Feed aggregator

Larry and David Ellison didn’t always have a close relationship. Now they’re one of the most intriguing partnerships in business.

As always, the UK delivered a swathe of excellent TV shows in 2025, series that emotionally destroyed us, lifted us up, made us cackle, and instigated cultural conversation.

From the year's most ambitious, timely, and devastating Netflix show to the return of a beloved BBC teen comedy, we've handpicked our favourite British shows of 2025 — and we've included where you can stream them.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025, and where to stream them now

And while some are only streaming in the UK, you can always watch them with a VPN.

15. Big Boys, Season 3 Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing in "Big Boys." Credit: Channel 4

Jack Rooke’s Big Boys returned for its third and final season this year, with the gang finishing up at Brent Uni and facing adult life. Over three glorious seasons, the show's core characters — Jack (Dylan Llewellyn, Derry Girls), Danny (Jon Pointing, Sweetpea), Corinne (Izuka Hoyle, Boiling Point), and Yemi (Olisa Odele, It's a Sin) — have become etched in viewers' hearts, effortlessly delivering Rooke’s poignant, personal, and hilarious script, with Pointing in particular giving a remarkable performance in Season 3. The series, based on Rooke's own life, approaches major conversations about grief, mental health, sex, and the future with warmth, lightness, and authenticity. And as for the series finale itself? It's one of the most heartfelt and devastating experiences you'll see on TV this year. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Dylan Llewellyn, Jon Pointing, Izuka Hoyle, Olisa Odele, Camille Coduri, and Harriet Webb

How to watch: Big Boys is now streaming on All4 in the UK and on Hulu in the U.S.

14. Film Club Aimee Lou Wood and Nabhaan Rizwan in "Film Club." Credit: BBC / Gaumont / Ben Blackall

The White Lotus and Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood puts on her writer's hat for Film Club, a romantic dramedy in which she also stars alongside Station Eleven's Nabhaan Rizwan. The show follows Evie (Wood), a twentysomething who has withdrawn to her childhood home in the aftermath of a nervous breakdown, and who takes solace in the weekly film club she shares with a core group of friends. The problem? She has a boyfriend (Adam Long), but there's clearly some long-buried feelings shared with her movie co-conspirator, Noa (Rizwan). What follows is a sweet story that's both amusing and depressing, with an undercurrent of sadness emphasised by composer Nathan Klein's moving score. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Aimee Lou Wood, Nabhaan Rizwan, Suranne Jones, Owen Cooper, Liv Hill, Adam Long, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Lisa McGrillis, Arian Nik, and Ralph Davis

How to watch: Film Club is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

13. Black Mirror, Season 7 Ben Ashenden, Siena Kelly, and Amber Grappy in "Black Mirror." Credit: Nick Wall / Netflix

Charlie Brooker's sci-fi anthology series can be patchy, but when the show hits, it really hits. Opening with one of the all-time most devastating episodes (one that may be better not to watch first, in fact), Black Mirror Season 7 is a mixed bag with some very high highs (or lows, if you're talking from an existential dread perspective) and plenty of its trademark, technology-based terror. Fans of the U.S.S. Callister will be happy (there's a sequel), as will anyone who likes their futuristic fear with a side of moving nostalgia (hello, Eulogy).* — S.H.

Starring: Will Poulter, Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, Jimmi Simpson, and Issa Rae

How to watch: Black Mirror Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Miss Austen Keeley Hawes in "Miss Austen." Credit: BBC / Bonnie Productions / MASTERPIECE / Robert Viglasky

Ever wonder how we know so much about Jane Austen's life? Well, you can thank her elder sister, Cassandra Austen, who safeguarded the letters she sent and received from the novelist and, in doing so, provided the foundation for academics to study her life.

