can be quite costly, but Amazon is a helpful place to check out for great deals. Even today, the retailer has some nice surprises in store. As of July 21, the charming Lego Icons French Café set has dropped to a new low price of $63.74 at Amazon.

Compared to this Lego set's full price of $79.99, this deal saves you $16.25. At the moment, it has a "limited time deal" tag, so the clock is ticking to pick it up while it's still on sale.

SEE ALSO: Lego is releasing the biggest Art Masterpiece ever: Everything you need to know about Gustav Klimt – The Kiss

In total, it comes with 1,101 pieces that create a classic French bistro, complete with hanging flowerpots, ornate seating, and accessories such as food and crockery to bring the scene together. The double doors at the front also open to reveal a small interior with a seating area, so you can choose whether to keep them open or closed once you're all finished.

It's a set recommended for adults, likely due to its higher piece count, more detailed assembly, and the fact that it's meant for display rather than play. However, younger builders can still get the fun of piecing it together if they want to; they'll just need an older individual around to help out.

This limited-time Lego deal may not last long, so be quick to save on the Lego Icons French Café set at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Lexus is Toyota's luxury division, but Toyota often builds a Lexus-badged twin to capture buyers who want that extra refinement without the higher sticker price. The Grand Highlander and the Lexus TX mimic that pattern as closely as any two vehicles have. Both are three-row midsize SUVs, both ride on a version of the same platform, and both come from the same Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana.

Buying a high-end monitor and then plugging it in with whatever cable came in the box is something most people do without thinking twice. HDMI is everywhere; the port fits, and the picture shows up, so everything seems fine. The problem is that there are plenty of issues that no one talks about. The cable and port you're using matter more than most people realize, and HDMI specifically has some limitations that aren't obvious from the outside.

Your PC isn't going to switch itself off one day. But the version of Windows sitting on it right now? It has a shelf life. And it's shorter than you'd think. You've probably heard the headlines about Windows 10 riding off into the sunset. This is a bit different.

Buying into a tool ecosystem is supposed to mean your gear works together. That's the whole point of sticking with one brand. DeWalt has leaned hard on that idea with FlexVolt. Unfortunately, it does come with a lot of stipulations, and it can feel like a trap if you don't know any better. While I like DeWalt, and they can be budget friendly, I think it could be clearer in its marketing for its batteries.

SAVE $30: As of July 21, the Bose SoundLink Micro portable speaker (2nd Gen) is on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's $30 off its list price of $129.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen) $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal

A portable speaker can really elevate your summertime adventures, though with so many out there to choose from, it can be hard to find a good pick. The Bose SoundLink Micro portable speaker (2nd Gen) is one we have a lot of love for — landing as our favorite Bose speaker in our roundup of the best portable Bluetooth speakers - and it's even on sale right now at Amazon.

As of July 21, every available color of the Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) has been marked down to $99. That's a $30 discount off its original list price of $129, and it even marks the lowest price for a select group of colors: sandstone, petal pink, sunset peach, and twilight blue.

SEE ALSO: 16 summer hosting essentials that cost under $25 at Amazon

The Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) has an incredibly portable design that's perfect for taking on the go, but don't let that small size fool you into thinking it also has small sound. According to our roundup of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, "Bose made some serious upgrades to the all-new SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen), starting with sound quality. Frequency range has been tweaked to provide fuller bass and more clarity. Drums hit harder, while vocals feel more intimate. There’s also less distortion at higher volumes."

On top of that, this little speaker boasts a long-lasting battery that delivers up to 12 hours of playtime. Plus, it's durable, with a waterproof design (rated IP67) and dust-, shock-, and rust-resistant features. So whether you're heading to the beach, the pool, or on a hike, it can handle the adventure.

If you've had your eye on the Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen), act fast to take advantage of this great deal at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Team-Up Box is on sale for $29.99 at Amazon, down from its $49.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Team-Up $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal

Magic: The Gathering’s TMNT crossover has plenty of products built around opening packs, but Turtle Team-Up makes it so you can have even more trading card fun with your friends. And now Amazon has made that co-operative box cheaper than we’ve ever seen.

As of July 21, the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Team-Up Box is available at Amazon for $29.99 — cutting $20 from its $49.99 list price, giving you roughly 40% off the complete multiplayer set. This not only dips well under TCGplayer’s market price of $36.80, but is also the lowest price we’ve ever seen the TMNT-themed MTG box on Amazon, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

To be clear, this is not another standard booster box designed for opening packs. Turtle Team-Up is designed for two to four players working together against an automated enemy system, rather than trying to knock one another out. Games are expected to last around 45 minutes, making it an easy fit for a casual Magic night without turning the whole evening into one drawn-out match. 

