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Curious about eharmony but not yet ready to dish out your credit card details? You're not alone, and the good news is that the dating site is reasonably generous in the scope it gives to non-paying members. 

In fact, there's almost no aspect of the user interface that is totally restricted to paid accounts, so if you want to get a sense of how the site operates and the emphasis it places on matchmaking assessments, testing the waters with a free account is a great idea. 

Here's everything you can and can't do with a free eharmony account:

Opens in a new window Credit: eharmony eharmony   Learn More What you can do with a free accountCreate and fill out a profile

With a free account, you can create a profile, upload photos, fill out important facts about yourself, from whether or not you have children to what you like to do in your free time, and even take eharmony's proprietary personality quiz, which the site uses to compare you with other members and assign your potential match a "compatibility score."

Apply (some) search criteria

In the Discover section of the site, eharmony will present you with the profiles of various singles that fit your match criteria, helping you narrow down your search for a significant other. For free members, however, there are only a limited number of filters that you can apply. 

These include height range, age range, and whether or not someone is a smoker or has/wants children. If you upgrade to a premium account, however, you'll unlock many more filter options, including ethnicity, religion, income range, and education level.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

And most frustratingly of all, while free account members can select which regions of their country they want to view profiles from, they cannot filter these profiles by distance, whereas paying members can elect to be shown only people within a certain distance of their location. 

Read profile bios

With a free account, you don't get full access to people's profiles, but you can generally get a very thorough understanding of who they are as a person, since key details like their hobbies, marital status, gender, location, height and body type, and even dating preferences are all visible. 

Verify your account

To get your eharmony account verified, follow these steps:

• Click on the SMS Verification button on your profile

• Enter your mobile phone number and click "Start the SMS verification"

• You will receive a verification code via text

• Enter the verification code in your eharmony prompt screen

If you follow the above steps, you'll earn a verification symbol on your profile, which is like a little vote of confidence to help potential matches trust in the authenticity of your account. 

Get matches

Free accounts are every bit as visible in the Discovery section as paid accounts, and they're allowed to like and dislike others, so don't be surprised when you start getting notifications that other people you've liked have returned your interest. 

There is a catch, though … there's still a lot you can't do with a free account.

What you can't do with a free accountView profile photos

If you're into blind dating, this might not be an issue, but the average online dater still wants to see what their match or potential match looks like, and eharmony blurs the profile photos for non-paying accounts, not enough to totally hide the photo — you can usually make out face shape and even hair color, for example — but enough to heighten the mystery. 

Initiate chats

As a non-paying member, you can send a message whenever you like an account, which is a great way to improve your odds of a match, and you can send matches an Icebreaker, eharmony's interactive photo-pairing game to help start a conversation, but you won't actually be able to send back-and-forth messages without giving up your credit card details.  

SEE ALSO: Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says.

Worse, still, if you are sent a message by someone who happened to like your profile, you won't be able to read it without upgrading your account, which can be quite tortuous when the person you've been eyeing finally shows up in your inbox.

This is why eharmony's free accounts are really a "trap," because even though there's a fair amount of stuff you can do on the site for free, benefitting from your efforts really requires an upgrade. 

SAVE $270: As of June 5, the Eufy C28 robot vacuum is on sale for $529.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: eufy Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum $529.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $270   Get Deal

Prime Day is fast approaching, but if you're looking for a robot vacuum deal now, you're in luck. Amazon's Daily Deals is still offering great discounts, like this latest on the Eufy C28 robot vacuum. As of June 5, this robot vacuum is down to $529.99 from $799.99. That's a savings of $270.

And this is a seriously impressive model. It features an 11-inch HydroJet roller with 24 water ports that spin at 270 RPM for self-cleaning during mopping. It also has a built-in scraper that removes dirt into a separate tank, keeping the roller clean while in use.

And if you have fluffy pets at home, this vacuum can more than cope. The DuoSpiral brush system is designed to handle hair up to 30 cm long without tangling. It also delivers up to 15,000Pa turbo suction, so all kinds of dirt can be picked up easily.

After it's full, the vacuum will return to its all-in-one docking station, where it can provide up to 75 days of hands-free maintenance by emptying dust into a 3L bag, washing the mop, drying it with 120°F hot air, and collecting wastewater. So, there's hardly any work for you to do.

Get this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

Prime Day is coming, and if you want to shop all the best deals, you'll need an Amazon Prime account.

Amazon's flagship sale kicks off June 23 and runs through June 26. The now annual four-day event is an exhausting extravaganza of deals. The retailer is likely to drop millions of deals during the sale, but to shop them, you must be a Prime member.