Adapted from Gill Hornby’s book of the same name by Andrea Gibb, Miss Austen begins in the period following Jane's death, a time during which Cassandra (Keeley Hawes) is secretly gathering up the letters her sister Jane (Patsy Ferran) sent people in their lives. As Cassandra reads these letters, we see flashbacks of the period of Jane's life where she is only beginning to gain recognition. We see glimpses of the Austen sisters' early adulthood, courtships, friendships, and family dramas. Directed by Aisling Walsh, Miss Austen is tender, moving, and an absolute delight from start to finish. — Rachel Thompson, Features Editor

How to watch: Miss Austen is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

11. Boarders, Season 2 Aruna Jalloh, Sekou Diaby, Josh Tedeku, and Jodie Campbell in "Boarders." Credit: BBC / Studio Lambert / Jonathan Birch

After an exceptional first season, Daniel Lawrence Taylor's Boarders returned for another glorious term. Season 2 sees the lauded series' five protagonists — Jaheim (Supacell's Josh Tedeku), Leah (Jodie Campbell), Omar (Myles Kamwendo), Femi (Aruna Jalloh), and Toby (Sekou Diaby) — back in class at predominantly white boarding school St. Gilbert's, where systemic racism, white saviour complexes, and classist snobbery underpins the hormonal chaos of adolescence. But this term, with the appointment of horrendous acting head Carol (Niky Wardley), the crew's scholarships are under threat.

For yet another season, Boarders writers Taylor, Yemi Oyefuwa, Jeffrey Aidoo, and Racheal Ofori expertly weave sharp cultural commentary with teen comedy highs and moving moments of drama, bringing in some mighty cameos this season too. And in the hands of this magnetic core cast? A++. — S.C.

Starring: Josh Tedeku, Jodie Campbell, Myles Kamwendo, Aruna Jalloh, and Sekou Diaby

How to watch: Boarders Season 2 is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Tubi in the U.S.

Featured Video For You ‘Supacell’ cast tell origin stories for their superpowers 10. Down Cemetery Road Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson in "Down Cemetery Road." Credit: Apple TV

Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson are the dynamic duo of my dreams in Apple TV's Oxford-set mystery crime thriller from Slow Horses' screenwriter Morwenna Banks. But it's not the buddy cop set-up you're thinking.

Based on Mick Herron's novel, Down Cemetery Road sees Thompson as hard-edged private investigator Zoë Boehm, whose marriage to her business partner Joe (Adam Godley) is as threadbare as their bank balance. Across town, Wilson plays Sarah Trafford, an art conservationist who is dragged into hosting a dinner party for her husband Mark's (Tom Riley) schmuck of a client. Before dessert, there's an explosion next door, leading to the disappearance of a young girl named Dinah (Ivy Quoi). The event sends Sarah into an obsessive hunt for the truth — and it leads her to Zoë and Joe's door.* — S.C.

Starring: Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson, Adeel Akhtar, Tom Goodman-Hill, Fehinti Balogun, Darren Boyd, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Riley, Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, and Aiysha Hart

How to watch: Down Cemetery Road is now streaming on Apple TV.

9. Amandaland Lucy Punch and Dame Joanna Lumley in "Amandaland." Credit: BBC / Merman / Natalie Seery

A spinoff like no other, Amandaland is technically a sequel to British sitcom Motherland, which explored middle-class motherhood in London. Amanda (Lucy Punch) is the Motherland character everyone loves to hate. In the original series, Amanda looks like she has it all (on the surface at least) — handsome and rich husband, massive house in a desirable postcode, popularity, beauty, and an enviable wardrobe full of designer clothes, not to mention a posse of mum friends who are obsessed with her to an unhealthy degree. But, in Amandaland, things could not be more different. Oh, how the mighty are fallen!

Now Amanda is a recently divorced mum of two teens, who's been forced to downsize and move to a new (and less desirable) area and pull her two kids out of private school (heaven forbid!) due to the change in circumstances. Amanda is handling it like a champ, though! She's turning her hand to being an Instagram influencer, rebranding her (much-needed) part-time job as a "collab," and making new friends (less successfully) at her kids' new school — including famous chef Della Fry, played by Derry Girls' Siobhán McSweeney. The iconic Joanna Lumley of Absolutely Fabulous fame plays Amanda's mother, and if that's not enough of a reason for you to get watching, I'm not sure I can help you. — R.T.

How to watch: Amandaland is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

8. The Death of Bunny Munro Rafael Mathé and Matt Smith in "The Death of Bunny Munro." Credit: Clerkenwell Films

Nick Cave's 2009 rambunctious novel The Death of Bunny Munro has been adapted for the screen, with Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star Matt Smith ricocheting through questionable life choices as the titular protagonist. Directed by Holiday's Isabella Eklöf and adapted by Somewhere Boy creator Pete Jackson, Sky's new six-part series brings Cave's book to life.

