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Today's NYT Strands hints are important to think about when tracking.

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 October 9, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 9, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Just in case

The words are related to traveling.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things brought on vacation.

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 Pack It Up.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 9

• Clothes

• Laptop

• Charger

• Pack It Up

• Toiletries

• Headphones

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 might be easy if you read detective books back in the day.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you're a tough cookie.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rugged.

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 H.

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...

HARDY

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition features two categories with a regionally specific team focus.

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: Soft tissues of the human body

• Green: Teams located on this West Coast city

• Blue: Career journey of this 2,000-yard rusher

• Purple: Managers for the "showtime" team

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Muscles, Informally

• Green: L.A. Football Teams

• Blue: Associated with Saquon Barkley

• Purple: Lakers Head Coaches

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 #381 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Muscles, Informally - ABS, PECS, QUADS, TRAPS

• L.A. Football Teams - CHARGERS, RAMS, UCLA, USC

• Associated with Saquon Barkley - EAGLES, GIANTS, MADDEN COVER, PENN STATE

• Lakers Head Coaches - HAM, REDICK, RILEY, WEST

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.

I have no plans to replace the five-year-old Mac mini that’s gracefully aging beneath my TV. I’ll happily buy another when the time comes, but that day still feels like a long way off.

Happy Thursday and 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 October 4, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 4, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 9 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this light blue space must add to 8. The answer is 1-5, placed; 3-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 9 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 9 Pips

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 8, the Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch is on sale for $799 at Amazon. That's a 20% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch $799 at Amazon
$999 Save $200 Get Deal

Saving $200 in return for giving up an extra two inches of screen space when comparing the 15-inch and 13-inch 2025 Macbook Air? It's not for everyone, but it's still quite a big savings.

If having a 13-inch screen is a sticking point, maybe it's a case of looking at a suitable monitor to get a lot more screen estate for your buck when you're sat at your desk. Even dual screen your setup for serious power plays whilst editing or recording.

There's a great deal on LG 27US500-W Ultrafine Monitor right now, for example. That's 27-inches of 4K HDR10 screen real estate for $179, was $249. Want a dual screen setup on the go? The MNN Portable Monitor is 15.6 inches @ 1080p with HDMI and USB-C connectivity for $59.97, was $89.98. Or just don't and save $200, regardless, this is the best Macbook Air for your money, plenty of room on the built-in retina screen to get jobs done on the go with the option of plugging into a desktop setup or focusing in on big projects.

Moving back to this deal, the 13-inch has the same horsepower as the more expensive models, including up to 18-hour battery life and the multitasking powerhouse M4 chip. The screen I've been banging on about also supports 1 billion colors, so if you're worried about displaying accurate color gamut's you can put them to rest with this laptop.

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Donald Trump returned to TikTok on Monday by telling young Americans they "owe him big." Why? "I saved TikTok," the president said in his first post on the social platform since the 2024 election.

In September, after many ban deadline extensions, Trump signed an executive order that facilitates the sale of Chinese-owned TikTok to American investors. In the president's post-signing TikTok post, filmed from the Oval Office, Trump declared, "To all of those young people of TikTok, I saved TikTok, so you owe me big."

On Late Night, Seth Meyers responded to the president's post with a few jokes. "Great news for anybody who likes their TikToks 75 minutes long," the late night host said on Wednesday.

"President Trump addressed 'the young people of TikTok.'" Meyers went on. "Dude, again, you're 79. They're all young people to you. You're so old you could have addressed the 'young people of Facebook.'"

SAVE $600: As of Oct. 9, the Roku Smart TV 65-inch is on sale for $599.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Smart TV 65-inch $599.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $600 Get Deal

Prime Day has officially come to an end, and it was truly an incredible two days of deals and discounts. If you missed out on picking up something, don't worry, there are still plenty of deals lingering, some at the same prices. Like this continuing deal on the Roku Smart TV 65-inch.

As of Oct. 9, this impressive TV is still 50% off, bringing the list price down to $599.99. That's an extra $600 in your pocket. There are discounts across all size options for this TV too, so if you'd rather something smaller or bigger, you'll still save.

Roku’s user interface is super easy to use. On one screen, you'll have access to all of your favorite streaming apps, plus free shows, movies, and live TV across more than 500 channels. And you'll be watching all of this in great quality, thanks to the QLED display, thousands of mini-LEDs, 4K picture, and the amazing immersive audio.

Looking at TVs specifically for a gaming setup? Well, this one is ideal. Everything is super fast, and it has no problem keeping up with its 120Hz refresh rate and dedicated Game Mode.

Pick up this post-Prime Day deal from Amazon now, before it goes back up in price.

Ghosting is spooky but unfortunately common. From romantic interests to prospective job opportunities, people online lament about never hearing back from the one person they want to hear from the most.

But what if they do?

SEE ALSO: How to get over a breakup

Not only is ghosting seemingly ubiquitous in today's society of online connections, but so is a ghoster reappearing. Like a cheap movie fright, a text can come out of nowhere. Mashable spoke to ghostees who have experienced this and experts to understand why ghosters come back from the dead.

Post-breakup jump scare

Mandy (her name has been changed for privacy reasons) had hooked up with a Hinge match three times at the tail end of 2023, and they were making plans to see the Emerald Fennell film Saltburn together.

"We never solidified those plans, and then we never talked again," Mandy told Mashable. 

As a non-monogamous dater with a partner, Mandy has rules for mutual ghosting: if you both silently agree not to follow up after the first encounter, "it is what it is."

But after having sex three times? "There is just an etiquette, or a courtesy, to just be like, 'I don't want to see you anymore,'" said Mandy. "I really respect when people are very honest with me."

Still, this man wasn't. Mandy asked what date worked to see the movie, and then sent a TikTok video, but he only responded to the TikTok video instead of the date. As the proposed day inched closer, she asked him to let her know if he still wanted to catch the movie.

He didn't respond — until over a year later, around Christmas 2024.

"Uncalled for apology time," he texted, and went on to say that he didn't expect a response, but that he had begun dating someone else seriously at the time and had done a poor job communicating that to the other women he was going out with. 

Mandy replied, saying she appreciated the clarity and apology, and expressed hope that he and his partner were doing well.

"It did not work out," the former match said. 

"I was just confused," Mandy said. "I had a lot of mixed feelings." She replied anyway, saying she was sorry to hear that, and hoped all was well with him then. 

SEE ALSO: The lonely state of getting over someone you never dated

"I don't know if I really need an apology from you after you committed to ghosting on a relationship that was, for the most part, just casual," Mandy said. She sent the text to several friends, asking questions: Was he trying to rebuild his roster post-breakup? Did he want to see who was back and available?

"Is it for your own ego, or is it for more ulterior motives, like you want to have people to see casually again?" Mandy asked now. "I don't know, but it just made me feel really weird."

Mandy never talked to him again.

A long overdue explanation

At the end of 2017, when writer Sarah Freedman (who has written for Mashable) was preparing to move from New York to Los Angeles, she met a man on Tinder and had one "really intense night" together.