Not yet a Prime member? Want to revive your old Prime account? You can sign up for a free 30-day trial and unlock access to the sale. And nothing is stopping you from canceling before the 30-day promo period ends to avoid paying full price — just saying. Students (and anyone between the ages of 18 and 24) can also sign up for a 6-month trial for $0.

Regardless of whether or not you stick around, here's how you can sign up for Amazon Prime:

Total Time

• Under 5 minutes

What You Need

• Internet access
• Email address or phone number

Step 1: Go to the Amazon Prime sign-up page and click on Start your free 30-day trial.

Head to Amazon Prime's sign-up page.

Step 2: Input your email if you have an existing Amazon account or click on Create Your Amazon Account.

A new sign-in page will open up on the website. Input your email or mobile number and password if you have an existing Amazon account, or click on Create Your Amazon Account. If you make a new account, you'll need to provide some basic information such as name, email, and password.

Step 3: If you're creating a new account, follow the steps to verify your email with a One-Time Password.

If you choose to create a new account, Amazon will send an OTP to your respective email address or mobile number for account verification. If you are using an existing account, skip to Step 5.

Step 4: Input the OTP and click on Verify.

Once the OTP verification page appears on the screen, input the code and click on Verify.

Step 5: Sign up for your 1-month trial or purchase a full subscription.

New users have two options: sign up for a one-month trial for $0 or purchase a full subscription. Remember: you may not qualify for a free trial if you have already used this offer in the past with the same email or phone number.

What are your Prime membership options?

If you are purchasing a Prime membership subscription, you have four plan options:

• Monthly Prime Membership — $14.99 per month

• Annual Membership — $139 per year or under $12 monthly

• Young Adult Monthly Membership — $7.49 per month (young adults are also eligible for exclusive offers, including a 6-month no-cost Prime trial)

• Prime for government assistance recipients — $6.99 per month (must verify eligibility)

It may have been overshadowed by his extremely expensive ballroom, but did you know Donald Trump is also renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool?

He's been banging on quite a bit about it at recent press events, with one notable moment seeing the president using a chart to compare the pool's size to that of the world's tallest buildings.

"What the f*** is happening right now?" asks Daily Show host Michael Kosta in the clip above. "Why did you make that chart? Our pool is bigger than skyscrapers? Those are two totally different things? I'd say you're comparing apples and oranges, but at least those are fruits. This would be like putting up a chart that says 'This sandwich is louder than haircuts.' What the f*** are we talking about?"

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

TL;DR: Live stream Arnaldi vs. Cobolli in the 2026 French Open for free on France TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

With the women's semi-finals done and dusted at the 2026 French Open, it's time for the men to step onto the clay courts and decide who goes to the grand final.

The big semi-final match is Alexander Zverev vs. Jakub Mensik, with No. 2 seed Zverev a hot favorite to go all the way and win his first Grand Slam. But the other men's semi-final match, the all-Italian showdown of Matteo Arnaldi vs. Flavio Cobolli, could be a sleeper classic.

Both men are entering a grand slam semi-final for the first time, and both have shown serious fire in the tournament. Arnaldi entered Roland-Garros unseeded and has battled his way through, while Cobolli eliminated the No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. Both young Italians will now give it their all to reach the final.

If you want to watch Arnaldi vs. Cobolli in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Arnaldi vs. Cobolli for free

Arnaldi vs. Cobolli in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on France TV.

France TV is geo-restricted to France, 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 France, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 France

4. Connect to France TV

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Arnaldi vs. Cobolli in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Mensik vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open for free on France TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 French Open continues with one of the most anticipated days of the entire tournament — the men's semi-finals. The first semi-final sees No. 2 Alexander Zverev continue his chase for his first ever Grand Slam title with a match against No. 26 Jakub Mensik.

German superstar Zverev is favorite to win the tournament following the shock early exits of other top seeds — including No. 1 Jannik Sinner — but Mensik will prove tough competition. The 20-year-old Czech has fought hard and already eliminated No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur — and lower-ranked players have repeatedly eliminated top seeds this year at Roland-Garros.

All eyes will be on Zverev, however. Tennis fans are well aware that this is the 29-year-old's big chance to win that all-important first major. However it plays out, this is a match not to miss.

If you want to watch Mensik vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Mensik vs. Zverev for free

Mensik vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on France TV.

France TV is geo-restricted to France, 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 France, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 France

4. Connect to France TV

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Mensik vs. Zverev in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

June is here, and Apple fans know what that means: It's time for the annual Worldwide Developers Conference, better known as WWDC.

While most of the event is catered to developers, the opening keynote address is traditionally way more consumer-oriented than most of Apple's competitors' developer events. Apple usually saves its big software announcements for WWDC (and also announces some of its most powerful desktop computers, like the Mac Studio, during the event).