In one of the most problematic, confounding protagonists you'll meet, Bunny Munro (Smith) is a travelling salesman living in Brighton, England, who treats his young family as a side dish. Though sex addiction isn't recognised by science, it's clear Bunny struggles to stop thinking about or having sex and has a turbulent, adulterous life outside his marriage. And when Bunny isn't trying to seduce every woman he meets or sells moisturiser to, he's getting completely zonked with his friends including Poodle (The Wheel of Time's Johann Myers).

When Bunny's wife Libby (Sarah Greene) dies by suicide, he's suddenly grieving and solo parenting their nine-year-old son Bunny Junior (Rafael Mathé) — and Bunny will not allow social services to take his son away. So, they hit the road, with Bunny careening around Brighton from one tumultuous happening to another. It's not pretty. And it's here we get a raucous performance from Smith, offset by the sweetness of remarkable young talent in Mathé.* — S.C.

Starring: Matt Smith, Rafael Mathé, Sarah Greene, Lindsay Duncan, and Johann Myers

How to watch: The Death of Bunny Munro is now streaming on NOW in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

7. Get Millie Black Chyna McQueen and Tamara Lawrance in "Get Millie Black." Credit: Courtesy of HBO

An intense and compelling crime thriller from Booker Prize winner Marlon James, Get Millie Black takes the police procedural to Kingston, Jamaica, with celebrated authenticity. The Channel 4/HBO series sees an impeccable Tamara Lawrance as the titular investigator, a former Scotland Yard detective who returns to Kingston to investigate missing persons cases — including that of her own sibling. And that's when she's not dealing with current Scotland Yard blow-in Luke Holborn (Joe Dempsie). Tasked with a dark case of missing children and young people, Millie follows perilous threads through the city and finds herself and her partner Curtis (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr) in dangerous waters.

Aside from its gripping narrative, one of the most outstanding elements of Get Millie Black is James' exploration of harsh realities faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Jamaica. Among the Gully Queens, a community of trans and gay people forming chosen family on the margins of society, the show focuses on Hibiscus, a resilient, complex, and powerful character played with utter excellence by Chyna McQueen. — S.C.

Starring: Tamara Lawrance, Chyna McQueen, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, and Joe Dempsie

How to watch: Get Millie Black is now streaming on All4 in the UK and HBO Max in the U.S.

6. Dept. Q Matthew Goode in "Dept Q." Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

The Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani strike mystery gold in Dept. Q, adapted from Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's series of the same name. The show centers on Detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), an English cop in Scotland who's disliked by practically everyone he comes into contact with. As Carl recovers from a traumatic gunshot wound, he's put in charge of a new department, one tasked with solving cold cases. It's a publicity stunt dressed up as a public service, but with the help of some unlikely assistants, Carl may just be able to turn this department into a powerhouse. Their first case? The disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), whose current plight is nothing short of a claustrophobic nightmare.

Dept. Q toggles between taut mystery and intriguing character study, delving deep into Carl's growth toward someone who's maybe slightly pleasant, as well as the journeys of Carl's fellow detectives Akram (Alexej Manvelov), Rose (Leah Byrne), and Hardy (Jamie Sives). Together, they create a lovable squad with the potential for a long run of case-cracking on Netflix. The streaming gods demand it!* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald, Chloe Pirrie, Kate Dickie, Alexej Manvelov, Jamie Sives, and Leah Byrne

How to watch: Dept. Q is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Toxic Town Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood play two real-life mothers in "Toxic Town." Credit: Ben Blackall / Netflix

The first of two limited series from writer Jack Thorne on this list, Toxic Town tells a fictionalised version of a real-life story. Following a group of mothers who've given birth to children with limb differences, Thorne's drama follows their legal battle against the local council as they attempt to get to the bottom of whether or not they were poisoned due to negligence and corruption at the nearby steelworks. It's an emotional and frustrating story that's brought to life by a strong script and incredible performances across the board, especially from Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) and Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), who star as two of the real-life mothers leading the fight.* — S.H.

Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Rory Kinnear, Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, Joe Dempsie, Claudia Jessie, Ben Batt, Stephen McMillan, Lauren Lyle, Michael Socha, Karla Crome, and Matthew Durkan

How to watch: Toxic Town is now streaming on Netflix.