"You meet and then you're together for 24 hours," she described the date.

She tried to meet him again, and he said he wanted to see her, too. While they kept texting, plans never materialized, and it made Freedman anxious. She eventually texted him that she felt like she was being strung along and wanted to hear where he stood.

She never heard back.

Whirlwind, day-long first dates can be a "mindfuck," Freedman said. You feel like you're in a movie or a TV show, and that you have an amazing connection. "And then, you never hear from them," she said. "It's so painful…I think it really kind of underscores how little you know someone."

Despite whatever beautiful connection you had, you don't know the other person and have no idea what's going on in their life, she said. Evidenced by the long text she received from this date four years later. He was going through recovery for alcohol addiction and apologized, and he wanted to write Freedman a letter. 

"I got the text when I was literally sitting on the toilet," Freedman said. "You know, when you get these things, you remember exactly."

Freedman found the text admirable, showing significant growth and maturity. It taught her a lesson, one that stuck with her, and she wrote about herself on her Substack: She took the ghosting so personally, but it had nothing to do with her. 

This instance made it easier for her to understand that the way someone treats her doesn't necessarily have to do with who she is. 

"Especially in these brief, fleeting moments where you're connecting with someone and you don't know each other that well — how much can it really be the way I'm behaving around this person?" she asked. "I just have a lot of sympathy for him, and it just put it in so much perspective."

Freedman responded with her address, but he never sent the letter. "He ended up ghosting me again," she joked.

Still, it didn't lessen the impact of the apology.

"When you're ghosted, you just feel like you don't matter, right? You feel like no one thinks of you. No one cares. You're not even worthy of a response," she said. "Then have this and be like, 'Actually, I stayed with him. Actually, what happened weighed on him.' It was healing. It was really healing to hear that."

Why ghosters come back

People may ghost others as it is a non-confrontational — albeit immature — way to terminate a relationship or interaction, according to Dr. Beth Ribarsky, a professor of communications at the University of Illinois Springfield. 

When you're ghosted, you just feel like you don't matter, right? - writer Sarah Freedman

"In a world where so many of our relationships are built and maintained via texts, calls, or social media, it is incredibly easy to simply stop responding to or block others" rather than risk confrontation or conflict, said Ribarsky, who specializes in interpersonal communications and romantic relationships. 

Mandy echoed the sentiment. "We have gotten to a point in culture where we don't like confrontation and we don't like direct conversation and communication about uncomfortable things," she said. But that's part of life — we have to talk about uncomfortable things, even if it's "I don't like you anymore" or "I don't want to see you again." 

"Sorry if that's harsh," she said. "It's better than leaving you guessing."

A ghoster might reappear because of guilt and loneliness — or boredom, Ribarsky commented. It depends on the situation.

When Joy Ofodu, host of the Dating Unsettled podcast and comedy creator, was single, she once had a ghoster apologize with a two-paragraph letter. They had been dating for two months and were even discussing family and goals. "I was genuinely surprised to have been left on read at the time," she told Mashable.

With an apology, "I think it's thoughtful but also kind of a protective self-preservation measure — they don't want to ruin their reputation within intimate friend groups, group chats, anonymous reporting communities, or apps, and know that ghosting doesn't get you far."

"Like alcoholics making amends, some of them may be in a place of deep character reflection and wanting to do an upheaval — that can involve an apology tour," she continued. In Freedman's situation, this was literal.

"Other times, as I've unfortunately also experienced, it's an apology to halfheartedly reactivate a dating conversation and see if the recipient is still open to your BS — a little ego boost to feel good again and go on their way," Ofodu continued, which is what Mandy suspected.

But sometimes, Ofodu said, you may find yourself the ghost. She had to issue her own apology after she let a dating app conversation dry up when she was busy with work and graduate school. Even her now-partner said sorry for ghosting when they first matched.

"We mutually, uncharacteristically ghosted each other on a first meet-up we'd set because we were juggling too much — then he came back, apologized, and hopped on a FaceTime with me just to meet each other," Ofodu said. "Without that apology, we may not be together today."

"Ghosting always sucks," said Freedman, and she knows how it feels — so she makes it a point not to ghost people. It would be easier not to respond, but she said, "I can take three minutes out of my day and send someone a nice message that also says, 'You're a cool person and I wish you the best.'"

Apologies for ghosting can be genuine or manipulative, Ofodu said, but thinks they're best accompanied by either blissful absence or action. "When in doubt, I think it's better to apologize than not."

Mandy believes her instance of a returning ghost is emblematic of our culture. However, she added, "I kind of appreciated it for the giggle it gave me." 

Stephen King has been posting a lot about politics lately.

Earlier in the week, the author gave a blunt response to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller's post about "leftwing terrorism", and now he's turned his attention to President Donald Trump sending National Guard troops into Democrat-run cities.

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked

"Troops in major cities," King wrote on X. "Next may come Trump explaining the national climate is 'just too dangerous' to vote in 2026. That's how the authoritarian takeover works. Step by step."

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This isn't the first warning King has posted about Trump and authoritarianism.

A couple of months back, following the president's controversial comments about dictators, he posted on X accusing Trump's administration of "turning America into a fascist, authoritarian state." Not long after, King posted a prediction for the 2026 U.S. election, writing on X: "Trump and his greedhead cronies may get a big surprise in spite of their efforts to rig the 2026 election. They could find themselves swamped by a blue wave. Americans are wising up to the fact that Trump is turning the American dream into a nightmare."

Now, with his latest post, it appears the horror master is feeling less hopeful about next year — and wondering if the president might try to find a way to avoid the midterms altogether.

Featured Video For You Cooper Hoffman and 'The Long Walk' cast compete for ultimate Stephen King film knowledge

At half the price of their more premium counterparts yet almost indistinguishable in both looks and sound, the JLab GO Pods ANC are budget earbuds done right. Plus, at such a small size, the price is hardly the only reason to buy.

Best Pokémon deals at Amazon Best Pokémon card deal Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Box $59.99 (save $7.90) Get Deal Best Pokémon Switch deal Pokémon Shining Pearl $48.90 (save $12.97) Get Deal Best Pokémon merch deal Loungefly Holiday Pikachu Mini Backpack $56.87 (save $44.51) Get Deal White Flare Elite Trainer Box 88.88 Get Deal Pokemon: Adventures in the Orange Islands - The Complete Collection 8.84 Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day (also known as Prime Big Deal Days) is over, but several of the deals have stuck around. For Pokémon people, that just reads as a chance to find Pokémon merch on sale. Whether you’re a seasoned Pokémon TCG collector, a nostalgic anime fan, or someone just looking to add a bit of Pikachu sparkle to your wardrobe, there are plenty of ways to save. Not unlike the rush of an in-store expansion set drop, online Pokémon deals tend to disappear faster than an Abra’s Teleport.

