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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 August 15, 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 August 15, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 15 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 15 Pips

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 15 Pips

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (16): Everything in this space must be greater than 16. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Learning Python from lectures and textbooks works for some, but I know firsthand how difficult it is to learn that way. When you can actually put your knowledge to use in a game, it's much easier to learn. Most CS courses get you comfortable with syntax and give you problems that have one clean answer and a grade attached. However, it's more fun to go to Python games that put you in situations where the code either works or it visibly doesn't, and the feedback arrives fast enough that you actually learn something from it.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched baseball.

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: No chips

• Green: Working at the country club

• Blue: Seen in KC

• Purple: Spelled like a W team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Teams to Never Win a World Series

• Green: Jobs at a Golf Course

• Blue: Kansas City Teams

• Purple: Anagrams of WNBA Teams

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 #691 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Teams to Never Win a World Series: BREWERS, MARINERS, PADRES, ROCKIES

• Jobs at a Golf Course: CADDIE, GREENSKEEPER, STARTER, SUPERINTENDENT

• Kansas City Teams: CHIEFS, CURRENT, ROYALS, SPORTING KC

• Anagrams of WNBA Teams: CASE, MADRE, RIFE, SWING

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.

Routers, while important, are not the most interesting bit of tech, and most people aren't interested in learning what all those toggles in the settings actually do.

When it comes to long-term value, few cars hold their resale power like this popular hatchback. Even after five years, it retains a surprising percentage of its original price, making it a standout in a market where depreciation often hits new vehicles hard.

Do you remember your younger years, talking to your friends over AOL Instant Messenger? Wouldn't you like to try it out again? Well, you can, and I did. I fired up this blast from the past to see if it's as fun as it once was.

In the age of streaming, it is not uncommon to have a television in nearly every room. If there is a wall or space on the dresser, it is a perfect spot to put one.

DeWALT is one of the most popular power tool brands on the market, frequently found on job sites, in specific trades, and loved by DIYers everywhere. The company makes hundreds of powerful and capable tools you'll love, but they're often more expensive than competitors like Ryobi. With that in mind, here are a few expensive but great DeWALT tools worth saving up for.

Going away to college is one of the most exciting times in anyone's life. You're not quite an independent adult yet, but you're almost off the leash, and about to learn a lot of new things both inside and outside the classroom.

Samsung phones are among the most ubiquitous cameras in the world, and most of them also happen to be good ones—but don't expect to capture a good shot just by shooting from the hip. I've taken many of the photos I've published for How-To Geek directly on Galaxy phones, and here's how I pull it off.

Car seats slide forward and back, and on most modern vehicles they remember where the driver programmed them. Those who own a swanky luxury SUV may even have a massage function they can enjoy. Acura's newest concept throws the traditional seating setup out the window.

I've been paying for a Google Drive (or, more accurately, "Google One") subscription for a long time, before Gemini even came into play. At some point, I stopped questioning whether I actually needed it. I paid the sub and used it without thinking twice.

My daughter has incredible handwriting. It genuinely amazes me how beautiful it is when my own scrawl is often barely legible. I'm sure her flowery style will become simpler as she gets older, so I wanted to try to preserve her current handwriting, and a free Claude Code skill was all it took.

Pretty much every home has a junk drawer or two, where things are thrown until they’re needed, and nothing can be found without a good rummage. Thankfully, you don’t need to go “full Gridfinity” to 3D print your way out of this mess.

Windows 11 is bloated, there are no two ways about it. The operating system eats up too much memory, Windows Search is slow and infested with Bing online results, and the amount of background tasks and services makes it feel sluggish on many PCs.

You wouldn’t know it from the headlines, but Samsung launched two (2) new Galaxy Z Fold phones last month. The wide Fold 8 stole the show, turning the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra into an unusual underdog. Regardless, this is the model that Samsung adorned with the “Ultra” tag, and it did so for good reason.

Marvel surprised the crowd at its D23 panel Friday night with new footage from Avengers: Doomsday, offering fans an exclusive look at the upcoming film.

In the clip, Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four tells the assembled Avengers that Victor Von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) wasn't always the villain they're facing now, hinting that the character's turn followed the loss of everything he held dear, presumably including his wife and child. The footage cuts between close-ups of the ensemble cast as the moment lands.

The footage arrived just as Marvel unveiled the cast of its X-Men reboot, and the ensemble glimpsed in the Doomsday clip includes several of the franchise's Fox-era mutants, including Cyclops, Professor X, and Magneto.

The footage also delivers a jolt of action, showing RDJ's Doom shrug off a direct hit from Thor before summoning what appears to be a full army of Sentinels — the towering, mutant-hunting robots known for their flight capabilities and energy-blast attacks. Bad news for the good guys.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters Dec. 18, 2026.

SPOILER WARNING: This piece references plot details from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, including Sadie Sink's role in the film.

Marvel unveiled the cast of its long-awaited X-Men reboot at D23 on Friday night, assembling a notably younger ensemble than the mutant team audiences have known from two decades of Fox films.

Disney and Marvel revealed that the new lineup includes Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, The Whale) as Jean Grey, Kit Connor (Heart Stopper Forever, Elden Ring, Warfare) as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott (Wolfman, Girls, Sanctuary) as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Over Your Dead Body) as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette (Obsession) as Rogue, and Broadway performer Maya Boyd as Storm, with Adam Driver (Marriage Story, Girls, House of Gucci) joining as the villain Mr. Sinister.