4. A Thousand Blows Malachi Kirby and Erin Doherty in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight returned this year with a knockout show inspired by real figures of 1880s London. Talented boxer Hezekiah (Black Mirror's Malachi Kirby) and his best friend Alec (Small Axe's Francis Lovehall) emigrate to England from Jamaica, the former drawing the attention of the best bare-knuckled fighter on the Thames, Sugar Goodson (Adolescence's Stephen Graham). Beyond their ring rivalry, however, an all-women gang of thieves run by the charismatic Mary Carr (Adolescence's Erin Doherty) pilfer the prized possessions of the upper classes. With impeccable performances and detailed production design, A Thousand Blows is compelling tale of survival, of class warfare, and above all, making a name for yourself against all social odds. And yes, we're looking at a second season next year. — S.C.

Starring: Malachi Kirby, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Francis Lovehall, Ziggy Heath, and Jason Tobin

How to watch: A Thousand Blows is now streaming on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu in the U.S.

3. Reunion Lara Peake and Matthew Gurney in "Reunion." Credit: BBC / Warp Films / Becky Bailey

A revenge thriller with a difference, Reunion follows Daniel Brennan (Matthew Gurney), a deaf man trying to reckon with his troubled past and the crime he's committed after being released from prison. William Mager's four-part BBC miniseries tells a revenge story that's not unfamiliar, but what makes it unique is the light it casts on the way deaf people are often left behind — or outright mistreated — by our various systems. A large number of the cast and crew in revenge use British Sign Language, and a big chunk of the show is in BSL with subtitles. — S.H.

Starring: Matthew Gurney, Anne-Marie Duff, Lara Peake, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Eddie Marsan, Olive Gray, and Joe Sims

How to watch: Reunion is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

2. What It Feels Like for a Girl Ellis Howard, Laquarn Lewis, and Hannah Jones in "What It Feels Like for a Girl." Credit: BBC / Hera / Enda Bowe

One of the most fearless, raw, and impeccable shows of the year, What It Feels Like for a Girl premiered at SXSW London to well-earned hype. Journalist Paris Lees adapted her memoir of the same name into an eight-episode coming-of-age series that refuses to be anything but authentic, whether joyful, resentful, lost, or ecstatic. Set in the Y2K era of the early '00s (and all the Sugababes, Ultra Nate, Rui da Silva, and All Saints that came with it), the series follows trans 15-year-old Byron (Ellis Howard) who navigates sex, drugs, gender identity, first loves, friendship fallouts, dangerous relationships, and forms of abuse, through an extraordinary performance by Howard.

Byron is determined to get out of their small town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, socially isolated and craving release from the strained relationship with their parents, while supported by their beloved Mommar Joe (Hannah Walters). They discover cottaging and sex work, and meet the Fallen Divas, Byron's wondrous found family of trans and queer friends including Lady Die (Laquarn Lewis), Sasha (Hannah Jones), Sticky Nikki (Alex Thomas-Smith), and Dirty Damian (Adam Ali). Despite their new support, Byron grows up fast, spirals into self-destruction, and tries to find their way. Channelling Lee's brazen, personal script, Howard's performance is at once vulnerable and fierce, assured and tentative, supported by the superb Lewis and Jones. By no means a light watch, but an authentic and powerful story of identity and loneliness, What It Feels Like for a Girl comes at a timely moment for the UK, where the rights of trans people are under unbridled attack. — S.C.

Starring: Ellis Howard, Laquarn Lewis, Hannah Jones, Jake Dunn, Adam Ali, Alex Thomas-Smith, Michael Socha, Hannah Walters, and Laura Haddock

How to watch: What It Feels Like for a Girl is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

1. Adolescence Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham in "Adolescence." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Likely to be the most harrowing viewing experience you'll have this year, Adolescence traps you in a nightmare over the course of its four episodes, each filmed in one take. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini, Netflix's much buzzed-about miniseries examines the aftermath of a chilling murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie (newcomer Owen Cooper). Each episode focuses on a different perspective around the case, from a detective (Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie's school to Jamie's family reckoning with his actions.

These vignettes, coupled with Barantini's one-take technique, create an unflinching portrait of a crime that feels all too rooted in reality. As UK Deputy Editor Sam Haysom wrote in his review, "Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable. On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective."* — B.E.

Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Amelie Pease

How to watch: Adolescence is now streaming on Netflix.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

Everyone has their go-to Christmas movies. You know yours: They're the films that carry memories of wintry nights and repeat family viewings, the ones you absolutely need to watch to get into the Christmas spirit.

