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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good head on your shoulders.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 30, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Not happening

• Green: Reasonable

• Blue: Keyboard symbols

• Purple: Famous tunes

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: "In your dreams"

• Green: Sensible

• Blue: Typographical symbols

• Purple: Song of the Year nominees at the first Grammy Awards

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 #1084 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• "In your dreams": IMPOSSIBLE, NEVER, NO WAY, SORRY

• Sensible: CLEAR, LUCID, RIGHT, SOUND

• Typographical symbols: BRACE, CARET, PIPE, TILDE

• Song of the Year nominees at the first Grammy Awards: FEVER, GIGI, VOLARE, WITCHCRAFT

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 30, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're dependable.

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 May 30, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We'll be there

The words are related to traits.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe positive characteristics.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Good Friends.

NYT Strands word list for May 30

• Reliable

• Loyal

• Good Friends

• Helpful

• Caring

• Trustworthy

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always in a good mood.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 30, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 30, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To grin.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SMILE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

TL;DR: Elevate your commutes and workouts with the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones, on sale now for $87.97 (reg. $199.99) through May 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats by Dre Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones - Warm White (Open Box) $87.97
$199.99 Save $112.02   Get Deal

If you don’t just listen to playlists but live in them, the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones are for you. These re-engineered headphones deliver premium sound with an expansive sound range and an impressive 50-hour battery, so you don’t have to miss a beat.

Right now, you can score a pair of these premium headphones for just $87.97 through May 31.

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Music lovers know that a basic pair of headphones won’t cut it. The Beats Solo 4 deliver audio brilliance, extraordinary clarity, and an expansive sound range thanks to custom-built 40-mm transducers, all worthy of your excellent taste in music.

Personalized Spatial Audio lets you immerse yourself in the tunes, while dynamic head tracking and built-in gyroscopes surround you with sound, giving you the effect of being surrounded by 64 speakers at once, whether you’re in line at the grocery store or on your morning commute.

A built-in Digital-to-Analog Converter also provides high-resolution lossless audio, and if you want more texture, you can connect via a USB-C cable or a 3.5mm audio cable.

Enjoy an impressive 50 hours of battery life and Bluetooth 5.3, which offers extended range and fewer dropouts.

Aside from offering premium sound, the Beats Solo 4 also provide a premium wearing experience that keeps up with that battery life. They’re ultralight, weighing just 217 grams, and the UltraPlush ear cushions and ergonomic design offer unparalleled comfort and fit.

You’re saving big on these headphones because they’re open-box. That means they were likely excess inventory from store shelves, but have undergone a verification process to ensure they’re still in new condition and are placed in clean packaging.

Score the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones for $87.97 now through May 31.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League final is here. The Premier League champions face off against Ligue 1's best side in what promises to be an absolutely epic contest.

PSG have been here before. They come into this final as defending champions, but they know they'll need to be at their absolute best to fend off Mikel Arteta's determined side. After some moments of doubt in recent weeks, it feels like Arsenal are back in their groove and on course to do something truly special this season.

If you want to watch PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Arsenal?

PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on May 30. This fixture takes place at the Puskás Aréna.

How to watch PSG vs. Arsenal for free

PSG vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League final for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch PSG vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League final without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream PSG vs. Arsenal before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final for free with ExpressVPN.

Chicken Shop Date has seen host Amelia Dimoldenberg flirting with some serious names over the last 10 years, from Billie Eilish to Keke Palmer, SZA to Cher. Her latest illustrious guest? Sir Paul McCartney.

Having recently closed out The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the music legend and Beatle is hitting the press circuit to promote his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. On Friday, he headed for the titular chicken shop, where Dimoldenberg asked him the tough questions.

Notably, McCartney's in the same seat where Dimoldenberg previously interviewed Paul Mescal, who's playing the Beatle in Sam Mendes' upcoming biopic.

McCartney's no stranger to buzzy British web series and podcasts, appearing on Jessie Ware's Table Manners, Marina Hyde and Richard Osman's The Rest Is Entertainment, and Tom Holland's The Rest Is History.