Right now, amidst the chaos of October Prime Day deals across those big categories like TVs and kitchen gadgets, Amazon has quietly rolled out a surprising range of Pokémon discounts — covering everything from trading card booster bundles and plush toys to coveted Loungefly backpacks and official binders to keep your rare pulls pristine. There's something for all kinds of trainers, whether you’re a competitive card collector seeking the latest Scarlet & Violet expansions, a parent hunting for kid-friendly toys, or an anime enthusiast looking to complete your DVD collection with Ash & Pikachu’s classic adventures.

SEE ALSO: We handpicked some of the best October Prime Day Lego deals

Mashable has spotted a handful of stand-out offers that blend genuine value with collector appeal, and we’ll continue to update this list as more Pokémon products go on sale (or sell out) at Amazon, Best Buy, and beyond. So, keep an eye on this space as more Poké-savings evolve over the next few days.

Best Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Collection $50 at TCGplayer
$52 Save $2 This is now cheaper on TCGplayer by $2 Get Deal Why we like it

Packs of Black Bolt & White Flare cards have been in short supply in the world of the Pokémon TCG lately, so even a 12% discount on this Black Bolt Binder Collection is a pretty solid Prime Day deal involving booster packs. You can potentially get some solid pulls and store your special rares all in one go.

The $47.99 sale price we saw on this box a few days ago is back and cheaper than market value — we're surprised it's still in stock at all. This premium bundle combines both functionality and Gen-V fun: Inside, you’ll find a themed 9-pocket binder capable of holding hundreds of cards, plus five Black Bolt booster packs from the Scarlet & Violet expansion and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Each pack gives you the chance to pull striking cards, including rare Zekrom variants worth hundreds of dollars, a practically priceless Victini, and a picturesque Special Illustration Rare of N’s plan. While pull rates vary, fans of the Pokémon Black and White games will still love even the common cards from this set, dedicated to the franchise’s fifth generation. 

The binder’s tight-fit sleeves and elastic closure add an extra layer of polish too — making this a tidy, display-ready set that’s great value for collectors and gift-givers alike.

Pokémon deals at Best Buy

• Ultra Pro Pikachu 9-pocket binder — $24.99 $29.99 (save $5)

• Funko Bitty Pop! 4-pack (Squirtle, Eevee, Growlithe, Psyduck) — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Mega Construx Motion Gyrados — $123.88 $171.99 (save $48.11)

Pokémon TCG

• Black Bolt Booster Bundle — $54.87 $58.95 (7% off)

• Pokémon-Themed (Off-Brand) Collectable Trading Card Album — $12.99 $14.99 (13% off)

Pokémon TCG cheaper at TCGPlayer

• White Flare Elite Trainer Box — $91 $104.49 (15% off) *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $83.89

• Journey Together Elite Trainer Box — $92.99 $97.99 (5% off) *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $85.93

• Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box — $92.94 (11% off) *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $85

• Prismatic Evolutions Booster Bundle — $62.29 $72.96 (7% off) *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $61.93

• Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Box — $42.94 *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $39.97

• Paradox Rift Elite Trainer Box — $119.52 *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $66.90

• Mega Evolution Booster Bundle — $59.99 *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $52.99

• Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box — $92.94 *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $75

• Prismatic Evolutions Surprise Box — $60.68 *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $45

• Prismatic Evolutions Booster Pack — $12.93 $18.99 (32% off) *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $8.80

• Stellar Crown Booster Pack — $11.44 $11.99 (5% off) *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $7.60

• Mega Evolutions Mega Heroes Mini Tin Display (10 Tins) — $211 $224.99 (6% off) *Cheapest at TCGPlayer for $179.94

Funko Pop! deals

• Bulbasaur — $11.99 $14.99 (20% off)

• Funko Pop! Advent Calendar: Pokémon — $42.74 $49.99 (15% off)

• Gardevoir — $10.49 $14.99 (30% off)

• Squirtle — $13.93 $14.99 (7% off)

• Pikachu (Waving) — $13.95 $14.99 (7% off)

• Eevee — $13.95 $14.99 (7% off)

• Zorua — $12.31 $14.99 (18% off)

• Dratini — $12.89 $14.99 (14% off)

• Mew — $14.24 $14.99 (5% off)

• Chimchar — $12.99 $14.99 (47% off)

• Scorbunny — $12 $14.99 (20% off)

• Munchlax — $11.95 $14.99 (14% off)

• Mewtwo — $15.29 $17.61 (13% off)

• Charizard — $12.97 $14.99 (13% off)

• Eevee (Standing) — $13.95 $14.99 (7% off)

• Charmander — $13.99 $14.99 (7% off)

• Grookey — $10.50 $14.99 (17% off)

Video Games

• Pokémon Shield (US Nintendo Switch) — $56 $59.94 (7% off)

• Pokémon Scarlet (US Nintendo Switch) — $52.90 $59.99 (12% off)

• Pokémon Violet (US Nintendo Switch) — $52.80 $59.99 (12% off)

• Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! (Nintendo Switch) — $51.70 $59.99 (14% off)

• Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! (Nintendo Switch) — $52.84 $59.99 (12% off)

• Pokémon Shining Pearl (Nintendo Switch) — $43.50 $59.99 (27% off)

• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (Nintendo Switch) — $51.90 $59.99 (13% off)

• Detective Pikachu Returns (US Nintendo Switch) — $44.99 $49.99 (10% off)

• Detective Pikachu Returns (EU Nintendo Switch) — $34.06 $47.38 (28% off)

Gift ideas

• Loungefly Holiday Pikachu Mini Backpack — $56.87 $90(50% off)

• Loungefly Pikachu and Eevee Mini Backpack — $57.25 $90 (36% off)

• Re-Ment Pokémon Swing Vignette Decorative Miniature Figure (Pikachu & Altaria) — $11.99 $23.99 (50% off)

• 4D Build Charmander 3D Model Kit — $19.99 $21.99 (9% off)

• 4D Build Squirtle 3D Model Kit — $19.99 $21.99 (9% off)

• 4D Build Bulbasaur 3D Model Kit — $19.99 $21.99 (9% off)

• 4D Build Pikachu 3D Model Kit — $19.99 $21.99 (9% off)

• Bandai Spirits Rayquaza Pokémon Model Kit — $17.76 $20 (11% off)

• Pokémon Stained Glass Art Craft Kit — $17.34 $22.99 (25% off)

• Crayola Pokémon Art Kit for Kids (45pcs) — $10.91 $13.75 (21% off)

• Pokémon Electronic & Interactive My Partner Charmander — $16.83 $24.99 (33% off)

• Amazing Pokémon Paper Crafts - $16.77 $21.99 (24% off)

• Pokémon Battle Figure 2 Pack Blastoise & Charmander — $14.99 $15.99 (6% off)

• Bandai Spirits Scizor Pokémon Model Kit — $14.95 $16 (7% off)

• Pokémon The Official Sticker Book of the Kanto Region — $12.73 $14.99 (15% off)

• Pokémon The Official Sticker Book Of The Paldea Region — $11.98 $14.99 (20% off)

• Pokémon Felties: How to Make 16 of Your Favorite Pokémon — $11.99 $14.99 (20% off)