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Inside are four ready-to-play 60-card decks, with one built around Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, or Michelangelo. The box also includes a 38-card Enemy deck, featuring 11 bosses and 17 Event Cards that steadily raise the pressure as the game progresses. 

You also get four TMNT Play Boosters, each containing 14 cards, so there is still something to crack open once you have tried the preconstructed decks. Four deck boxes, a punch-out counter sheet, and a tutorial booklet round out the package. Wizards says the four Turtle decks collectively contain 29 different new-to-Magic cards, giving existing players more than just a beginner-friendly side mode to explore. 

Excel isn't known for being pretty, but the overlooked IMAGE function changes that. I'd used the IMAGE function before for simple visuals, but I wanted to see how far it could go. So I put it to the test by building a couple of interactive tools, and by the end, my spreadsheets felt more like apps than worksheets.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you can keep a secret.

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 21, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

A decoy.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L 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 S.

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...

SHILL

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a good writer.

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 21, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Write there

The words are related to paper.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe writing utensils.

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 Stationery.

NYT Strands word list for July 21

• Envelope

• Letterhead

• Stationery

• Notepad

• File

• Card

• Sheet

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a theater kid.

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 21, 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: Shirts

• Green: Computer add-ons

• Blue: Broadway shows

• Purple: Electronic transmission

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Kinds of tops

• Green: Software downloads

• Blue: Elements of a musical

• Purple: Tele___

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 #1136 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of tops: CROP, HALTER, TANK, TUBE

• Software downloads: APP, DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN

• Elements of a musical: BOOK, LYRICS, MUSIC, ORCHESTRATION

• Tele___: GRAM, KENESIS, PROMPTER, VISION

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 21, 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.

TL;DR: Lego Insiders ages 18+ can build and take home a Lego sports car model for free at select Lego Stores on July 25-26. The event is free, but supplies are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lego Insiders have the chance to attend a free event this week.

Select Lego Stores are hosting a free, adults-only sports car-building event where members can build a Lego sports car model and take it home afterward. The make-and-take event is happening on July 25-26, 2026, at participating Lego Stores in the U.S. and Canada.

SEE ALSO: The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile — how to qualify

The Lego Sports Car build event is free for Lego Insiders aged 18+ (it's totally free to sign up). The Lego Sports Car model cannot be purchased and is only available through this event. Before heading out, check your local Lego Store event page to confirm the timing and availability.

Sure, it’s a free sports car, but the real win is leaving the store with a build you made and a fun Lego memory attached. Check the Lego Store event page for more details.

Hollywood’s next major horror franchise may already be hiding somewhere in your YouTube recommendations. Or at least studios seem to think so.

It's official: three more internet horror creations are heading to the big screen as creator-led movies continue to spark competitive bidding wars across Hollywood.

On July 2, United Artists, Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, and Amazon MGM Studios acquired the film rights to The Mandela Catalogue following an 11-studio auction. The announcement came one day after Warner Bros. won a five-studio bidding war for Siren Head, the viral monster created by artist Trevor Henderson. Less than two weeks later, Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Studios announced V/H/S: SCP, a 2027 movie that will bring the massive, fan-built SCP Foundation horror universe into the V/H/S found-footage franchise.

These back-to-back deals are the latest evidence of a broader hunt underway across Hollywood. After the enormous box-office success of Backrooms and Obsession, studios are searching YouTube, Reddit, and other online communities for horror concepts that already have recognizable worlds, committed audiences, and creators who have proved they can make compelling work without traditional studio backing.

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Kister was 17 when he began making The Mandela Catalogue in 2021 using basic editing tools and footage filmed around his home. The YouTube series follows a Wisconsin county terrorized by entities called Alternates, creatures that psychologically torment people before assuming their identities. The analog horror series has since become one of YouTube’s most popular, drawing over 100 million views.

But audiences do more than watch these stories. They decode clues, organize timelines, debate theories, and help expand the mythology. That same participation transformed Trevor Henderson's Siren Head from a single 2018 illustration into an internet phenomenon.

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Fans carried the towering, siren-headed creature into animations, games, short films, stories, Roblox, and Minecraft. Shutter Authority's Siren Head videos have accrued hundreds of millions of views (his first video has more than 241 million views). By the time Warner Bros. acquired the film rights, it had already become an internet urban legend far larger than Henderson’s original post.