SEE ALSO: The best Christmas movies streaming now on Netflix

For the longest time, my holiday movie staples included a rotation of Love Actually, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials. But recently, a new challenger has entered the festive arena, and while it's technically not a movie, it's still on its way to becoming part of my personal Christmas viewing rotation.

I'm talking about Smosh vs. Christmas, a two-part TTRPG actual play video from YouTube channel Smosh Games, itself part of the broader comedy collective Smosh.

In Smosh vs. Christmas, Smosh cast members Shayne Topp, Amanda Lehan-Canto, and Angela Giarratana play a Dread one-shot with game master George Primavera and guest player Nick Williams.

The mechanics of Dread are simple, making the videos accessible for viewers no matter their familiarity with TTRPGs. Every time a player wants to perform an action in-game, they have to pull a block from a Jenga tower. Pull the block and place it on top of the tower, and they succeed. Knock the tower over, and their character dies. Immediately.

You can always choose to fail voluntarily or heroically sacrifice yourself, but for the most part, there's no room for error. That means every second of every tower pull bristles with tension, making Dread an ideal TTRPG system for a horror one-shot.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate Christmas movie streaming list for 2025

And while there are certainly horror elements to Smosh vs. Christmas, make no mistake: This miniseries is a laugh riot. It's what you'd get if you crossed a Hallmark Christmas movie with Krampus.

The game picks up in the small Midwestern town of Kringleton, where every day is Christmas. As the townspeople prepare to celebrate Christmas proper with a hot cocoa drinking contest, four outsiders descend on the town, each a walking Hallmark movie archetype. There's Charlie Penn (Topp), a sensitive, struggling novelist with a tragic past; Guy Wood (Giarratana), a small-town carpenter with a big heart and even bigger muscles; and Scott Ornamente (Lehan-Canto), a Patrick Bateman-esque Manhattan big shot who hates his home town of Kringleton. Rounding out the pack is Pop (Williams), a jolly fellow who really seems like Santa Claus.

The fun of each character stems partly from the stereotypes they're sending up, and partly from the surprising depth each player brings to them. The bits these comedians concoct are uproarious, no doubt about it, but the true joy of Smosh vs. Christmas is getting invested in these characters — and watching each player get more and more invested in the story Primavera is building.

As Charlie, Guy, and Scott settle into Kringleton, they all cross paths with Kringleton's resident single woman, Carol (Primavera). So begins the Hallmark movie dating sim of my dreams, one where simply saying hi to your love interest could result in a Dread tower pull, and therefore, potential death. If you thought your love life was high-stakes, think again.

To say much more about what happens in Smosh vs. Christmas would ruin its best surprises. After all, Dread is a game fueled by suspense and spontaneity, and you deserve to experience the same levels of stress and amusement that I did while watching. But suffice it to say that Smosh vs. Christmas undergoes some of the wildest yet most satisfying twists I've seen in any Christmas media, a testament to the cast's improv and storytelling skills.

And Smosh vs. Christmas holds up even if you know what's coming. I first watched it when it came out in 2024, and I recently revisited it to kick off the holiday season in 2025. This time around, it brought with it not the shock and terror of watching a horror TTRPG play out, but rather the cozy nostalgia of recalling the first time I watched it, all swaddled up in blankets and nursing a cup of hot chocolate. (For further TTRPG scares, I'd recommend Smosh's 2025 Christmas Dread special, We're All Gonna Die on Christmas, another festive horror banger.)

On top of the nostalgia, though, I found myself already looking forward to next Christmas, when I could revisit both Smosh vs. Christmas and We're All Gonna Die on Christmas through new eyes. So if you're looking to switch up your own holiday programming and maybe start a new viewing tradition of your own, I highly recommend watching comedians pull blocks from a Jenga tower. Trust me, it's more Christmasy than it sounds.

Smosh vs. Christmas is on YouTube.

It's hard to believe but some good things did happen online 2025.

Scrolling around the internet these last 12 months hasn't always been a pleasant experience — our timelines were full of AI slop, recession fears, and misinformation. But good things did manage to happen, too.

Mashable has kept tabs on uplifting digital stories with our Good Connection series. And if you need a timeline cleanse to end 2025, we've got eight online stories from this year that'll do just the trick.