So, if you want to watch Tim Cook's final WWDC as Apple CEO — and the potential debut of iOS 27, an all-new Siri, and potentially some new Mac devices — here's how to watch the keynote live.

Watch Apple WWDC 2026 live

WWDC 2026 takes place from June 8 to June 12. The big keynote, however, opens up the show on Monday at 10 a.m. PT (or 1 p.m. ET).

Apple fans will be able to watch the keynote live at Apple.com, on Apple's YouTube channel, and the Apple TV app. You can also join Mashable at the CNET WWDC livestream watch party, where tech editors from Mashable, CNET, and PCMag will break down the biggest announcements after the event wraps.

This will be Tim Cook's final WWDC as CEO

Held in Cupertino, WWDC is shaping up to be even bigger than usual. Apple is expected to announce details of the next operating systems for its entire hardware lineup, which should include iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27.

Apple hasn't provided any information about what to expect. However, the long-awaited relaunch of Siri as a full-fledged AI assistant has been rumored to make its debut at this year's WWDC.

Also, beyond Apple's products, this is expected to be Apple CEO Tim Cook's very last keynote as head of the company. Apple's current Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will become Apple CEO just in time for its big iPhone event in September.

SEE ALSO: 3 burning questions we still have before WWDC 2026

VidCon is back again this year in Anaheim, with plenty of new surprises in store for fans and content creators alike.

The event is set to take place from Thursday, June 25, to Saturday, June 27, and includes a full schedule of nonstop meet-and-greets, mentorship sessions, informative talks, and interactive events for attendees.

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators defining the internet in 2026

Last year's VidCon fell on YouTube's 20th anniversary, so the event honored early YouTube legends like Hank Green, Rhett & Link, Grace Helbig, Tyler Oakley, Smosh co-founders Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, and more. The YouTube pioneers were celebrated and awarded at VidCon’s first annual Hall of Fame ceremony.

This year’s VidCon looks a little different — this time, the event focuses on the wider content-creating industry beyond YouTube. 

The three-day itinerary includes something for everyone: opportunities to meet favorite creators, informative sessions on content creation, interactive events like GorillaCon and pickleball, and more.

GorillaCon

VidCon 2026 promptly kicks off with the first-ever GorillaCon event on Thursday morning. What is GorillaCon, you ask? It’s a live event celebrating Gorilla Tag, described on the VidCon website as the world’s most popular virtual reality game.

At GorillaCon, attendees have the opportunity to celebrate being "Monke" in the 3,000 square foot VidCon Expo Hall. A GorillaCon ticket includes access to Gorilla Tag creators for autographs and photo-ops, and priority position for merchandise, prizes, raffles, and an auction for "crazy rare Monke artifacts."

SEE ALSO: How to get tickets for VidCon 2026

The event will also include concerts, trivia, cosplay, parades, and more. VidCon attendees need a separate GorillaCon ticket to attend, which can be purchased on the VidCon website.

AI and content creation

This year's VidCon tackles an important elephant in the content creation industry room: how content creators can use AI and AI-powered tools. 

The title sponsor of VidCon is POP.STORE, an agentic AI commerce platform that allows creators to track follower analytics and sell products without relying solely on social media platforms. 

The platform also includes a tool called ECHO-ME, which adapts to an individual content creator’s voice and helps them respond to followers and brand deals authentically. POP.STORE is expected to showcase ECHO-ME at this year’s VidCon.

VidCon's schedule also includes several informative sessions on AI and content creation, ranging from the future of branded content to how content creators could use AI tools and AI authenticity in content creation.

Exclusive perks for VidCon, Creator, and Pro Pass holders

Different ticket tiers include a wide range of new perks this year as well. VidCon Pass holders will experience the new Live Podcast Studio, where featured creators will record live podcasts, and the Community Zone, where fans can gather for meetups and performances.

Creator Pass holders will have access to Creator HQ this year, a new space for collaborating with other creators, as well as a new, exclusive networking tool and creator meetups. 

Pro Pass holders will have access to a VidCon speed networking event, the first VIP Expo Hall party, and Think Tank 20, where attendees can gather in 20-person groups to explore topics in-depth. 

A few Pro Pass holders can also participate in the invite-only VidCon brand match accelerator, which will include one-on-one meetings between top creators and decision-makers. 

All VidCon attendees will have access to the new Sport Court, newly expanded Gaming Zone, as well as VidCon's street fest — aka a massive celebration that will feature food trucks, live music, and dancing.

Attendees can also expect a few familiar favorites events, like the pickleball tour and the Hall of Fame ceremony, which just inducted new members Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, and Cassey Ho.

Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.

2026 is full of scary times. But if you like your horror confined to the screen, we've got you covered with a selection of the best that this year has had to offer so far.

Mashable's entertainment team has an insatiable thirst for all things horror. As such, we've not only seen the big flashy releases like Lee Cronin's The Mummy, Kevin Williamson's Scream 7, Nia Dacosta's 28 Year Later: Bone Temple, Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride!, and Sam Raimi's Send Help, but also indie offerings like Backrooms, Obsession, Iron Lung, and Hokum.

Whether you like to shiver for zombies, cackle for horror comedy, gleefully gag over gross-out scares, get goosebumps over serial-killer thrillers, or dream of surreal twists that'll ensure nightmares, we've got you covered.

Here are the best horror movies of 2026 so far.

15. Iron Lung

Horror has a rich tradition of trapping characters in claustrophobic spaces and making them suffer, and Iron Lung cranks that premise up to 11. The film follows Simon (Mark Fischbach, aka YouTuber Markiplier), a convict in a post-apocalyptic future forced to trade prison for an exploratory mission down to the bottom of a blood ocean on an alien moon. The stuff of nightmares? Yes! And Markiplier (who also directs) amps up the tension with juddering submarine noises and occasional creepy X-ray photos taken by the submarine of its unpleasant surroundings.

This movie isn't perfect — at over two hours, it feels longer than it needs to be, and the characters aren't particularly fleshed out — but it's worth watching for one sequence near the end alone, which is cosmic horror at its most terrifying and blood-spattered. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Mark Fischbach, Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, Elle LaMont, Mick Lauer, Seán McLoughlin, and Isaac McKee

How to watch: Iron Lung is available to rent or buy on YouTube.

14. Cold Storage

Fungal horror gets the chills in Cold Storage, an infectious film that knows its lineage. Directed by Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?), and written by Jurassic Park co-scribe David Koepp based on his 2019 novel, Cold Storage takes a real event (NASA's Skylab falling out of orbit in 1979) and makes it the catalyst for gruesome events within a U.S. storage facility. Stranger Things' Joe Keery and Barbarian's Georgina Campbell as chatty employees investigating strange noises are a delight. And thanks to the genius of special makeup effects designers Lou and Dave Elsey (the team who brought you the corpiscle of True Detective: Night Country), Cold Storage is full of grisly, festering gore. As I wrote in my review, "Unlike its hazardous fungus (or Koepp's original book), Cold Storage isn't that deep. Instead, the film is a fun body horror comedy that grows on you — or might result in projectile vomiting?" — S.C.

Starring: Georgina Campbell, Joe Keery, Sosie Bacon, Vanessa Redgrave, Lesley Manville, and Liam Neeson

How to watch: Cold Storage is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

13. Primate

From Johannes Roberts, helmer of the uniquely scary shark thriller 47 Meters Down, comes a creature feature that should have you thinking twice about treating a wild animal as a pet.

Set in a remote mansion in Hawaii, Primate begins with college student Lucy Pinborough (Johnny Sequoyah) coming home to her younger sister (Gia Hunter), her hard-of-hearing dad (Troy Kotsur), and their pet chimpanzee, Ben. For added fun (and a higher body count), Roberts and co-writer Ernest Riera loop in some college friends and a couple of hot guys looking to party. What could have been a night of booze and sex becomes one of blood and death because Ben has contracted rabies, and so goes from pet to predator.

It's not deep or remotely sophisticated. But if you seeking something gnarly, Primate has got bite. — K.P.

Starring: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Gia Hunter, and Troy Kotsur

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

12. Obsession

Audiences went feral for writer/director Curry Barker's ultra-creepy Obsession. The film turns rom-com expectations on its head by presenting a lovelorn protagonist named Bear (Michael Johnston), who might seem like a nice guy but is actually the movie's villain.

Obsessed with his friend Nikki (a riveting Inde Navarrette), he makes a wish that she'll not only notice him, but will love him more than anyone else. In the way of the mythic monkey's paw, this wish goes horribly wrong, transforming Bear's dream girl into a nightmare. Obsession is thoroughly chilling, especially thanks to Navarrette's harrowing performance. But Barker's exploration of sexual politics ultimately feels juvenile because of a flubbed final act. As I explained more in-depth in my review, "This makes the finale of Obsession unnerving — not so much for what it shows, but for the empathy it ultimately lacks." — K.P.

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter

How to watch: Obsession is now in theaters.