Want more of the latest entertainment news, reviews, trailers, and interviews? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Check out the six most compelling new Acer machines at the show: TravelMates, Predators, Nitros, Aspires, and more! (Spoiler: Hope you like 18-inch laptops...)

Best Anker chargers you can shop right now: Best budget deal Anker Nano (47W) $19.49 (save $10.50) Get Deal Best desktop charger deal Anker Desktop Charger (112W) $33.99 (save $6) Get Deal Best wall charger deal Anker USB Charger (67W) $34.99 (save $15) Get Deal

If you're still hoarding a drawer full of charging bricks, it's probably time to let them go (I'm a Millennial too, so I get it). There's really no reason to have so many blocks when you can buy one or two do-it-all chargers and just be done with it. Then you can use that drawer for other junk, like old receipts you've kept for no reason and Starbucks straws, because, you know, just in case.

Right now, Amazon's got a ton of Anker fast chargers on sale. Here are the best deals to grab before the weekend's over.

Best budget deal Anker Nano (47W) $19.49 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10.50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

This tiny Anker Nano plug has two USB-C ports and folds down flat, so it won't cover the entire outlet or crowd your bag when you travel. It delivers 47W of power, so even though it's tiny, it can still charge your phone and your tablet at the same time.

Right now, you can get it for $19.49, down from $29.99, at Amazon. That’s a 35% discount or about $10.50 in savings.

Best desktop charger deal Anker Desktop Charger (112W) $33.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $6   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If your desk is covered in wires, this heavy-duty block offers a quick fix. It splits a 112W of power across six separate outlets (three USB-C and three USB-A) so you can power your entire workspace from one wall plug. It even comes with a little silicone cable organizer so everything stays in one spot instead of sliding off the back of your desk.

Right now, you can get it for $33.99, down from $39.99, at Amazon. That’s a 15% discount or $6 in savings.

Best wall charger deal Anker USB Charger (67W) $34.99 at Amazon
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This is the one to throw in your laptop bag if you hate carrying around three separate bricks for your computer, phone, and headphones. It gives you two USB-C ports and one classic USB-A port, and it's basically half the size of a standard MacBook charger block.

Right now, you can get it for $34.99, down from $49.99, at Amazon. That’s a 30% discount or $15 in savings.

More Anker charger deals

• Anker Smart Display Charger (45W) — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)

• Anker Phone Charger (65W) — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10)

• Anker Prime Charger (100W) — $39.98 $69.99 (save $30.01)

• Anker MacBook Pro Charger (140W) — $64.99 $89.99 (save $25)

Move over, OpenAI. There's a new leader in the AI industry.

Anthropic announced on Thursday that it had raised $65 billion in funding from investors led by Altimeter Capital, Greenoaks, Dragoneer, and Sequoia Capital.

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This fundraising round puts Anthropic's valuation at nearly one trillion dollars, or $965 billion to be exact. OpenAI, long seen as the face of the AI industry after its AI chatbot ChatGPT was launched, was last valued at $852 billion back in March. According to the New York Times, the new valuation makes Anthropic the most valuable privately held AI company in the world (companies like NVIDIA and Google have surpassed the $1 trillion mark).

Anthropic has now usurped OpenAI in the AI race when it comes to valuation — and revenue too.

In addition to the fundraising round, Anthropic announced that the company hit a $47 billion revenue run rate earlier this month. 

As CNBC points out, that’s up from Anthropic's $30 billion run rate earlier this year and $10 billion in annual revenue last year.

Earlier this week, The Information reported that OpenAI's annualized revenue run rate is around $30 billion. Anthropic's $47 billion revenue run rate is roughly 35 percent more than OpenAI's. This is certainly not the most ideal news to drop for OpenAI right before the company's planned IPO.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic sues Pentagon as Claude downloads soar

“Claude is increasingly indispensable to our growing global community of customers, and we work tirelessly to make tools like Claude Code and Cowork more helpful, more powerful, and more adaptable to their needs,” said Anthropic CFO Krishna Rao in a statement. “This funding will help us serve the historic demand we are experiencing, stay at the research frontier, and bring Claude to more of the places where work happens.”