1. The 'Ask an Axolotl' earworm

January feels like ages ago by now, but it was the month we were all humming along to a little ditty about an axolotl. TikTokker @doctor_waffle posted a video about the adorable amphibian. It's cute and so, so catchy.

Sure, the song was clearly intended for children but it seemed to soothe anyone with a pulse.

2. Everyone rallied for Buddies coffeeshop

When Rachel Rose, the owner of Buddies Coffee Roasters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, sobbed on camera, there was no way she could've predicted the response. She was going to lose the place she worked so hard for, and her emotion was real and raw.

People rallied in response, absolutely flooding Buddies with business. Even celebs like Joe Jonas showed up. Lines wrapped around the block.

Buddies did close — the situation with their lease wasn't fixable — but it seems Rachel and the roasting business are both thriving.

3. The cutest Craigslist love story

Oscar season gifted us the story of how Colman Domingo met his husband. Somehow, some way, Craigslist's Missed Connection section sparked a whirlwind, decades-long love story. It's truly the sweetest thing.

4. A Yankee who simply loves burritos

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells went viral this year for his passion project: reviewing breakfast burritos. During his travels throughout the season, he'd try breakfast burritos and rate them. That's it. Just a dude loving burritos.

View this post on Instagram

Wells does seem to be a fair reviewer, however. His top-rated burrito of the year came from the clubhouse of the Mets, the Yankees' crosstown rival.

5. The foster dog who stole our hearts

I'm a big fan of Isabel Klee, or @SimonSits on TikTok, who regularly takes in foster dogs. The internet as a whole fell in love with one of Klee's fosters, Tiki, who was rescued from pretty rough circumstances. The little pup healed with Klee from a dog that was clearly scared and scarred, to a precocious, adorable dog that got adopted.

It was such a lovely story.

6. The little niece who made the song of the summer

It's a pretty simple story: Creator @day1keenan has a niece who wanted to sing. And sing she did, making an absolute banger that many called the song of the summer.

This TikTok racked up more than 60 million views.

That little girl genuinely has talent and I could listen to that ditty all day long.

7. The NYC subway kitty

I don't know if you've ever seen a kitty ride the subway but it is freaking adorable. Look at this cosmopolitan little baby just hop right on.

As if the story couldn't get any sweeter, the commuter who scoops up the kitten in the video ended up adopting her. She's named Emmie, in honor of NYC's MTA.

8. Pop-up food pantries to the rescue

SNAP benefits were thrown into chaos amid the government shutdown this year, and neighbors came to the rescue to help one another. There were countless videos of pop-up food pantries, which appeared seemingly overnight to help neighbors.

AJ Owen (@ajpgh412) had perhaps the most viral pantry moment, when an anonymous donor dropped off a stack of cash to fund the pop-up Owen started with his children.

"The outpouring online is…overwhelming in the best way possible," Owen wrote in an email to Mashable at the time. "Seeing so many other people touched by what we are doing and deciding to do something as well brings tears to my eyes. Give people an opportunity to help and they will absolutely do it!"

So, yes, 2025 wasn't always great. But there were some truly lovely moments, too.

ON SALE: On Dec. 24 only, the Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp set will be on sale as the Best Buy drop of the day. It's $139.99 regularly, and we expect it to drop below $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp set $139.99 at Best Buy
Price drops at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 24 Get Deal

Holiday Lego deals aren't letting up just because we've officially passed the emergency last-minute shipping phase. Santa even has competition on his big day itself — the Best Buy drop of the day on Christmas Eve is the incredible Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp set, which is set to go on sale at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 24. We won't know the exact discount until that time, but we're predicting that'll drop to $99.99.

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Doomsday' teaser reveals the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers

This Marvel Lego set was a rare one that didn't see a Black Friday price drop. Actually, according to Amazon price tacker camelcamelcamel, this Spider-Man Lego set hasn't ever gone on sale at all. And that situation is exactly where an exclusive Best Buy drop shines. The one-day only sale price will only show up in the Best Buy mobile app, and inventory will dwindle as the day goes on. Whether this is a belated IOU gift or is just a treat for yourself, be sure to add it to your cart before your festivities start.

From afar, this may look like your average skyscraper Lego set. But there's so much detail to see up close: The set provides a multi-faceted view inside and out of Miles Morales' apartment, from the jewelry store to Venom's apartment to the glowing green Oscorp tower. Eight mini figures are included like Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, Miles Morales, and Green Goblin, plus accessories like a motorbike, glider, and posable web.