11. Undertone

This slow-burn horror story is about the things that go bump in the night. Written and directed by Ian Tuason, Undertone centers on an isolated podcaster named Evy (Nina Kiri), who becomes fixated on a series of mysterious audio clips. As she goes down the metaphorical rabbit's hole on what they could mean, the world around her seems to shift, forcing her to face a horrid reality.*

Trapping audiences in a deteriorating house where Evy is caring for her dying mother, Undertone offers a claustrophobic atmosphere that is enhanced by a spooky soundscape of strange noises and stranger children's songs. It's a terrific concept, and Tuason puts a lot of care into each detail. However, as spooky as this one gets, it never had me full-on scared. — K.P.

Starring: Nina Kiri and Adam DiMarco

How to watch: Undertone is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

10. Thrash

I don't want to hear it. Nope. Not a bad word will be said here about Thrash, one of the most rudely welcomed movies on Netflix. Writer/director Tommy Wirkola (Violent Night, Dead Snow) delivers a proper nail-biter of a shark survival movie here, the 24-hour tale of a hurricane that becomes a tsunami that becomes a bona fide shark invasion of a South Carolina small town. It's glorious! We've got nightmarish cinematography; increasingly flooded sets; strong performances from Djimon Hounsou, Whitney Peak, and Phoebe Dynevor; and one wildly foreshadowed shark-infested water birth. The simple task of getting from A to B in this film? Good luck.

The Thrash production team, led by production designer David Ingram, built an entire town and utterly destroyed it with flash flooding, savage marine predators, and director of photography Matthew Weston's unrelentingly stressful camera work, and that's not enough for you? Did you see that bull shark kitchen scene? Well, you have your right to an opinion. This is mine: "If you like shark movies, Thrash is a solid survival thriller with a talented cast and visuals that had me locked in. Wirkola's ability to balance horror, action, and comedy remains a praise-worthy feat. Dive into it." — S.C.

Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, and Djimon Hounsou

How to watch: Thrash is now streaming on Netflix.

9. The Bride!

As writer and director, Maggie Gyllenhaal took a big swing with The Bride!, a dizzying reimagining of the Universal monster from Bride of Frankenstein. Critics were mixed on it, and despite starring Academy Award winners Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale as the Bride and her monster mate, this epic horror offering tanked at the box office.

But the world is wrong. Set in 1936 Chicago, The Bride! offers up a gangster's moll (Buckley) who is fatefully possessed by Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, who's long dead but still has things to say. So begins a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style crime spree with a besotted creature who loves movie musicals. The result is fitful, deranged, and uniquely beautiful.

Apparently, The Bride! is not for everyone. But to me, it was sensational. As I wrote in my review, "Gyllenhaal and her cast don't just dust off a classic tale for a safe money grab. (Looking at you, Disney live-action remakes!) They tear various Frankenstein iterations to bits, then create an exquisite corpse of the pieces, festooning it with elements from other films about violence, revolt, and violation. The result is a film that is utterly electrifying, sure to spark something in hearts young and old." — K.P.

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz

How to watch: The Bride! is now streaming on HBO Max.

8. Backrooms

The concept of the Backrooms began with a 4chan post, which then-teenager Kane Parsons masterfully expanded into a series of extremely viral short horror films. Backrooms is his full-length feature adaptation, and it's about a bitter furniture shop owner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who discovers the doorway to another world in the basement of his store. So, does Parsons manage to land the jump to feature? For the most part, yes. Backrooms uses uncanny spaces and an ominous soundscape to chilling effect, dragging us into a world that's as unsettling as it is endless. The movie's only real issue is its third act, which loses some tension after we see the face of the thing that's been chasing the characters through this hellish labyrinth.

"Despite this, Backrooms is still well worth a watch. The ending isn't enough to spoil what came before," I wrote in my Mashable review. "If anything, Parsons has managed to prove himself as an incredibly talented emerging filmmaker while also establishing the first chapter in what will surely end up becoming a brand-new horror franchise." — S.H.

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell

How to watch: Backrooms is now in theaters.

7. Exit 8

Months after escaping from Exit 8, I remain ensnared in it. Genki Kawamura's haunting adaptation is more than an ode to Kotake Create's acclaimed 2023 game; it's an impeccable thriller that will have you actively participating in its labyrinthine puzzle. You'll genuinely root for Kazunari Ninomiya as a frantic man trapped in a nightmarish looping subway hallway beneath Tokyo, his only chance of escape being his ability to identify "anomalies" within this wretched corridor. A rare triumph among video game adaptations, Exit 8 is a masterpiece of production, from the meticulous sets to the dynamic cinematography and nerve-racking sound design.

As I wrote in my review, "While video game adaptations come in a range of sublime to mediocre, Exit 8 is a triumphant realisation and expansion of the original concept. Kawamura's punctilious direction and his incredibly talented cast and crew amplify this contained hallway in satisfying, chilling ways. You'll remain in this hallway long after you've left the cinema — we're all still staring blankly at that Exit 0 sign." — S.C.

Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, and Nana Komatsu

How to watch: Exit 8 is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

6. Scream 7

Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, and Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson reunited for Scream 7, marking the highest-grossing sequel this franchise has seen.

With Williamson at the helm and co-writing with Guy Busick (Scream V & VI), this sequel dove into nostalgia. Ghostface is back in action, killing at Stu Macher's house and chasing Sidney around a charming suburb. For good measure, he's also threatening to kill Sidney's eldest kid, who was named after her high school best friend, Tatum!

Critics largely panned this one. But we found it fun. In my review, I cheered, "As someone who has long counted Scream as the best of the batch, I yearned for a sequel that recaptured that feeling of discovery but also shared in my affection for the first film. Scream 7 does that, paying homage without being beholden to audience expectation or constrictive lore. Incredibly, Williams gives us a hearty dose of nostalgia and Easter eggs while providing new ideas, weird reveals, and fresh chills." — K.P.

Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Timothy Simons, and Mark Consuelos

How to watch: Scream 7 is now streaming on Paramount+.

5. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Samara Weaving reteams with Ready or Not filmmakers Radio Silence for a star-studded sequel to their 2019 hit.

Recently widowed by some devilish intervention, newlywed Grace (Weaving) wants nothing more than to light a cigarette and walk away from the bloody mess of the late Le Domas family. But it's time to level up her hide-and-seek skills, as a cabal of the evil and affluent join forces to hunt her down for round two. This time, however, she'll have her estranged sister (Kathryn Newton) at her side, for better or worse.

Ready or Not 2 had a tough act to follow, but Radio Silence satisfies by offering comically quirky caricatures of privilege, eye-popping slaughter scenes, and a pair of vicious twins played by '90s icons Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy. As I wrote in my review, "Not all of these gambles pay off. Yet Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a winner when it comes to being a totally batshit good time." — K.P.

Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood

How to watch: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is available for purchase at Prime Video.

4. Send Help

Some movies are just so weird that it feels like a miracle they exist at all. Send Help is such a wonder, as it pairs A-list actress Rachel McAdams with much, much, much, much glop.

Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help is a genre mash-up that combines tropes from adventure and romance, horror comedies, and survival thrillers with an eat-the-rich edge. McAdams stars as a mousy office worker whose hotshot boss (Dylan O'Brien) treats like a pimple that needs to be popped. But when they end up stranded on a desert island, the power dynamics are dramatically flipped. There will be blood. And vomit, and muck, and more blood. And it will be hilarious.

As I declared in my review, "It's also a rip-roaring, no-fucks-to-give good time." — K.P.

Starring: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien

How to watch: Send Help is now on Hulu.

3. Apex

Kayaking solo in the Australian outback already sounds scary enough, but when you throw a sociopathic serial killer into the mix, it reaches a different level entirely. This is the situation that rock climber Sasha (Charlize Theron) finds herself in in Baltasar Kormákur's Apex when she encounters an initially quite charming ranger named Ben (Taron Egerton). The result is a cat-and-mouse survival thriller that's equal parts violent and tense.

"Apex is a relentless, exciting, and nerve-rattlingly scary thriller, wherein Theron and Egerton bring their very best to a brutal face-off," wrote Mashable's Kristy Puchko in her review. "It'll be a fun watch at home, hooking audiences on its gnarly twists and gore. But I pity those who won't get to see the vistas and violence Kormákur has captured on a big screen, where their wonders and horrors can truly overwhelm you." — S.H.

Starring: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana

How to watch: Apex is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Hokum

To date, the scariest movie of the year is Hokum. The latest from Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy (Caveat and Oddity) stars Adam Scott as a misanthropic American novelist who falls down a rabbit hole of folklore and horror.

You see, Ohm Bauman (Scott) has traveled to a remote hotel in Ireland for some grim business, including scattering the ashes of his deceased parents. But when a bartender who was kind to him goes missing, Ohm can't resist the urge to find her, even if he thinks the talk of a witch plaguing the hotel's honeymoon suite is "hokum."

In my review, I called Hokum "a seriously scary masterpiece," explaining, "It's a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling, scream-pulling good time, and an absolute blast to see in a theater." And in case you're on the fence, know this: This movie made me scream myself hoarse while watching it. — K.P.

Starring: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, Will O'Connell, Brendan Conroy, and Austin Amelio

How to watch: Hokum is now playing in theaters.

1. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

One of the great crimes against cinema of 2026 is that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple flopped at the box office.