Hollywood is also looking toward online worlds for inspiration — The SCP Foundation began in 2008 as a collaborative fiction wiki where writers document paranormal creatures, objects, and events. The planned theatrical anthology V/H/S: SCP, produced by Roy Lee and Steven Schneider, will turn that community-built archive into a feature film scheduled for 2027.

Each property arrives at the studio system with similar advantages: recognizable imagery, extensive mythology, active fandoms, and creators who already understand their audiences better than anyone else.

The box-office hits behind the rush

Interest isn't happening in isolation. In May, Backrooms, directed by 20-year-old YouTube filmmaker Kane Parsons, opened to more than $81 million domestically. As of July 20, it has earned approximately $384 million worldwide at the box office against a reported $10 million production budget.

The film provided the clearest proof yet that a horror world developed largely through internet culture could attract a mainstream theatrical audience. The Backrooms started with an anonymous image of an empty yellow room posted to 4chan in 2019. The concept spread across Reddit, online wikis, games, and collaborative fiction until Parsons, then 16, released his 9-minute YouTube video The Backrooms (Found Footage).

Within weeks, the video racked up tens of millions of views. Parsons then expanded it into a larger series exploring disappearances, scientific experiments, and an organization's attempts to study and map the mysterious space — all before it became a feature film.

Obsession demonstrated a similar version of the same opportunity. While the movie was not adapted from a preexisting internet mythology, its 26-year-old writer-director, Curry Barker, developed his audience and filmmaking style through online projects, including the horror short The Chair and Milk & Serial, a found-footage feature made for about $800 and released on YouTube.

Made for approximately $750,000, Obsession has since grossed more than $428 million worldwide. Barker has completed another movie for Blumhouse and is now attached to direct A24’s reimagining of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

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Together, the films expanded Hollywood’s understanding of what an online creator could bring into a studio — all in 1 summer.

Hollywood wants the filmmaker, not only the followers

These creators arrive with built-in audiences, but that is only one part of their appeal.

When I interviewed Backrooms producer Kori Adelson for Vanity Fair in May, she emphasized the filmmaking ability in Parsons' YouTube work that transferred well into blockbuster directing.

"His work is so singular and evocative," Adelson said. "And in terms of his technical skill set? It was more advanced than most experienced filmmakers."

Parsons built the original series in Blender, and those digital models became blueprints for the movie’s 30,000-square-foot set. Because he could adjust the designs himself, Parsons could show the production team exactly how each space should look.

Plus, because these creators have spent years watching audiences respond to their work, they understand what a movie adaptation needs to preserve.

"I sort of have made a contract with the audience, and I like to do everything I possibly can to hold myself accountable to that…regardless if we’re medium hopping," he told me back in May.

Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chair Mike De Luca has compared that fan connection to an unusually long development process. "By the time you get to the movie, they've had a billion test screenings," he said during the Producers Guild of America's conference.

It also helps explain why creators like Parsons and Kister are being trusted to direct their adaptations rather than simply selling the rights and stepping aside.

The internet has become a proving ground for horror

This path hasn't been completely untrodden.

Back in 2023, Australian twins Danny and Michael Philippou made the leap from YouTube to theaters with Talk to Me. Before directing the horror hit, the pair had spent years creating chaotic horror-comedy videos, elaborate fight scenes, and practical-effects-heavy stunts for their RackaRacka channel. Their filmmaking experience translated: Made for about $4.5 million, Talk to Me earned nearly $100 million worldwide.

Mark Fischbach, better known online as Markiplier, followed a similar path with Iron Lung. He financed, directed, and distributed the video game adaptation himself, turning a budget of only a few million dollars into more than $51 million at the global box office.

Now, more filmmakers are lining up behind them. Dylan Clark is developing his viral YouTube short Portrait of God into a Universal feature produced by Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi, while Sam Evenson is directing a feature-length adaptation of his short Mora for Neon.

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YouTube is not the only place where Hollywood is finding horror stories with built-in online audiences. Reddit’s r/NoSleep has long served as a testing ground for writers who present fictional stories as firsthand accounts, including Elias Witherow's Tommy Taffy series about a seemingly human figure who forces his way into families and takes control of their homes.

That story is now becoming The Third Parent, a feature adaptation scheduled to hit theaters on Jan. 22, 2027, with David Michaels writing and directing and Crispin Glover starring as Tommy.

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Hollywood is always searching for the next big thing, and its next major horror franchise may still begin with a single creepy image or a teenager editing footage in a bedroom. The difference is that studios are now paying attention much earlier — and increasingly trusting the original creator to bring that idea to the big screen.