So, how did this happen? It appears that OpenAI has had more of a focus on ChatGPT subscriptions from everyday consumers, whereas Anthropic has positioned Claude as a leading developer tool for businesses with products like their agentic coding assistant, Claude Code. Based on Anthropic's revenue and valuation, their business model with its AI assistant Claude seems to be working better than the competitors. 

Are you an Apple superfan? Enter Mashable’s Big Guessing Game to win prizes.

Google just launched a fascinating-looking new Fitbit health tracker, but it's a little different from the ones you might be used to.

That's because the $99 Fitbit Air doesn't have a screen, instead opting for a combination of a mobile app and an AI coach to meet your health tracking needs. While Mashable's review is still in the works and will be ready soon, reviews for the device from other professional critics came out this week, so let's dive in and see what they had to say. Is it time to upgrade from your old Fitbit, or should you stick with something that has a screen?

Google Fitbit Air screenless fitness tracker $99.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Fitbit Air review roundup: No screen needed

Without dancing around the point, let's establish up front that almost every review of the Fitbit Air is a positive one. Despite some grumbling from long-time Fitbit users on Reddit about the Google Health app, early users really like the Fitbit Air so far.

Critics overall enjoyed the device's sleek form factor and health-tracking capabilities, though a few had nitpicks here and there. One thing to understand right away, though, is that the Fitbit Air at $99 (with an additional $99/yr subscription to unlock every Google Health app feature) is substantially cheaper than the latest Whoop tracker, which is an obvious inspiration for Fitbit's new device.

The Whoop fitness tracker comes as part of a subscription that starts at $149/yr, so Google's option is a definitive win in terms of value, and critics certainly noted that. In addition, Gemini superusers who already subscribe to Google AI Pro or AI Ultra receive complimentary access to the Google Health app, so no additional subscription is required.

SEE ALSO: I ran the NYC Marathon wearing 7 fitness trackers and they all watched me throw up

Beyond price, it sounds like the Fitbit Air mostly nails the crucial things you'd want it to nail, like comfort. Like any other Fitbit device, it offers a wide variety of band styles to choose from, which will mostly come down to personal taste. Andrew Gebhart of PCMag had kind things to say about the polyester-based Performance Loop band.

"The Performance Loop covers the sensor, so I never felt the need to take any precautions when lifting weights, and the device never got in my way," Gebhart wrote. "By contrast, I’d often have to reposition the Oura Ring for comfort, or shift the screen of a smartwatch to protect the display, when lifting weights. The Active Band offers even more protection, but the Performance Loop is durable enough for all everyday activities."

Since the Fitbit Air doesn't have a display, it relies entirely on the Google Health mobile app for tracking health, adjusting settings, or doing literally anything else you'd need a screen for. This has certainly ruffled some feathers online, particularly those belonging to longtime Fitbit users who preferred the older Fitbit app. But critics like Engadget's Cherlynn Low found the Google Health app pretty easy to use, with a home page that does a good job of displaying pertinent information for the user.

Looks comfy. Credit: Google

If you choose to pay the subscription fee, you'll unlock access to an AI coach within the app, which is one of the Fitbit Air's other defining features. It's functionally similar to automatically generated progress reports in other fitness apps, but now you can make requests of it in natural language via a chatbot interface. At Engadget, Low acknowledged that the AI coach can occasionally be a little buggy or insensitive regarding things like disordered eating, but found that it's generally decent at basic tracking and health guidance.

"For example, it used to be nearly impossible to ask an app to log 'the same cup of muesli and milk I had yesterday' and get the desired results. Thanks to its Gemini powers, the AI Coach did exactly what I asked, looking at my log history for the brands I specified and simply adding them to my data for the right day," Low wrote. "Of course, it was not perfect and occasionally I had to correct it. But by and large I found it easy to get the Coach to do basic things like tracking my nutrition and activity."