Critics went wild for Hedda director Nia DaCosta's bold and brilliant sequel to Danny Boyle's resurrected zombie thriller. But audiences didn't turn out in the droves this heady blend of horror, heart, and heavy metal deserved.

SEE ALSO: Nia DaCosta and Jack O'Connell on that epic 'Bone Temple' musical number

Picking up the story of runaway Spike (Alfie Williams), The Bone Temple plunged us deep into the cult of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), whose bizarre introduction at the end of the last film had fans freaking out with theories. A self-styled Satanist with a fixation on torture, Jimmy Savile, and the Teletubbies, Jimmy was an instant icon in horror. But even he was awed by the uncanny stage presence of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). The gentle doctor spent most of the movie getting stoned with the Alpha undead Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), in sequences that were tender and funny. But the climax of this movie had theaters cheering, as Kelson embraced his inner demons with a fiery performance of Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast." And it was one of the most riveting and surprising things I've seen in a movie, ever. It was magical, chaotic, and unforgettable.

As I cheered in my review, "This horror offering — like its prequel and also like 2025's other smash horror hit, Sinners — transcends the grimier aspects of the genre to unearth something gnarly and sublime." — K.P.

Starring: Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry

How to watch: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now streaming on Netflix.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Monaco GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Japanese GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

This season of F1 has been really entertaining. I know a lot of fans are not keen on the regulation changes, but the racing has been pretty competitive this season. Yes, Mercedes are winning everything. But McLaren and Ferrari are not totally out of the picture.

You get the feeling that there's a lot to come from this season, and the Monaco GP is always unpredictable. It's the most iconic race weekend on the schedule. The racing can be a little dry, but it's still a unique spectacle that can produce unexpected results.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Monaco GP?

The Monaco GP is the sixth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Circuit de Monaco:

• Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on June 5

• Practice 2 — 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on June 5

• Practice 3 — 6:30-7:30 a.m. ET on June 6

• Qualifying — 10-11 a.m. ET on June 6

• Race — 9 a.m. ET on June 7

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Monaco GP for free

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I hand over my cash for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. The access to Prime Video is not the priority for me. I occasionally watch the Champions League and NBA, but that's about it.

That was until I found out about F1 coming to Apple TV.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this automatic renewal at any time.

By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Monaco GP this weekend without spending anything.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so I understand the argument that I'm not really watching for free. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

Already used this hack to watch a race this season? It's not your only option.

My recommendation is you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on upgrading to something from the Apple lineup in Memorial Day sales, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026 Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 French Open for free on 9Now and France TV. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world of tennis is focused on clay courts right now. Top players sharpened up in the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open, and now it's time for the main event: Roland-Garros.

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his title, but this year's tournament is not short of star names. It's always a special tournament filled with huge moments, and we've already seen some shock results as top seeds get dumped out.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 French Open from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the French Open?

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. It's the only Grand Slam tournament held on a clay surface, and is the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments.

The current singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff.

When is the 2026 French Open?

The 2026 French Open is the 131th edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from May 18 to June 7.

How to watch the 2026 French Open for free

The 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now and France TV.

9Now and France TV are geo-restricted to Australia and France respectively, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia or France, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 Australia or France

4. Connect to 9Now or France TV

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the French Open?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free at a glance: Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

This season of F1 is unlike any other. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there's so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty can lead to exciting racing.

Lando Norris secured an incredible title victory on the final day of last season. Now the pressure is on McLaren to defend that title against a long list of talented drivers and motivated teams. Expect the likes of George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris, and Lewis Hamilton to challenge for race wins this season. Mercedes look like the team to beat this season, but there's still a lot of racing to come.

If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2025.

When is F1 in 2026?

The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 8

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 15

3. Japanese Grand Prix — March 29

4. Miami Grand Prix — May 3

5. Canadian Grand Prix — May 24

6. Monaco Grand Prix — June 7

7. Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14

8. Austrian Grand Prix — June 28

9. British Grand Prix — July 5

10. Belgian Grand Prix — July 19

11. Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26

12. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23

13. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6

14. Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13

15. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26

16. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11

17. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25

18. Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1

19. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8

20. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21

21. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29

22. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.

How to watch F1 for free

In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. An Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year, but it's possible to gain access to Apple TV without spending anything.

Apple TV Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV Apple TV (7-day free trial) Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn't a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free. Shop Now Apple TV Prime Video Channel Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel (7-day free trial) Already an Amazon Prime member? You're in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything. Shop Now Apple One Opens in a new window Credit: Apple One Apple One (30-day free trial) Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial. Shop Now

It's worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that's a good chunk of the season.

Meta has quietly added facial recognition tech for its smart glasses to its Meta AI app.