DVDs

• Pokémon Advanced Complete Collection — $33.46 $49.99 (33% off)

• Pokémon Advanced Battle: The Complete Collection — $27.54 $39.99 (33% off)

• Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles — $41.99 $59.99 (30% off)

• Pokémon: The Johto Journeys - The Complete Collection — $27.99 $44.98 (38% off)

• Pokémon: Johto League Champions - The Complete Collection — $31.49 $49.99 (37% off)

• Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl Battle Dimension Complete Collection — $31.49 $44.98 (30% off)

• Pokémon The Series : Sun and Moon - Ultra Adventures Complete Collection — $31.10 $44.98 (31% off)

• Pokémon: Master Quest - The Complete Collection — $29.79 $64.97 (46% off)

• Pokémon Battle Frontier Complete Collection — $25.67 $39.99 (36% off)

• Pokémon The Series: Sun & Moon Complete Collection — $24.39 $39.99 (39% off)

• Pokémon Season 1: Indigo League Part 2 — $14.99 $24.98 (40% off)

• Pokémon Season 1: Indigo League Part 3 — $16.20 $24.98 (35% off)

• Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands - The Complete Collection — $8.84 $19.98 (50% off, with coupon)

• Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest Set 1 — $15.99 $26.95 (41% off)

• Pokémon the Series: XYZ Set 2 — $13.90 $24.98 (44% off)

• Pokémon DP Galactic Battles Volume 1 — $9.54 $14.97 (36% off)

• Pokémon Black and White Set 1 — $8.53 $14.97 (43% off)

• Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Galactic Battles Gift Set Vol. 1 — $8.13 $14.97 (38% off)

• Pokémon: Black & White Rival Destinies Set 2 — $6.62 $12.97 (38% off)

DVD Movies

• Pokémon the Movie: Giratina and the Sky Warrior — $6.62 $14.98 (77% off)

• Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back — $8.78 $14.98 (38% off)

• Pokémon 3: The Movie — $7.49 $14.98 (50% off)

• Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life — $11.90 $19.97 (40% off)

• Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa & the Clash of Ages — $10.49 $19.97 (47% off)

• Pokémon the Movie 2000 — $10.32 $14.98 (31% off)

Clothing

• Pokémon Boys 5 Pack No Show Socks — $7.77 $9.99 (22% off)

• Charizard Costume for Kids — $43.21 $64.99 (34% off)

• Pokémon Women's 5 Pack No-Show Socks — $8.86 $10.99 (19% off)

• Pokémon Trainer Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Bulbasaur Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Gengar Manga Pullover Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Gengar Big Face Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Slowpoke Taking It Slow Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Psyduck Pattern Pullover Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Mew Katana Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Pikachu Action Poses Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Gengar and Mewtwo Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Pikachu Summer Pattern Zip Hoodie — $42.49 $49.99 (15% off)

• Bulbasaur 3D Grid Schematic Zip Hoodie — $40.79 $47.99 (15% off)

• Charizard 006 Schematic Poster Zip Hoodie — $40.79 $47.99 (15% off)

• Eevee Evolution Circle Pullover Hoodie — $37.39 $43.99 (15% off)

• Mimikyu Ghost Fairy Type Dark Spooky Forest Pullover Hoodie — $37.39 $43.99 (15% off)

• Lucario Type: Fighting-Steel Poster Pullover Hoodie — $37.39 $43.99 (15% off)

• Celestial Espeon and Umbreon Pullover Hoodie — $37.39 $43.99 (15% off)

• Celestial Mew & Mewtwo Moon Pullover Hoodie — $37.39 $43.99 (15% off)

• Gastly Gengar Hunter Forest Pullover Hoodie — $37.39 $43.99 (15% off)

• Charizard Fire Type Flames Generation 1 Pullover Hoodie — $37.39 $43.99 (15% off)

Best October Prime Day Lego deals Best deal overall Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 (75418) $31.49 (save $13) Get Deal Best splurge deal Lego Ideas Vincent Van Gogh 'The Starry Night' (21333) $142 (save $27.99) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box (10696) $17.99 (save $17) Get Deal

Now that Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days falls about a month before most retailers' Black Friday kickoff, it's the new unofficial ribbon cutting for the holiday shopping season. That means it's already time to talk about one of the most bulletproof gifts you can buy early: Lego. Whether you're shopping for a kid who wants a cool Star Wars ship or an adult who wants a cute Lego orchid — or an adult who also wants a cool Star Wars ship — there's a good chance one of the sets on their wishlist is still on sale after the Prime Big Deal Days sale.

SEE ALSO: Catch all of these October Prime Day Pokémon deals before they disappear

But before you start adding every discounted set to your cart, here's a pro tip for shopping on Amazon: a "deal" isn't always a deal. Some Lego sets have a sale price that's actually been the standard price for weeks or even months. A true Prime Day deal is a price drop that's new and noteworthy — but don't worry, we've done that homework for you.

We're tracking the best Lego deals at Amazon that are still on sale after October Prime Day, and every set has been vetted against price histories to filter out the fake sales.

Best October Prime Day Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 (75418) $31.49 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $13.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Lego Advent calendars are a holiday classic, and even after Prime Day you can grab one on sale before the December rush. This Star Wars-themed calendar is still at its lowest price ever, making it a great time to buy.

Behind the 24 doors, you'll find a bunch of characters and mini-builds perfect for any fan of the franchise, including C-3PO, a Holiday Jawa minifigure, a Babu Frik figure, alongside five Lego droid figures: R7-A7, BD-72, a Scrap Battle Droid, BB-8 dressed as a snowman, and a Super Battle Droid.

More October Prime Day Lego deals

Lego advent calendar deals

• Lego Friends Advent Calendar 2025 (42668) — $25.49 $34.99 (save $9.50)

• Lego Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 (43273) — $38 $44.99 (save $6.99)

• Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar 2025 (21280) — $38.49 $44.99 (save $6.50)

• Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2025 (76456) — $38 $44.99 (save $6.99)

• Lego City Advent Calendar 2025 (60475) — $20.99 $34.99 (save $14)

Lego Star Wars deals

• Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon 'A New Hope' 25th Anniversary Collectible (75375) — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)

• Lego Halloween Barn with Scary Skeleton Minifigure (40721) — $10.49 $14.99 (save $4.50)

• Lego Star Wars 'A New Hope' Boarding The Tantive IV (75387) — $32.89 $54.99 (save $22.10)

• Lego Star Wars Brick-Built Star Wars Logo (75407) — $49.97 $59.99 (save $10.03)

• Lego Star Wars R2-D2 (75379) — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Lego Star Wars TIE Bomber with Gonk Droid Figure (75347) — $51.97 $64.99 (save $13.02)

• Lego Star Wars 'Revenge of the Sith' ARC-170 Starfighter (75402) — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Ghost and Phantom II Spaceship Toy — $111.99 $159.99 (save $58)

• Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian Grogu with Hover Pram Building Toy Set — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

Lego Botanicals deals

• Lego Botanicals Lotus Flower (40647) — $6.29 $14.99 (save $8.70)