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Of course, there are some basic issues with the screenless tracker that are worth addressing. One thing you get if you choose to pay more for a Whoop tracker is better battery life. Contemporary Whoop trackers are rated for about 14 days of life on a charge, but every reviewer I read only managed to get roughly seven or eight days out of the Fitbit Air. It apparently charges quickly, so it shouldn't be a huge issue, but that's worth noting anyway.

One last thing to note, courtesy of CNET's Vanessa Hand Orellana, is that the Fitbit Air is significantly worse at being a watch than any other Fitbit model. Orellana liked the device overall, but made the very important observation that its form factor has real limitations.

"I've lost count of how many times I've glanced down at my wrist expecting to see the time, only to be met with a blank band staring back at me like, 'What?,'" Orellana wrote. "Between that and the fact that it couldn't ping my phone, there were moments the Fitbit Air felt like it was freeloading on my wrist."

If you want a watch, you should probably get something with a screen. If that doesn't matter to you, the Fitbit Air might be worth a try.

The new Google Fitbit Air is available now from Google, Amazon, and other retailers for $99.99.

Disclosure: PCMag, CNET, and Mashable are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.

Horror is ushering in a new breed of filmmakers.

All across the genre, online creators are making the jump from YouTube to the big screen. Danny and Michael Philippou (aka Rackaracka) did it with Talk To Me and Bring Her Back, and Curry Barker is currently doing it with Obsession. Now, 20-year-old Backrooms director Kane Parsons joins their ranks.

SEE ALSO: How content creators are redefining Hollywood's power structure

The young creator found fame on YouTube with his series of short films inspired by the Backrooms creepypasta born out of an old 4Chan post. His videos amassed tens of millions of views and a loyal fanbase. The question is: has Parsons, with co-writer Will Soodik, managed to make the challenging jump from short-form content to full-length A24 feature?

The answer is yes. But there is a caveat.

What's Backrooms about? Looks...ominous. Credit: A24

Set in Santa Clara Valley, California in the '90s, Backrooms hinges on wannabe-architect turned furniture store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor). He's in a bad place, spending his days drinking and processing his recent separation with his therapist Mary (Renate Reinsve). But one night, while using his store as temporary accomodation, a flickering basement light leads him to the discovery of a hidden doorway, and a seemingly never-ending series of rooms.

The space beyond the door is the titular Backrooms, filled with faulty yellow lights, barely furnished rooms that oscillate between cavernous and claustrophobic, and strange distant noises that suggest the place may not be entirely empty.

Sound creepy? It is. Production designer Danny Vermette, art director Alan Derksen, and set decorator Trevor Johnston have done an amazing job at creating a world that feels both familiar and uncanny — and draws direct aesthetic inspiration from the creepypasta. Parsons, who also designed the lighting, uses this liminal space as his own nightmarish playground.

Featured Video For You Weapons, and the comedian turned horror director Backrooms feels like a new horror subgenre Lukita Maxwell and Finn Bennett play Clark's employees, Kat and Bobby. Credit: A24

Plenty of horror films explore creepy hidden worlds (see Insidious, Get Out, and Annihilation), and characters trapped in unusual spaces is something that's been done before too (see Exit 8, Cube, even Severance). But Backrooms feels like its own "liminal horror" beast. It's an M.C. Escher-inspired realm that plays on the uneasiness of seeing everyday objects slightly distorted: furniture stacked in a jumble in the centre of the floor; a tunnel halfway up the wall; corridors that go on and on and on. As the characters move through this space, composer Edo Van Breemen and Parsons' soundtrack is oppressive, while sound editor Eugenio Battaglia keeps your nerves on edge with ominous background rumbling and the whiny mosquito buzz of fluorescents.

Parsons' direction adds to this unique hellscape. His short films utilise found footage to complement the grainy mystery of the Backrooms, and his feature pays homage to this with a sequence in the second act that sees director of photography Jeremy Cox employing a handheld POV camera to horrifying effect. This is where the film is at its best, with Clark and two of his employees (Lukita Maxwell and Finn Bennett) dashing through a labyrinth of disjointed rooms. You don't know exactly what they're running from, or where they are, and the sequence is horror film-making at its finest.