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The cast appeared onstage alongside Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, with Driver joining via video. Feige said the actors had only just met backstage for the first time, and cautioned that the roster revealed Friday isn't the complete lineup. Driver, for his part, said he and Feige had discussed him joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years before they "found something perfect with characters I feel very deeply about."

SEE ALSO: Ryan Gosling to star in MCU's 'Ghost Rider' film

The younger cast marks a deliberate departure from the X-Men most audiences already know. A number of actors from the 2000s Fox films — including Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler — are set to return this December in Avengers: Doomsday. Channing Tatum's variant of Gambit is also set to appear, with the character formally appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine after a decade of the purported film being stuck in developmental hell.

Notably absent from Friday's announcement was any casting for Wolverine, but Hugh Jackman did tease that he and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool could appear in Avengers: Doomsday.

Some of the cast announcements have been known for a few weeks. Connor's role as Cyclops and Weaving's as Emma Frost had previously been reported, and the Hollywood Reporter had exclusively reported the prior week that Abbott was a strong contender for Professor X. Navarrette recently broke out in the summer hit Obsession, while Boyd is best known for leading the Broadway production of & Juliet.

The film is set for release on May 5, 2028.

SAVE $549: As of Aug. 15, the Anker Solix S2000 portable power station is down to $649.99 from $1,199 at Amazon — a 46% discount and one of its best prices yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix S2000 $649.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $549.01   Get Deal

Anker's Solix S2000 portable power station just dropped to one of its best prices yet.

It's on sale for $649.99 at Amazon — down from $1,199. A big selling point here is fridge backup — Anker says it'll keep your fridge running for 35 hours on a full charge. That's because the unit barely draws power while idle, so more of the battery goes toward keeping your food cold rather than being wasted.

The battery itself is an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery, which means it's built to last longer than a typical lithium-ion battery. Anker rates it for 10,000 charge cycles, which works out to about 15 years of regular use before you'd need to think about replacing it.

SEE ALSO: I tried the Jackery FridgeGuard portable power station: It's both functional and pretty

Despite holding almost 2,000Wh of power, it's smaller and lighter than most power stations in this category, weighing under 36 pounds. It puts out 1,500W continuously (3,000W at peak), enough to run about 99% of typical home appliances, though that'll depend on exactly what you're plugging in.

You've got six ways to recharge it, including solar, a wall outlet, your car, or a generator, so you're not locked into one option. It's got eight outlets split between the front and back, keeping things easy to reach instead of crammed together, and if the power cuts out while you're working, it switches over in under 10 milliseconds, fast enough that you probably won't even notice.

Blackout-proof your kitchen while it's actually affordable. Grab the Anker Solix S2000 portable power station on Amazon before it returns to full price.

The best Disney+ deals and bundles in August 2026: Best Hulu Bundle Deal Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get 6 months for $11.99/month Get Deal Best HBO Max Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best ESPN Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal

Whether you're looking to jump into the latest superhero saga or journey to a galaxy far, far away, Disney+ is the streaming service for you.

Home to Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more, Disney+ offers a library stuffed with shows and films to keep both adults and kids entertained. With Disney+, you can watch Pixar's latest movie Hoppers, season two of X-Men '97, the upcoming third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and much more.

If you've had this streaming service on your radar but you're unsure which plan is the best fit for you, we've got you covered with a selection of Disney+ streaming deals. Right now, the streamer is offering six months of its ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle for only $11.99 per month (which renews at $12.99 per month after six months), or six months of its ad-free plan at $17.99 per month (which will return to $19.99 per month after the six-month promotional period).

SEE ALSO: Tom Holland and the 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' cast reveal what they'd forget with Doctor Strange's memory spell

There's also the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package, which is a great investment for those who already use the other two streaming services but want to cut costs. We've detailed all available bundle deals below, along with basic information on Disney+ plans if you just want the House of Mouse's service on its own.

Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get 6 months of Disney+ and Hulu (With Ads) for $11.99/month, then $12.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

For those interested in the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, the streamer is offering deals on both its ad-supported and ad-free plans. For the plan with ads, new and eligible returning subscribers can lock in for six months at $11.99 per month before it returns to $12.99 per month. And if you're interested in going ad-free, the Premium plan is down to $17.99 per month for six months, then returns to $19.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — $11.99 per month for six months, then $12.99 per month

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $17.99 per month for six months, then $19.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle is one of the best available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, you can have three excellent streaming services right in the palm of your hand. The $19.99 per month option is for the With Ads plan, but if you'd prefer to watch your favorite content without ads, the No Ads plan costs $32.99 per month. Compared to what you'd pay for each of these on their own, you're saving 42% with the ad-supported plan and 41% with the ad-free plan.

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best ESPN bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal

If you're a sports fan looking to add ESPN to your bundles, you're in luck: Disney offers bundles with both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+."

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $19.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $29.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Best Disney+ monthly plans

Disney+ offers two standard plans if you just want the service on its own. The Disney+ ad-supported plan comes to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free Disney+ Premium plan will set you back $18.99 per month or $189.99 per year if you'd rather pay annually.

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $11.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium (No Ads) — $18.99 per month, $189.99 per year

Disney+ has also created an "extra member" plan for people using your account who live outside of your household, as they crack down on password sharing. If you're looking to add another person to your account, you're only allowed one extra profile and can choose from the following add-on plans:

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $6.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium — $9.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle — $7.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium — $10.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $11.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $14.99 per month

There's a wealth of shows and films to check out on Disney+ after you sign up. If you want some help finding something to watch, check out our roundups of the 12 best TV shows for adults on Disney+ and the 20 best movies on Disney+ to start building out your watchlist.