• Lego Botanicals Bonsai Tree (10281) — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Lego Botanicals Orchid (10311) — $39.98 $49.99 (save $10.01)

• Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants (10329) — $39.95 $49.99 (save $10.05)

• Lego Botanicals Poinsettia (40647) — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Lego Botanicals Succulents (10309) — $39.98 $49.99 (save $10.01)

• Lego Botanicals Bouquet of Roses (10328) — $47.95 $59.99 (save $12.04)

• Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet (10313) — $47.98 $59.99 (save $12.01)

Lego Harry Potter, Lego Art, and more deals

• Lego Ideas Vincent Van Gogh 'The Starry Night' (21333) — $142 $169.99 (save $27.99)

• Lego Icons Orchid Artificial Plant Kit — $39.98 $44.99 (save $5.01)

• Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds Set — $135.99 $169.99 (save $34)

• Lego Art Hokusai The Great Wave Framed Japanese Wall Art Building Set — $84.99 $99.99 (save $15)

• Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle Owlery (76430) — $25.19 $44.99 (save $19.80)

• Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant — $35 $59.99 (save $24.99)

• Lego Duplo My First Daily Routines: Eating and Bedtime (10414) — $16.10 $29.99 (save $13.89)

• Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Lego Creator 3-in-1 Forest Animals Red Fox — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

Amazon's October Prime Day (dubbed "Prime Big Deal Days") is here, which means other retailers' competing sales are also live. Target's contribution, one of its Circle Week events, kicked off on Oct. 5 and runs through Oct. 11 with a heavy focus on the holiday season.

The deals are especially great for Halloween lovers, with big savings on costumes, decorations, and candy. While the sale is a members-only event just like Prime Big Deal Days, Target's Circle membership program is completely free to join.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Target Circle Week Shop Now The best deals to shop during Target Circle Week

• Up to 40% off select tech

• 40% off Halloween costumes for all ages

• 50% off seasonal outdoor inflatable and decor

• Buy one, get one 50% off Halloween candy

• Up to 40% off holiday lighting and decor

• 30% off select Lego sets

• Buy 2, get 1 free on books, movies, music, and Funko Pop! figurines

• Up to 50% off kitchen and home essentials

• Up to 30% off fall home decor and essentials

• Buy one, get one 25% off household essentials

• Save $10 when you spend $40 on toys

Top Target Circle Week deals at a glance: Apple AirPods 4 $89.99 (save $30 with Target Circle) Get Deal Beats Solo 4 $129.99 (save $70 with Target Circle) Get Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) $599.99 (save $200 with Target Circle) Get Deal Keurig K-Mini Mate $47.99 (save $32 with Target Circle) Get Deal Ninja Creami $199.99 + free $30 gift card with Target Circle Get Deal Dyson Ball Animal 3 Total Clean $329.99 (save $170 with Target Circlce) Get Deal Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Camera $83.99 (save $10 with Target Circle) Get Deal Lego Botanicals Evergreen Collector’s Set $41.99 (save $18 with Target Circle) Get Deal Rubies Wednesday Nevermore Uniform Halloween Costume $18 (save $12 with Target Circle) Get Deal What is Target Circle Week?

Target Circle Week is a weeklong savings event that typically happens twice a year in July and October. (Conveniently, it always coincides with Amazon's Prime Day sales.) During the event, Target offers daily deal drops and weeklong deals with savings of up to 50% on top brands. The retailer often matches Amazon's Prime Day prices where their inventories overlap.

When is Target Circle Week?

The current Target Circle Week is happening now and runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11. While Amazon's Prime Day events typically last a few days, Target's sale is a full weeklong event.

Do you need to be a Circle member to shop Target Circle Week?

Yes, you need to be a Target Circle member to get the exclusive savings during Circle Week. However, the program is completely free and easy to join. In addition to accessing the sale, Circle members get other year-round perks, including a 5% birthday discount, personalized deals, and savings that are automatically applied at checkout.

Scientists think one of Uranus' moons may once have had an ocean roughly 100 miles deep — about 40 times deeper than the Pacific Ocean — and could still possibly hold remnants of it.

New computer simulations suggest Ariel, Uranus' fourth-largest moon, might have developed an ocean when its orbit was more stretched like an oval in space. If that had happened, Uranus' gravity would have produced tidal forces strong enough to generate internal heat in Ariel, melting part of its icy crust. 

That stress could explain mysterious cracks and other surface deformities that can be observed on the moon today, said Caleb Strom, first author of the research that appeared in the journal Icarus. Those features — wide canyons, long fractures, and smooth refrozen plains — were first seen in NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft images in 1986.

"It is less that the ocean is causing the cracks than that the ocean is a result of the tidal heating that would also create a thin ice shell, subject to flexing," Strom told Mashable. "Thus, you would logically get both a subsurface ocean and a thin ice shell since part of the ice shell would have to melt." 

If the findings bear out, Ariel could be part of a growing list of icy moons in the outer solar system thought to harbor liquid water under their crusts. Similar to Saturn's Enceladus or Jupiter's Europa, Ariel could once have had the conditions for chemistry that can start life. Understanding how it heated, cooled, and resurfaced may help scientists learn how habitable environments can exist far from the sun.

SEE ALSO: NASA astronaut class appears to be first without Black recruits in 40 years

Uranus, a planet 1.8 billion miles from Earth, has recently garnered attention for a newly discovered moon, bringing its count up to 29. For decades, the icy world was thought of as merely a bright, featureless ball. 

Recent studies and new observations by the James Webb Space Telescope have changed that image, revealing it as a much more intriguing place, made of water, methane, and ammonia, wrapped around a small rocky core. Its system of moons is also part of that mysterious complexity. The new study on Ariel follows a paper last year by the same team with similar findings on Miranda, another Uranian moon. 

Scientists consider whether Uranian moon Ariel could be yet another ocean world. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / PSI / Mikayla Kelley / Peter Buhler illustration

"We are finding evidence that the Uranus system may harbor twin ocean worlds,” said Tom Nordheim, a co-author from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, in a statement. "Ultimately, we just need to go back to the Uranus system and see for ourselves."

The researchers believe the tidal effects responsible for creating an ocean within Ariel likely happened 1 to 2 billion years ago as the moon's orbit was caught in a gravitational rhythm with another Uranian moon. 

Scientists call these synchronized orbits "resonance," a rhythm that can be broken easily over time. When Ariel's resonance ended, the moon could have cooled off, its orbit could have become more circular, and the hypothetical ocean might have started to refreeze, according to the paper.

Scientists believe many of Uranus' moons could be hiding oceans under their icy shells, or may have had underground oceans in the past. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / Joseph DePasquale

Spectroscopic detections point to ammonia and carbon compounds on Ariel’s surface. Because these chemicals break down quickly in space, finding them means they probably surfaced from the moon's interior relatively recently. This supports the idea that Ariel’s surface and interior have continued to interact, potentially through past or ongoing cryovolcanism, a process in which water or ammonia erupts like lava from underground reservoirs before freezing solid. 