Does Backrooms have any weaknesses? Renate Reinsve in "Backrooms." Credit: A24

The second act is, unfortunately, Backrooms at its peak. Act three doesn't quite deliver on the promise made by the film's first two thirds. Is it bad? Not at all. The final third hints at the answers to some of the film's bigger questions while also holding things back. It's still tense and scary.

But it's not quite as effective as what came before, and the main reason for that is that we finally see what the characters are running from. Like many horror films, seeing the monster inevitably removes some of the tension.

Despite this, Backrooms is still well worth a watch. The ending isn't enough to spoil what came before.

If anything, Parsons has managed to prove himself as an incredibly talented emerging filmmaker while also establishing the first chapter in what will surely end up becoming a brand new horror franchise.

Backrooms is in theaters now.

SAVE $850: As of May 29, the Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15 is on sale for $949.99 at Amazon. That's 47% off its list price of $1,799.99 and its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15 $949.99 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $850   Get Deal

I saw my first robot lawn mower in action at a local community center this week. I was a bit unnerved at first, but after gawking for a few moments, I was wowed by its performance. If cutting the grass is a chore you'd rather not do and you have the budget for it, you may want to consider one of these futuristic gadgets. While they can cost a pretty penny, Amazon just dropped the price of the Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15 to make the investment less extreme.

As of May 29, the Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15 is down to $949.99 at Amazon instead of its usual $1,799.99. That's a 47% price drop and the cheapest this model has ever been, according to our favorite price-tracking tool.

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Ok, so they're not exactly new on the market, but robot lawn mowers are more advanced and accessible than ever.

The Eufy E15 utilizes stereo cameras, AI algorithms, and 3D sensors to distinguish your lawn's boundaries, avoid obstacles, and navigate your yard entirely on its own. It'll take a bit to map out your yard initially, but once it's familiar, you can view the complete layout on the app, manage zones, set custom exclusion areas, draw virtual walls, and more.

Mashable's sister site ZDNet tested it out and cheered that it's smart enough to not only avoid obstacles like patios, garden beds, and trees, but also toys randomly tossed in the yard or pets that cross in front of it. Eufy markets the E15 mower for yard up to 0.2 acres (8,700 square feet), but ZDNet's reviewer adds that it's also best for a "simple grassy yard with no steep slopes and a physical perimeter around it."

If that sounds like your yard, the Eufy E15 robot mower could be a great fit to take over your lawn care duties this summer. Snag it while it's nearly half its usual cost.

Best TV deals to shop this weekend: Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED 4K Smart Fire TV $1,198.99 (save $801 ) Get Deal Toshiba 85-inch Z670R Series Mini-LED 4K Smart Fire TV $1,348.99 (save $1,151) Get Deal Sony Bravia 8 II 65-inch 4K Smart Google TV $2,598 (save $701.99) Get Deal

Even though Memorial Day has officially come and gone, Amazon's still got a few good deals going on select TVs. So, if you missed out on the holiday markdowns because you were too busy enjoying your long weekend instead of staring at a screen (good for you!), you're in luck.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

We dug through the leftovers and found the best TV deals to shop this weekend, including a 75-inch Hisense, an 85-inch Toshiba, and a 65-inch Sony.

Best Hisense deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED 4K Smart Fire TV $1,198.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $801   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you're living room gets a lot of natural light (jealous, tbh), then you're going to need a TV that has an anti-glare screen. The Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED 4K Smart Fire TV's anti-glare layer promises to keep the picture clear "no matter what's happening around you."

Right now, you can get it for $1,198.99, down from $1,999.99, at Amazon. That's a 40% discount or $801 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on this TV to date.

Best Toshiba deal Toshiba 85-inch Z670R Series Mini LED 4K Smart Fire TV $1,348.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,151.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Trying to build an at-home theatre? Then you definitely need this 85-inch Toshiba Mini LED 4K Smart Fire TV. Not only is it gigantic, but it also has a built-in bass woofer (which isn't something flat screens typically have), so you can probably hold off on buying a separate soundbar.