A Wired investigation discovered that the code has been added to Meta's AI app over "multiple updates this year." The feature is internally called NameTag, and it can reportedly identity people captured by the camera on Meta's smart glasses, including Ray-Bans and Oakleys, as well as alert the wearer when it recognizes someone.

The fact that Meta is looking into this is not new; The New York Times wrote about it last year, with Meta later commenting that it would take a "very thoughtful approach" if it ever were to release something like that.

SEE ALSO: Meta addresses problematic feeds with global Teen Accounts

And while the feature did not, in fact, roll out out to users, the fact that Meta has reportedly added some of the code need for it to run into Meta AI, an app distributed to tens of millions of users, is concerning. The groundwork for the feature includes three AI models – one which detects people's face them, one which crops them, and one which encodes them into biometric data — and all three already reside on the phones of people who have the Meta AI app installed.

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Two security researchers who reviewed Wired's findings both noted that the app is nearly ready to go.

A Meta spokesperson reiterated to the publisher that the company is merely "exploring" such a feature, and that these findings are "evidence of that exploration."

"Nothing has shipped to consumers and no final decision has been made on what to do here, if anything. If we do decide to roll something out, we will take a thoughtful approach and do so with full transparency. One decision we can be clear about—we are not building a central face database," said the spokesperson.

Meta has stirred up trouble with facial recognition tech before, most notably when it paid hundreds of millions of dollars in fines due to collecting people's biometric data without prior consent, thus violating privacy laws. The matter was made worse when it was discovered that the facial recognition startup Clearview AI scraped billions of photos from Facebook to build an identity-matching database which was sold to third parties.

The news comes just one month after 70 organizations, including the ACLU and Fight for the Future, sent a letter to Meta, urging the company to "immediately halt and publicly disavow" any plans to add facial recognition to its smart glasses.

SAVE $350: As of June 5, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $449 at Amazon. That's a 44% discount off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $499 at Amazon
$799 Save $300   Get Deal

Prime Day may still be a couple of weeks away, but there are already impressive deals on Amazon. For example, if you're looking for a portable power station, you can find the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 on sale for $350 off right now. As of June 5, this unit is down from $799 to $449.

This portable power station combines a 1,070Wh capacity with a 1,500W AC output and a 3,000W surge peak, making it suitable for powering a range of appliances, including fridges and air conditioners. Despite its capacity, it weighs just 23.8 pounds and features a foldable handle, making it a portable option for camping trips or road trips.

It can also be charged from 0% to 100% in one hour when emergency charging is enabled through the Jackery app. The default charging mode is quick, too, taking just 1.7 hours while optimizing battery health. It uses an LFP battery rated to retain more than 70% of its original capacity after 4,000 charge cycles, with an expected lifespan of over 10 years.

You can find this Jackery deal at Amazon now.

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 Friday, June 5, 2026:

AcrossFruity dessert named for its crunch

• The answer is Crisp.

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

Beehive product

• The answer is Honey.

Tree whose wood is used to make Fender guitars

• The answer is Alder.

Log ___ (water park ride)

• The answer is Flume.

English county whose name sounds like the 19th and 24th letters of the alphabet

• The answer is Essex.

DownRub the wrong way, perhaps

• The answer is Chafe.

Starts a turn in Monopoly

• The answer is Rolls.

Longest river in South Asia (~2,000 miles)

• The answer is Indus.

Ominous note on a failed exam

• The answer is Seeme.

Oven-safe glassware material

• The answer is Pyrex.

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require first-aid knowledge.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports 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 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 before 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Baseball clubs

• Green: First aid

• Blue: Geographically specific athletics

• Purple: Beginnings of words share a theme

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: MLB teams, informally

• Green: "Rice" method

• Blue: Nicknames of Alabama college teams

• Purple: Starts with a country

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 #620 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• MLB teams, informally: BUCCOS, CARDS, CUBBIES, YANKS

• "Rice" method: COMPRESSION, ELEVATION, ICE, REST

• Nicknames of Alabama college teams: BLAZERS, CRIMSON TIDE, TIGERS, TROJANS

• Starts with a country: CHILES, CUBARSÍ, INDIANA, MALININ

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

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

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

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

Apple’s big developers conference keynote is expected to focus updates to Siri and Apple Intelligence. But the software can sometimes give us clues to the direction of Apple’s future hardware. CNET’s Bridget Carey goes through what key areas she’s most interested in for WWDC news.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 5, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 5, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 5 Pips

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 5 Pips

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

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 5 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

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

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

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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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Christmas.

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NATAL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Emotional.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CRIER

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Transplant.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

GRAFT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To descend.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SWOOP

Final Hurdle hint

Film.

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

MOVIE

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