The cracks on Ariel's surface could have formed in ways other than tidal forces, Strom said. The ice shell could have thickened as water inside froze and expanded, causing fractures, or those hypothetical ice volcanoes could be the source. But those explanations are less certain, he said. 

"Cryovolcanism is a lot more controversial since we don’t really know how cryovolcanism works," Strom said, "and some planetary scientists are skeptical that it happens at all."

TL;DR: Sterling Stock Picker gives you lifetime access to AI-driven stock recommendations and personalized financial guidance — all for $55.19 (MSRP $486) with code SAVE20.

Stock investing can feel like a maze of jargon, spreadsheets, and guesswork. Sterling Stock Picker is designed to change that.

For a one-time payment of $55.19 (MSRP $486) with code SAVE20, you get lifetime access to an AI-powered platform that simplifies everything from selecting stocks to building a portfolio. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your strategy, this tool helps you make clear, informed investment decisions without needing a finance degree.

At the center of the platform is Finley (powered by OpenAI), your personal AI financial coach. Finley offers real-time data, personalized stock recommendations, and strategic guidance tailored to your investing goals. You can ask questions, analyze your portfolio, and learn as you go — all without expensive advisory fees.

Sterling Stock Picker walks you through the process of smart investing in a way that’s approachable and actionable. Here’s what you get with your lifetime subscription:

• Personalized stock recommendations aligned with your risk tolerance, values, and investment goals

• Clear buy/hold/avoid guidance powered by the platform’s patent-pending North Star technology

• A done-for-you portfolio builder that takes the guesswork out of diversification

• Sector and industry insights to help you stay ahead of market trends

• Strategic portfolio suggestions designed to optimize returns over time

• Detailed explanations that break down financial concepts for beginners and seasoned investors alike

• Access to a community forum where you can exchange ideas and strategies with fellow investors

Give yourself a long-term framework for smarter investing.

Get a lifetime of Sterling Stock Picker for $55.19 (MSRP $486) through Nov. 2 with code SAVE20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $55.19
$486 Save $430.81 Get Deal

TL;DR: Easily access things you copy with this lifetime subscription to CopyMagic, on sale now for just $29.99 (reg. $49).

How many things do you copy every day? We’re willing to bet it’s quite a lot — and the number of times you accidentally hit copy again and lose your last item is probably hefty as well. If you’ve ever wanted to be able to access all these things you have copied for future use, CopyMagic is here to help.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to CopyMagic, a Smart Clipboard Manager, for only $29.99 (reg. $49).

Access everything you’ve ever copied in seconds with this $30 tool

We’re all multitasking our days away, which means that sometimes things slip through the cracks. So what if you could gain access to a search engine for everything you’ve ever copied on your computer? CopyMagic does just that, allowing you to type a few words and instantly rediscover the content you copied, saving you precious time hunting the information down.

CopyMagic uses Semantic Search, so you can search this tool like Google without having to know the exact phrase you’re after. The results are instantaneous thanks to a sub-millisecond search, even when you have thousands of copied entries saved. And you don’t have to deal with a login or the cloud; it even works offline if you need it.

This handy tool gives you a clean, distraction-free interface without ads or clutter, making it easy to find what you need. And if you have sensitive information, you can mark it as “secret” and keep it hidden as you browse.

This lifetime subscription to CopyMagic gives you access to semantic search and an unlimited clipboard history. You’ll also receive all future updates and priority email support when needed.

Easily recall your copied content forever with this lifetime subscription to CopyMagic, on sale now for just $29.99 (reg. $49).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Arcify Labs CopyMagic - Smart Clipboard Manager: Lifetime Subscription $29.99
$49 Save $19.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: A Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional lifetime license for Windows is just $9.97 (MSRP $249.99) through Oct. 19 for new users.

Some deals require overthinking. This isn’t one of them. If you’ve ever wrestled with presenting complex data, mapping systems, or building out flowcharts, you already understand why Microsoft Visio is the gold standard for diagramming.

For a limited time, you can grab Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows for just $9.97 (MSRP $249.99) through Oct. 19 — no recurring fees, no strings, just a clean, lifetime license.

Savvy pros know that the right tools don’t just make work easier — they make work flow easier, too.

Present, plan, and collaborate smarter

Visio is the ultimate diagramming powerhouse. Whether you’re laying out a network architecture, designing a floor plan, or mapping business processes, it gives you clean, professional visuals without the usual friction. Here’s what you unlock with this lifetime license:

• Dozens of pre-made templates and starter diagrams to get you building fast

• Access to more than 250,000 shapes in Visio’s online ecosystem

• Natural pen and touch support for sketching and annotating on touch devices

• Auto-generated org charts from Excel, Exchange, or Microsoft Entra ID

• Professional-grade templates for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, brainstorming, and network diagrams

• Advanced features like BPMN 2.0, UML 2.5, and IEEE standards support

• Diagram linking to live data from internal and external sources for real-time updates

Pick up a lifetime of Microsoft Visio 2021 Pro for a one-time payment of $9.97 (MSRP $249.99) through Oct. 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $9.97
$249.99 Save $240.02 Get Deal

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

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

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for grisly body horror for Halloween, new cringe comedy, or true crime documentaries to binge, we've got something just for you.

17. Is It Cake? Halloween

There's no better trick-or-treater on TV than Is It Cake?, back with a Halloween special to put your eyeballs to the test. As always, host Mikey Day poses the titular question to celebrity judges, tasked with figuring out whether the hyperreal cakes created by competing bakers are actually cake or not. Over four episodes and a lot of dry ice, nine contestants will craft confections of all spooky shapes and sizes, from jack-o'-lanterns to toads to witches' boots and black cats. As for the judges, there'll be appearances from Harvey Guillén, Chelsea Peretti, Gillian Jacobs, and more. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: Is It Cake? Halloween is now streaming on Netflix.

16. My Father, the BTK Killer

Netflix is adding to its ever-expanding true crime slate with a documentary about Kerri Rawson, the daughter of infamous serial killer Dennis Rader.

Arrested in 2005 and currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences for 10 counts of first degree serial murder, Rader was known as BTK (bind, torture, kill) for a series of horrific crimes committed in Wichita, Kansas, in the 1970s. Skye Borgman's documentary tells the story through his daughter, who can be heard in the trailer talking about the impact her father's crimes and arrest have had — and continue to have — on her life today. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: My Father, the BTK Killer premieres Oct. 10 on Netflix.

15. True Haunting

At a glance, True Haunting seems a gift perfectly timed to spooky season. James Wan, who had a hand in the creation of such successful scary movie franchises as Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring, is an executive producer on the documentary series True Haunting. However, the actual show is pretty slow and tame. 