Right now, you can get it for $1,348.99, down from $2,499.99, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount or $1,151 in savings.

Best Sony deal Sony Bravia 8 II 65-inch 4K Smart Google TV $2,598 at Amazon
$3,299.99 Save $701.99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you're a bit of a picture-quality snob (or you just play a lot of PS5), this 65-inch Sony Bravia 8 II 4K Smart Google TV is built with over eight million self-lit pixels to give you the purest blacks. While the Quantum Dot panel and XR Triluminos Max deliver billions of accurate real-world colors.

Right now, you can get it for $2,598, down from $3,299.99, at Amazon. That's a 21% discount or about $702 in savings.

More TV deals to shop this weekend

• Samsung 40-inch Class Full HD F6000 Smart TV (2025l) — $147.99 $197.99 (save $50)

• Hisense 55-inch Class A7 Series 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (2025) — $269.99 $429.99 (save $160)

• Samsung 65-inch Class QLED Q7F Series Samsung Vision AI Smart TV (2025F) — $427.99 $499.99 (save $72)

• Samsung 65-inch Class QLED Q8F 4K UHD Smart TV (2025) — $597.99 $897.99 (save $72)

The best power station deals to shop this weekend: Best Jackery deal Jackery Explorer 2000 V2 $799 (save $700) Get Deal Best Bluetti deal Bluetti Elite 200 V2 $798.99 (save $271.01) Get Deal Best Anker Solix deal Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 $749 (save $750) Get Deal

There's a reason portable power stations have become so popular; they can be a real lifesaver, whether you're off the grid on a camping trip or at home during a power outage. Everyone can benefit from having one at the ready, but they're not exactly the cheapest investment. That's why when you see a good deal, you should jump on it ASAP.

We've found the best power station deals to shop this weekend from top brands Jackery, Bluetti, and Anker, with savings up to $750. With camping season in full swing and hurricane season right around the corner, it's as good a time as any to make the investment.

Best Jackery power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 2000 V2 $799 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $700   Get Deal Why we like it

The mid-range Jackery Explorer 2000 V2 is lightweight enough to take camping, boating, tailgating, and other adventures, weighing in at less than 40 pounds. Yet, it's packed with 2,042Wh capacity, which means it's powerful enough to serve as a home battery backup in emergencies as well. In real life terms, that's enough to keep your fridge up and running for over a day, heat up meals in the microwave, and brew many cups of coffee. On board, it has three AC outlets, one USB-A port, and two USB-C ports, as well as a built-in light and super-charge emergency mode.

While we've seen it drop as low as $679 post-Black Friday, this $799 deal is still a massive 47% discount and well worth grabbing.

Best Bluetti power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 200 V2 $798.99 at Amazon
$1,070 Save $271.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Bluetti's Elite 200 V2 power station weighs in at just over 50 pounds and is around the size of a small cooler. While it's not exactly what I would call lightweight, it's still small enough to fit snugly in a corner of your home or tote with you on a camping trip or off-grid adventure. It's also pretty powerful with a 2,073Wh capacity and the ability to power nine devices at once. It features four AC outlets, two 15W USB-A ports, two 100W USB-C ports, and a 120W car port on board, and supports 3,900W in power lifting mode. That's enough to run high-demand gadgets like hair dryers and refrigerators.

Typically over $1,000, it's on sale for just under $800 this weekend at Amazon.

Best Anker Solix power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 $749 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $750   Get Deal Why we like it

Anker launched the Solix C2000 Gen 2 last fall and Mashable's power station expert calls it "genuinely campground worthy." Falling just in between the two options above in terms of heft, it weighs in at 41.7 pounds. That's still on the lighter side for a power station with a 2,048Wh capacity. It packs in five standard AC ports, one TT-30, two 140W USB-C, one 15W USB-C, and one 12W USB-A, giving you plenty of options to keep your campground powered up. Anker even says it can power up a 190W fridge for up to 32 hours. The more advanced version of our favorite power station for camping, the C2000 Gen 2 takes everything we love about the C1000 and cranks it up a notch.

It's usually over $1,400, so snagging it for only $749 is a steal.