It's Christmas Eve, which means Santa Claus has started his annual journey around the world — and you can track his progress.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)'s Santa tracker is now live. It tracks the Jolly One's whereabouts as he crosses the globe delivering presents. NORAD Tracks Santa has been an annual Christmas tradition since 1955, when it first launched as a hotline for children to call and get updates on its status.

The hotline still exists, but you can also visit noradsanta.org and see Santa's progress in real-time.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: 6-7? Aura farming? 2025's viral internet slang, explained

The website shows Santa and his reindeer flying over a 3D satellite map of the globe, complete with gifts delivered (over 1.7 billion and counting as of publication), Santa's ETA for the next major destination, and his most recent visit. You can also click into icons on the map and learn about various locations by switching to a 2D map along his route.

TL;DR: Get a console that pulls double duty with the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console, on sale now for $84.97 (reg. $159.99), plus free shipping, through Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kinhank Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator & Streaming Console $84.97
$159.99 Save $75.02   Get Deal

We’re all multitasking the day away, so why can’t our electronics? If you’re looking for a gaming console that really pulls its weight, it’s time to check out the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console. This device not only lets you play the retro games of your youth but also stream your favorite apps.

Right now, you can snag the Kinhank Super Console X2 for just $84.97 (reg. $159.99), plus free shipping, until Jan. 11.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The Kinhank Super Console X2 is ready to handle all your entertainment needs at home. This console isn’t just a gaming device — it also lets you access your favorite streaming apps and watch content in one convenient spot.

From classic arcade games to favorites from retro consoles like Nintendo, Atari, and PlayStation, the Kinhank Super Console X2 is preloaded with thousands of games to choose from. If you get tired of taking a walk down memory lane, you can also download 3D games for free.

There are no cartridges or discs to keep up with; all the games are preloaded. It runs via an advanced S905X2 chip and Mali-G31MP2 GPU, so you’ll enjoy smooth gameplay and stunning 4K visuals no matter what you choose.

Once you’re done playing games, you can binge-watch your favorite content right on the Kinhank Super Console X2. It doubles as a streaming device, with an Android 9.0 system for apps so you can download Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and your other go-to streaming services. It connects right to your TV, laptop, or projector for easy gaming and viewing, too.

Get the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console, on sale now for $84.97 (reg. $159.99) with free shipping, now through Jan. 11.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: BitMar uses AI to gather and filter millions of free movies, shows, channels, videos, and songs across the web — and it’s yours for life for just $14.97 (reg. $150).

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $14.97
$150 Save $135.03   Get Deal

Downtime is precious — especially this time of year — so the last thing you want is to spend 25 minutes scrolling through seven different apps before finally settling on something to watch.

The content wizard BitMar can help with that. For a one-time $14.97 payment (reg. $150), you get lifetime access to a platform that does all the searching, filtering, and organizing for you.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

BitMar is essentially a massive, intelligent content hub. It pulls together millions of free movies, shows, channels, videos, and songs from all over the web and organizes them in one place.

Instead of bouncing between sites or digging through menus, you simply open BitMar, browse, and press play. It’s built on the same AI technology behind the Bing search engine — enhanced by BitMar’s own filtering algorithms — so the results are fast, relevant, and incredibly wide-reaching.

We’re talking about access to 200,000+ on-demand channels, plus more free shows and movies than major streaming platforms combined. And yes — BitMar is legal and DMCA-compliant. One of the platform’s biggest surprises? When streaming YouTube content through BitMar, you may even encounter fewer ads than when watching directly.

Because it works on the devices you already own, BitMar makes a fantastic last-minute gift for anyone who loves free entertainment. It’s also a great self-gift if you’re looking for an affordable way to stay sane through long winter weekends or evenings at home.

If you want more watching and less hunting, this lifetime deal is an easy win. Get BitMar for life for the one-time price of $14.97 (reg. $150) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

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

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

A popular coffee drink.

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

LATTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A small boat.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 24, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

KAYAK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

What a king might wear.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 24, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CROWN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

The edges of bread or a pie.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 24 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CRUST

Final Hurdle hint

Glamour.