SEE ALSO: Scream time: The best horror movies on Netflix right now

Rather than a new ghost story every episode, True Haunting does that annoying Netflix true crime doc thing of stretching out a fairly simple story over multiple episodes. Far from keeping things tense, it gets pretty tedious. Season 1 of True Haunting offers just two tales over five episodes, one about college students plagued by a poltergeist and one about a young family that's tormented by some sinister spirit in their new home. While the talking head interviews are earnest, True Haunting won't deliver on scares in its stories or reenactments. You can definitely find better horror and docs on Netflix. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: True Haunting is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Him

The NFL and horror collide in Him, a football-focused fright fest produced by Jordan Peele and directed by Justin Tipping. Him introduces rising star quarterback Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), who gets the chance to train with his idol Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). However, Isaiah's methods are stranger — and bloodier! — than anything Cam has been through before. How much is he really willing to sacrifice to become the GOAT?

Despite the prestige that comes with Peele's involvement, Him was a critical and box office disappointment. However, according to Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, the film is in no way irredeemable, boasting great performances from Withers and Wayans, as well as some surreal scares courtesy of Tipping. Where Him fumbles the ball, however, is its ending. In her review, she writes, "In its final minutes, Tipping's tale pivots to something more concrete, gorier, and less daring. That ending, though twisted and thrilling, doesn't feel earned. So, in the end, Him falls short of astounding." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, and Jim Jefferies

How to watch: Him is now available for rent or purchase on digital.

13.Vicious

Dakota Fanning unfortunately lets a stranger in the door in Vicious, the latest horror venture from Bryan Bertino (The Strangers, The Dark and the Wicked, The Monster). Fanning plays Polly, a young woman who lives in a big house by herself. A seemingly harmless older woman (Kathryn Hunter) turns up on Polly's doorstep late one night, presents her with a creepy box, and informs Polly she will die if she doesn't put three things in the box: "Something you need, something you hate, something you love." Easy, right? — S.C.

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Kathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, Devyn Nekoda, Klea Scott, and Emily Mitchell

How to watch: Vicious premieres Oct. 10 on Paramount+.

12. Victoria Beckham

We lived for the skerricks of Spice Girl lore in Netflix's Beckham documentary about the legendary footballer. Now, Victoria Beckham stands front and centre in her own limited series from the streaming service. Created by the Beckham production team and directed by Becoming's Nadia Hallgren, Victoria Beckham takes a look into the fashion designer and singer's life, beginning at Paris Fashion Week. The three-part documentary will explore Beckham's iconic Posh Spice days, her relationship with David Beckham and her family life, and the building of a fashion empire — and yes, the talking heads are soaringly high profile, from Anna Wintour to Tom Ford. — S.C.

How to watch: Victoria Beckham is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Ozzy: No Escape From Now

Late rock legend Ozzy Osbourne was onstage mere weeks before his death in July at 76, performing with Black Sabbath in Birmingham, England — where it all started in 1968. Director Tania Alexander chronicles the lead-up to this farewell show, as well as Osbourne's final album Patient Number Nine, and the impact of his life-changing 2019 fall in the documentary Ozzy: No Escape From Now. Executive produced by his wife Sharon and featuring interviews with Osborne himself, the documentary was still in edit when the music icon passed away, according to Deadline, and Alexander was asked by his family to finish it. — S.C.

How to watch: Ozzy: No Escape From Now is now streaming on Paramount+.

10. Boots

In the wake of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's bizarre tirade against diversity in the U.S. army, there may be no more relevant series to check out than Boots. Inspired by Greg Cope White's memoir The Pink Marine, the series follows Cameron (Miles Heizer), a young gay man who joins the Marine Corps in 1990. At that point, it was still illegal to be gay in the U.S. military. The discriminatory "Don't ask, don't tell" policy would go into effect four years later.

A recent graduate, Cameron doesn't know what to do with his life, so he impulsively heads to Marine Corps boot camp with his best friend Ray (Liam Oh). The experience starts as a grueling nightmare, one where drill sergeants scream seemingly never-ending racist, homophobic, and fatphobic screeds. But soon, Cameron finds himself forging a brotherhood among his fellow recruits, leading to a touching coming-of-age tale. — B.E.

Starring: Miles Heizer, Max Parker, Vera Farmiga, Ana Ayora, Blake Burt, Cedrick Cooper, Dominic Goodman, Nicholas Logan, Kieron Moore, Angus O'Brien, Liam Oh, and Rico Paris

How to watch: Boots is now streaming on Netflix.

9. The Woman in Cabin 10

An Agatha Christie-style murder mystery with a psychological twist, Netflix's The Woman in Cabin 10 sees journalist Laura Blacklock (Keira Knightley) boarding a luxury yacht to write an article on a charity.

The problem? Blacklock soon witnesses someone being thrown overboard from the cabin next to her, only for the rest of the ship to tell her that there was nobody in the neighboring cabin. So is she losing her mind, or is there a cover-up at play?

Guy Pearce, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Kaya Scodelario, and Hannah Waddingham also star in Simon Stone's adaptation of Ruth Ware's 2016 novel. — S.H.

Starring: Keira Knightley, Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, David Ajala, Art Malik, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Kaya Scodelario, David Morrissey, Daniel Ings, Gitte Witt, Christopher Rygh, Pippa Bennett-Warner, John Macmillan, Paul Kaye, Amanda Collin, and Lisa Loven Kongsli

How to watch: The Woman in Cabin 10 premieres Oct. 10 on Netflix.

8. The Last Frontier

Between 2023's Hijack and the upcoming The Last Frontier, Apple TV+ is really starting to lean into the genre of "shows where something goes horribly wrong on a plane." In The Last Frontier's case, that "something wrong" is a full-on plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness. The plane in question is a prison transport, and the crash allows dozens of its violent passengers to escape. (Think Con Air meets The Grey.)

Now, it's up to U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke) to protect a nearby town from the escaped passengers. However, he's got a sneaking suspicion that the crash wasn't an accident at all, but part of a larger conspiracy.* — B.E.

Starring: Jason Clarke, Dominic Cooper, Haley Bennett, Simone Kessell, Dallas Goldtooth, Tait Blum, and Alfre Woodard

How to watch: The Last Frontier premieres Oct. 10 on Apple TV+.

7. Freakier Friday

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reunite for a sequel to the iconic 2003 family comedy Freaky Friday. Naturally, a follow-up to a body swap movie means even more body swapping. So this time around, mother-daughter duo Tess and Anna Coleman swap bodies with Anna's teen daughter Harper (Julia Butters) and her soon-to-be stepsister Lily (Sophia Hammons). While the teen girls think this is the perfect opportunity to split up Anna and Lily's dad (Manny Jacinto) ahead of their wedding, Tess and Anna (in Lily and Harper's bodies) are eager to get themselves unswapped before their professional or personal lives can be derailed by teen drama. 

Got all that? Don't stress. This Nisha Ganatra-directed romp is easy to kick back and enjoy during a girls' night in. As I wrote in my review, "Freakier Friday isn't better than the original. But it is fun, entertaining, and funny. On top of the winning performances of Curtis and Lohan, there's a meta joy to seeing a real-life wild child return to her roots for a victory lap. That she gets to rock out while doing it is all the better." — K.P. 