More power station deals to shop this weekend

• Bluetti Elite 30 V2 — $218.98 $299 (save $80.02)

• Bluetti AC50B — $258.96 $399 (save $140.04)

• EcoFlow Delta 2 Max — $898.99 $1,399 (save $500.01 + get free 45W solar panel)

• Bluetti Elite 400 — $1,298.98 $1,899 (save $600.02)

• Anker Solix Smart Generator 5500 — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

SAVE $200: As of May 29, the 13-inch MacBook Air M5 is on sale for $899 at Amazon. That's a $200 discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M5 $899 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $200   Get Deal

The new 13-inch MacBook Air M5 has just dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon, on sale for $200 off right now. That brings the price down from $1,099 to $899, as truly great deal.

This MacBook is seriously fast and portable. It's powered by the M5 chip with a faster CPU, unified memory, and a next-generation GPU, so it can handle even the heaviest multitasking load.

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For visuals, you'll get a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that supports 1 billion colors. It gives you sharp detail, rich contrast, and vibrant visuals for everything you do. It also includes a 12MP Center Stage camera, a three-mic array, and a four-speaker system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support for clearer video calls and immersive sound.

And while nifty in size (weighing just 3.3 pounds), it's still a great unit for work purposes. It has Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging, WiFi 7, and support for up to two external displays, ideal if you need an extended work setup. macOS also won't let you down, running apps quickly and securely.

This MacBook deal is available at Amazon now.

SAVE $200 As of May 29, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $3,299.95 at Amazon. That's a 6% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo $3,299.95 at Amazon
$3,499.95 Save $200   Get Deal

Looking for a deal on a seriously impressive drone? Look no further than the DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo at Amazon. As of May 29, this huge bundle is reduced by $200, bringing the price down from $3,499.95 to $3,299.95.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro Drone is built for people who want high-end aerial footage. Its advanced camera system is designed to perform well in a range of lighting conditions, so it's suitable for travel filming, commercial projects, real estate, and social media content.

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It also has intelligent flight modes such as subject tracking, automated flight paths, and orbit-style shots that to help make complex camera movements feel easier and give you more control.

And with the DJI Fly More Combo, you'll have everything you need to get going. It includes additional batteries, a charging hub, a 64GB memory card, backpack, landing pad, cleaning kit, and card tools. If you plan for long shoots and lots of footage, then this added gear is a huge bonus.

Head to Amazon to get this incredible drone deal.

SAVE $1,300: As of May 29, the LG 65-inch C5 Series TV is on sale for $1,399.99 at Best Buy. That's a 48% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C5 Series TV $1,399.99 at Best Buy
$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00   Get Deal

Need a new TV? Why not check out this impressive new deal on the LG 65-inch C5 Series TV at Best Buy. As of May 29, this TV is down from $2,699.99 to $1,399.99. That's almost 50% off the list price, and a saving of $1,300 on list price.

But why this TV? Well, this model adjusts picture and sound settings based on content and user preferences, helping every scene look and sound its best, with no effort from you. It has Brightness Booster technology that enhances individual pixels and over 8.3 million self-lit pixels for more accurate colors. It also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for cinematic visuals and immersive audio, along with a filmmaker mode that shows movies as intended by the director.

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For gamers, it benefits from a native 120Hz refresh rate, 0.1ms response time, VRR, and four HDMI 2.1 ports. It also includes AI upscaling and picture enhancement features to improve lower-resolution content.

And on the inside you'll get LG webOS 25 for streaming and apps. This gives you easy access to all the major streaming platforms (Netflix, Prime Video, etc.) and over 300 free LG Channels.

Get this TV deal at Best Buy now.

SAVE $800: As of May 29, the Bluetti AC200L is on sale for $799 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti AC200L $799 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $800   Get Deal

The Bluetti AC200L is back on sale at Amazon, and this time it's discounted by a whopping $800.

As of May 29, you'll find it priced at $799, down from $1,599. This price is for the unit only, but there are various upgrade options that include chargers and solar panels also reduced.

