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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

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

Commotion.

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

NOISE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Tight.

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

TENSE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To put up.

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

ERECT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A long-necked bird.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HERON

Final Hurdle hint

To prop up.

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

BORNE

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

It’s officially the New Moon, which means the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun and isn’t visible in the sky. It's also the final day of a the current lunar cycle, so from now on, the Moon will appear brighter and brighter each night until the Full Moon.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Jan. 18, the Moon phase is New Moon. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 0% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Unsurprisingly, with 0% visibility, there's 0% chance of spotting anything on the Moon tonight. Things will start to get brighter over the coming days as we work through the new lunar cycle.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

Moon phases make up the lunar cycle, which NASA says lasts about 29.5 days, the time it takes the Moon to complete one full orbit around Earth. As the Moon travels around our planet, it passes through eight distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes depending on its position in orbit. This is why the Moon can appear full, partially lit, or completely dark at different points in the cycle. The eight phases of the lunar cycle are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 18, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 18 Pips

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 18 Pips

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is0-3, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 18 Pips

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

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

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (27): Everything in this space must add up to 27. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know Italian soccer teams.

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

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

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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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: 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: Midwest football

• Green: Super Bowl bridesmaids

• Blue: Actual NFL cities

• Purple: Musical names

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Big Ten Teams

• Green: Last Four Super Bowl-losing QBs

• Blue: Home Cities of NFL Teams

• Purple: Athletes with Musical Surnames

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 #482 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Big Ten Teams - PENN STATE, PURDUE, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN

• Last Four Super Bowl-losing QBs - BURROW, HURTS, MAHOMES, PURDY

• Home Cities of NFL Teams - ARLINGTON, FOXBORO, ORCHARD PARK, SANTA CLARA

• Athletes with Musical Surnames - JARED VERSE, JAYCEE HORN, MADISON KEYS, STEVE SAX

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 today's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a cinephile.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 18, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bird parts

• Green: To ruin

• Blue: Novel info

• Purple: Film stars

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Features of a duck

• Green: Destroy

• Blue: Found on a book jacket

• Purple: Classic Hollywood actors

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 #952 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Features of a duck: BILL, FEATHERS, WEBBING, WINGS

• Destroy: BREAK, DAMAGE, TOTAL, WRECK

• Found on a book jacket: AUTHOR, QUOTE, SYNOPSIS, TITLE

• Classic Hollywood actors: COOPER, GRANT, PECK, PRICE

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

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're into fine art.

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 January 18, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 17, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Soft skills

The words are related to fabric.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe fabric crafts.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Textile Art.

NYT Strands word list for January 18

• Quilt

• Crochet

• Applique

• Knit

• Textile Art

• Weave

• Embroider

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 today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're familiar with botany.

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 January 18, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

A cashew-related plant.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter 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...

SUMAC

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: Give your PC an affordable upgrade with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, now just $34.97 (reg. $219.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $34.97
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Could your old PC use some new tricks? Microsoft Office is an affordable way to give it some fresh tools, most of which have been around for decades. Right now, a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows can be yours for just $34.97 (reg. $219.99).

Whether you loved Microsoft Office back in the ’90s or you’re totally new to this suite of tools, a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license gives your PC a whole new lease on life. This version comes with eight tools to help you tackle personal and professional tasks.

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This license includes old staples from Microsoft Office and newer additions, all geared toward streamlining your workflow. With these apps, you can create an eye-catching presentation in PowerPoint, draft a document in Word, answer emails in Outlook, and build spreadsheets in Excel.

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Pamper your PC with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, now only $34.97 (reg. $219.99).

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Are you looking at buying a NAS, but have no idea what a NAS even is? A NAS can be many things, but here, I’ll break down what a NAS is, what it isn’t, and whether you actually even need one.

BMW has M. Mercedes has AMG. Cadillac’s answer is V-Series—and it’s always been the quiet menace of the luxury performance world. The original CTS-V was basically a Corvette in a tailored suit, and Cadillac hasn’t lost that energy since.

When I first started using Zigbee devices in my home, I wasn't impressed. The devices would regularly drop off the network, causing automations to fail. The solution was a $5 accessory that made all the difference.

KDE developers are already gearing up for Plasma 6.7, and the upcoming update is bringing some great quality-of-life features like an instant dark mode toggle and system-wide push-to-talk. The team is quickly moving past the initial Plasma 6 launch and focusing on more improvements.

Many automotive tools can be quite expensive, but there are definitely some that are budget-friendly and vital to have in your vehicle. Portable, battery-powered tire inflators are one of those tools.

SAVE $200: As of Jan. 17, Amazon has the TCL 55-inch Class T7 Smart TV on sale for 33% off at $399, $200 off its list price of $599.

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Winter is honestly one of the best times to consider snagging a brand-new TV for your living room or getting that second TV for your bedroom that you've always wished you had on cozy weekend mornings. This weekend, Amazon has a 55-inch TCL smart TV on sale for 33% off. The 2025 model has 4K QLED HDR picture quality and a 120Hz refresh rate. The smart TV also comes with Google TV, Dolby Atmos Audio, and Alexa gaming. The QLED feature delivers super-vivid colors, perfect for watching your favorite movies and shows in UHD. The 120Hz refresh rate is excellent for folks who want to catch their favorite sports teams' games in a crystal-clear picture or play their favorite video games without annoying lag or blurriness.

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If you’re shopping for a new family sedan, you might be surprised to learn that the money set aside for a brand-new Toyota Camry can now buy something far more upscale on the used market. Thanks to rapid depreciation in the luxury segment, a refined midsize sedan with premium materials, sharp styling, and a far more exclusive badge has quietly slipped into mainstream pricing territory. For value-focused buyers, that shift changes the conversation entirely.

SAVE $1401: As of Jan. 17, Amazon has Jackery's HomePower 3000 portable power station on sale for 56% off at $1,098, which $1,401 off its list price of $2,499.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station $1,098 at Amazon
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This weekend, Amazon is running a massive discount on Jackery's HomePower 3000 portable power station. The power station is a battery-and-solar-generator combo (though the compatible, separately sold solar panels are totally optional).

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SAVE $200: As of Saturday, January 17th, this Apple MacBook Air with an M4 chip is 17% off at $999, down from its list price of $1,199. 

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Starting the year off with a new laptop could be just the thing to help you achieve that long list of New Year's goals you have drafted in your notebook. This weekend, Amazon has a 13-inch 2025 MacBook Air laptop with an M4 chip on sale for just under $1000. The portable computer comes replete with 16 GB unified memory, 512 GB SSD storage, a 12 MP center stage camera, and touch ID. To top it all off — it comes in a unique Sky Blue color. 

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There's a ghost in your Excel spreadsheet. It's that invisible text box you keep accidentally clicking, or the chart that refuses to be selected. Instead of losing your mind, use the Selection Pane, the hidden sidebar that reveals every object on your sheet so you can manage them with ease.

Technically my first true smartphone in the modern sense was a really rather awful Samsung Galaxy Ace, but before that it was my wife's iPod Touch that showed me that the whole full touchscreen thing could work, and finally loosened my grip on my Blackberry.