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Rosalind Chao, Chad Michael Murray, Mark Harmon, Vanessa Bayer, Christina Vidal, Haley Hudson, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Lucille Soong

How to watch: Freakier Friday is now available for rent or purchase on digital.

6. Freaked

Not long after Alex Winter wowed us as one of the eponymous leads of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, he co-directed and starred in this wild comedy that felt like a freaky fever dream. And now, Freaked has a 4K UHD restoration, which is a true gift to fans who haven't had home video or high quality-streaming options to watch this 1993 cult classic for ages. 

Winters stars as overgrown child star Ricky Coogan whose run-in with a freak show proprietor (Randy Quaid) leads to a new and unexpected chapter in his showbiz career — and a new family. Full of bizarre practical effects, unapologetically outrageous humor, and VERY '90s cameos, Freaked is a deranged blast. — K.P. 

Starring: Alex Winter, Randy Quaid, William Sadler, Megan Ward, Michael Stoyanov, Bobcat Goldthwait, Mr. T, and Brooke Shields

How to watch: Freaked's 4K UHD restoration is now available for rent or purchase on digital. 

5. The Alabama Solution

Andrew Jarecki made a huge impact on true crime television with the nerve-rattling documentary series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, Parts One and Two. Now, with co-director Charlotte Kaufman, he's offering The Alabama Solution, a chilling looking into the American prison system and its abuses against the incarcerated people therein. 

SEE ALSO: The 30 best true crime documentaries on Max right now

Because the American justice system has greatly limited journalists' access to the inside of prisons, The Alabama Solution takes an unusual tactic in its interviews. The documentarians rely heavily on video interviews recorded covertly on contraband cell phones in an Alabama prison. This gives a shocking look into the lives (and deaths) of incarcerated people, while comparing that to how media coverage covers these same stories. The contrast is illuminating, horrifying, and thought-provoking. — K.P.

How to watch: The Alabama Solution premieres Oct. 10 on HBO Max.

4. How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

If you loved the animated adventures How to Train Your Dragon brought to theaters and televisions with its string of films and spinoff TV shows, you won't want to miss the live-action version, where the world of Berk feels more real than ever before. 

The Black Phone's Mason Thames steps into the shivering shoes of Hiccup, a misfit Viking who is not interested in killing the flying creatures that his people battle. Instead, after wounding a charming dragon he names Toothless, Hiccup hopes to create a new understanding between the warring sides. But first, he'll have to get some support from other villagers, such as warrior-in-training Astrid (The Last of Us' Nico Parker) and his burly father, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his role from the 2010 film). And that'll mean a lot of dragon shenanigans, and perhaps a sky-high battle or two! 

In her review of the film, UK editor Shannon Connellan wrote, "How to Train Your Dragon sees [Dean] DeBlois sticking like glue to his original film, which exposes the franchise's timelessness in a way. If you've dreamed of seeing a version of Toothless living, breathing, and gobbling fish in a real world (on screen), the live-action adaptation is a treat."* — K.P.

Starring: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gerard Butler, and Ruth Codd

How to watch: How to Train Your Dragon hits Peacock Oct. 10.

3. Lurker

Written and directed by Alex Russell, Lurker is All About Eve for the influencer generation. This psychological thriller follows a young man named Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) who works retail in LA, but dreams of fame and fortune. So, when he crosses paths with rising music star Oliver (Archie Madekwe), he weasels his way into Oliver's entourage. This gives him a taste of the good life he covets. And he'll do anything to keep it. 

A gnarly thriller with a keen awareness of the double-edged sword of social media, Lurker will lock you in and leave you sweating. — K.P. 

Starring: Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Zack Fox, Havana Rose Liu, Wale Onayemi, Daniel Zolghadri, and Sunny Suljic

How to watch: Lurker hits MUBI Oct. 10.

2. The Chair Company

Tim Robinson brings his anxiety-inducing brand of cringe comedy to HBO with The Chair Company, which he co-created with writing partner Zach Kanin (I Think You Should Leave). Robinson plays Ron Trosper, an everyman with a solid family life and an exciting new opportunity at his job. But when he experiences a humiliating accident at work, that becomes all he can think about. Convinced there was more to the incident than meets the eye, he finds himself down a rabbit hole full of shady figures and conspiracy theories.

The Chair Company is chock-full of typical absurdist Robinson humor, with several bizarro tangents that would be right at home on I Think You Should Leave. But it also proves a compelling portrayal of obsession, taking the embarrassment of recalling and fixating on a cringeworthy memory and magnifying it to the extreme. For any Robinson fans, The Chair Company is a must watch. — B.E.

Starring: Tim Robinson, Lake Bell, Sophia Lillis, Will Price, and Joseph Tudisco

How to watch: The Chair Company premieres Sunday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

1. The Substance

Writer/director Coralie Fargeat delivered one of the absolute wildest films of 2024 with this freaky fable of fame and beauty. Demi Moore stars as faded Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle, who's being bullied out of her televised workout show by a sexist producer (Dennis Quaid) ravenous to replace her with someone younger and hotter. Well, a new miracle drug called "the Substance" promises Elisabeth a second chance at success, transforming her into the vibrant and viciously ambitious Sue (Margaret Qualley). There's just one problem: Connected as they are, they have to take turns at being in the world. As Sue fights for more, Elisabeth faces dire consequences. Something's gotta give, and when it does, the practical effects from The Substance's Oscar–winning make-up team will absolutely shock and awe you. 

SEE ALSO: What to watch: Best scary movies

Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Actress for Moore, and Best Picture, The Substance is the rare movie that played well to the Academy and to midnight movie crowds. It's a true knockout. —K.P. 

Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid

How to watch: The Substance hits HBO Max Oct. 10.

(*) denotes a blurb comes from a previous list.

If celestial events are your thing, then October is set to be an exciting month with not one, but two meteor showers lighting up the skies. The Orionids will be taking place for most of October and well into November, and the Draconids peaked on Oct. 8.

The Orionids occur each year, peaking in October and giving some of the most beautiful displays. From fireballs to stunning light trails, the Orionids really know how to put on a show. There's plenty of time to try and catch this phenomenon, and we've got all the information you need before you go looking for shooting stars.

What is the Orionids meteor shower?

The Orionids meteor shower happens when tiny grains of dust and ice left behind by comet 1P/Halley enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up, producing bright streaks of light across the sky, NASA says.

Orionid meteors are fast, traveling at around 41 miles (66 kilometers) per second, and often leave glowing “trains." Some of the brighter meteors even become fireballs, creating spectacular flashes of light. These meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, hence the name.

When is the Orionids meteor shower?

NASA data reveals the Orionids meteor shower will take place between Oct. 2 - Nov. 12.

When will the Orionids meteor shower peak?

There's a chance to see the Orionids every night during this period, but the peak is expected to be Oct. 22 - 23.

How to see the Orionids meteor shower

Advice for seeing the Orionids is similar to all celestial events: wait until dark, stay away from light pollution, and allow your eyes time to adjust to the light. NASA also advises heading out after midnight and lying with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

Remember to also check cloud coverage in your area on peak nights. Fewer clouds = more stars visible.