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The Bluetti AC200L portable power station gives you 2,400W of output. It has 11 output ports, including AC, USB, car, and a 100W PD port, so it can power a wide range of devices at the same time. It also includes a 30A RV port and 48V DC output for heavier-duty setups, so it's especially useful for RV users.

It also supports ultra-fast recharging, so you can use it with hardly any prep time. In fact, it can reach 80% from nothing in just 45 minutes with up to 2,400W AC input. If you add on the solar panels, it can get to a full charge in around 1.7–2.2 hours using solar input of up to 1,200W.

You can find this Bluetti power station deal at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor on sale for $499.99 — massively cutting its $899.99 list price

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG OLED 27-inch OLED UltraGear Gaming Monitor $499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400 Get Deal

Although LG boasts some of the most A-grade OLED gaming monitors around, Amazon still surprises us with huge discounts on the range.

As of May 29, Amazon has dropped the price of the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor to $499.99 — 44% off from its usual $899.99 list price. With this new lowest-ever price (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel), you’re getting a 27-inch OLED panel with QHD 2560x1440 resolution — an affordable halfway point that’s a jump over 1080p but not as intensive as 4K.

As for speed, this particular UltraGear model boasts a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time, so fast-moving games should feel especially smooth — whether you’re having a few rounds of League of Legends or playing the biggest new single-player cinematic adventures like 007: First Light.

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What’s more, LG’s inclusion of NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro cuts out any extra worry, as it reduces stuttering and screen tearing. 

To make visuals even better, OLED gets even better with the added VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, a 1.5M:1 contrast ratio, and up to 98.5% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which should give games, movies, and HDR content deeper blacks and more dramatic color than a standard gaming monitor. 

Other useful extras include an anti-glare OLED screen, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB ports, a virtually borderless design, and a stand with height, tilt, and pivot adjustments. LG also backs the monitor with a two-year UltraGear OLED warranty, including the OLED display panel. 

If you’re after an LG monitor that’s even bigger, the 52-inch UltraGear Evo G9 5K2K is $300 off at Amazon. As for different brands, the 32-inch ASUS ROG OLED gaming monitor is $200 off for a record-low price on Amazon. 

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TL;DR: Amazon has dropped the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box preorder to $139.55, down from its usual $189.99 price. This is a huge $50.44 discount on a 30-pack booster box ahead of its June 26 release.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box $139.55 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $50.44 Pre-order Here

Magic: The Gathering expansions don’t usually drop in price shortly before their release date, so if you’re a big Marvel fan, there’s no better time to invest.

As of May 29, Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box available to pre-order for $139.55, slicing 27% off its standard $189.99 price. Better still, this listing is shipped and sold by Amazon directly, for delivery on June 29 with the retailer’s preorder price guarantee also included — meaning you’ll pay the lowest Amazon price offered between checkout and release. 

If you want your Play Booster Box even cheaper, there’s a third-party listing by Gaming Universe Corp for $137.88, with delivery between July 1-3. Whichever option you prefer, these make for the lowest prices this particular Play Booster Box has seen with the retailer — as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Both prices keep Amazon highly competitive against other retailers. Walmart currently has the same box listed for $139.45 through third-party seller Hitmen Sports Cards. For the lowest price possible, TCGplayer listings are sitting around $127.50 with shipping included — going even lower than the MTG Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box’s market price of $129.08.

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This Marvel Super Heroes set brings the comic-book universe into Magic: The Gathering, with heroes and villains jumping from the page to the battlefield. Players can build teams around Marvel characters, equip them with iconic gear, and lean into the usual strategy-heavy MTG gameplay across casual matches, Limited games, and draft nights. 

Inside the box, you’ll get 30 Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Boosters, with each pack containing 14 cards. Every Play Booster includes one Traditional Foil card and one to four cards of rare or higher rarity, with a small chance of pulling borderless mythic rare cards for collectors chasing the flashier hits. 

To save even more on packs of Magic: The Gathering cards, you can also grab the 30-pack Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box on sale for just over $135. What’s more, you can still buy the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Starter Kit for just over $20. 

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