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

GLITZ

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

It's day four of the lunar cycle, which means the Moon is starting to come back into view. In fact, each night it will get bigger and brighter as we approach the Full Moon.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Dec. 24, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 18% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

Without any visual aids, you can spot the Mares Crisium and the Fecunditatis tonight. If you add binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Group F of the Africa Cup of Nations promises one of the early stages’ big matchups, with both defending champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon in the same group. But we're not there yet.

Ivory Coast have already had their opening game with Mozambique while Cameroon will kick off their campaign today against Gabon. Cameroon are obvious favorites in this group game and have major fire power in Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo. Gabon aren’t particularly well known in world soccer but they're a relatively regular fixture in AFCON tournaments. They'll be determined to make a strong start in the Morocco-hosted tournament. 

If you want to watch Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cameroon vs. Gabon?

Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at the Le Grand Stade Agadir.

How to watch Cameroon vs. Gabon for free

Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Cameroon vs. Gabon 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 the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Cameroon vs. Gabon 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 AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Cameroon vs. Gabon (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the world's top soccer events and features elite players from leagues around the globe. If you'e a serious soccer fan, this is can't-miss action.

One game that really stands out is the Group F opener between Ivory Coast and Mozambique. Ivory Coast won the AFCON in 2023, their second win in 10 years, and went unbeaten in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. All of which makes them a hot pick to take the title again. There will be tough competition down the road from hosts Morocco and teams such as Algeria and Senegal. And while Ivory Coast should dominate Mozambique, the group stages can throw up all kinds of surprises

If you want to watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique?

Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 1.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Stade de Marrakech.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique for free

Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique 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 the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique 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 AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're counting down the days until the World Cup comes to North America, you can get your soccer fix with the Africa Cup of Nations. The good news is that you don't need to be on the African continent to enjoy all the action. You can stream it for free from anywhere around the globe.

It all kicks off with the group stage, and one game to watch today is Algeria vs. Sudan in Group E. Algeria are probably the strongest team in Group E. They've recently qualified for the World Cup — and went unbeaten in the qualifiers, no less — and won the AFCON in recent memory, having lifted the trophy back in 2019.

While host country Morocco are favorites to win the tournament, Algeria are looking to give them a run for their money. But could Sudan, who have qualified for AFCON for only the second time in 13 years, cause an early upset?

If you want to watch Algeria vs. Sudana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Algeria vs. Sudan?

Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan.

How to watch Algeria vs. Sudan for free

Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Algeria vs. Sudan 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 the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Algeria vs. Sudan 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 AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Algeria vs. Sudan (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations continues with another day of action from Morocco, this time with Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in Group E.

Neither country is known as a major player in world soccer, but they'll both want to notch up points here before coming up against Algeria and Sudan in other Group E games. That said, Burkina Faso are former AFCON finalists and Equatorial Guinea have reached the quarter finals on a couple of occasions. Equatorial Guinea's captain and star player Emilio Nsue was also the top scorer at the 2023 AFCON. Be sure not to miss this Christmas Eve clash.

If you want to watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea?

Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 7.30 a.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Stade Mohamed V.

How to watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea for free

Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea 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 the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea 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 AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

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 December 24, 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 December 24, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love to eat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 24, 2025 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: Currency

• Green: To nibble

• Blue: Marine life

• Purple: Melodic sounds

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Slang for money

• Green: Masticate

• Blue: Fish

• Purple: Ways to vocalize musically plus a letter

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 #927 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Slang for money: BACON, BREAD, CHEESE, PAPER

• Masticate: BITE, CHAMP, CHEW, MUNCH

• Fish: CHAR, POLLOCK, SOLE, TANG

• Ways to vocalize musically plus a letter: HUMP, RAPT, SINGE, WHISTLER

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 December 24, 2025

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 prioritize comfort.

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 December 24, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 24, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Gather around

The words are related to relaxation.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe comfort.

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 Snug as a Bug

NYT Strands word list for December 24

• Comfy

• Warm

• Soft

• Homey

• Snug as a Bug

• Cozy

• Pleasant

• Relaxing

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 love to sew.

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 December 24, 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 December 24, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

What a roll of thread sits on.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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...

SPOOL

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 December 24, 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 yesterday's Wordle.

A preliminary injunction in federal court cited the First Amendment, handing a win to tech companies like Apple and Google.

The Trump administration, citing “foreign censorship,” imposed travel bans on experts involved in monitoring major tech platforms.