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The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

Strands 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.

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Go play outside!

These words are a great fun if you have the space.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to games you can play outside.

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 LawnGames.

NYT Strands word list for September 9

Bocce

Croquet

LawnGames

Horseshoes

Badminton

Cornhole

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.

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Live stream France vs. Belgium in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Belgium in the UEFA Nations League for free on TF1+. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League might not be every fan’s favorite tournament, but you can’t say it doesn’t match up some of the best international sides in the world. The next fixture is France vs. Belgium, a heated rivarly between two neighboring countries.

France and Belgium last played each other in the first knockout round of Euro 2024, with France progressing after a 1-0 win. How will things play out this time around? There’s only one way to find out.

If you want to watch France vs. Belgium in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Belgium?

France vs. Belgium in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 9. This fixture takes place at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

How to watch France vs. Belgium for free

France vs. Belgium in the UEFA Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1+.

TF1+ is geo-restricted to France, 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 France, meaning you can access free live streams on TF1+ from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of France vs. Belgium by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

Open up the app and connect to a server in France

Visit TF1+

Live stream France vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch France vs. Belgium in the UEFA Nations League without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select UEFA Nations League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TF1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1+, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including France

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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream France vs. Belgium in the UEFA Nations League for free with ExpressVPN.

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Live stream Montenegro vs. Wales in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Montenegro vs. Wales in the UEFA Nations League for free on BBC iPlayer or S4C Online. Access these free streaming sites from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Wales started their UEFA Nations League campaign at home against Turkey, and now Craig Bellamy’s side are visiting Montenegro for an interesting matchup. Montenegro boasts some genuine star names, but Wales will still be confident of returning home with three points.

If you want to watch Montenegro vs. Wales in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Montenegro vs. Wales?

Montenegro vs. Wales in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 9. This fixture takes place at the Gradski Stadion in Nikšić, Montenegro.

How to watch Montenegro vs. Wales for free

Montenegro vs. Wales in the UEFA Nations League is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer and S4C Online.

These services are geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone from around the world can stream for free 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 access free live streams on BBC iPlayer and S4C Online from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of Montenegro vs. Wales by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

Visit BBC iPlayer or S4C Online

Stream Montenegro vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Montenegro vs. Wales in the UEFA Nations League without committing with your cash. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select UEFA Nations League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for streaming live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Montenegro vs. Wales in the UEFA Nations League for free with ExpressVPN.

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Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1178 on September 9, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 9’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

The opposite of credit.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter D.

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…

DEBIT.

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.

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“Industry” Season 3, episode 5 ends with Robert (Harry Lawtey) experiencing a drug trip in one of the show’s wildest sequences yet.

Robert Spearing (Harry Lawtey) goes through the ringer in virtually every episode of Industry. Remember when his lover/abuser/Oedipal mother figure Nicole Craig (Sarah Parish) died beside him in the Season 3 premiere? Or his fistfight with Lumi CEO Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington) in the very next episode?

While Season 3, episode 4 of Industry offered Robert a brief respite from emotional trauma, instead raining down hell on Rishi Ramdani (Sagar Radia), episode 5, titled “Company Man,” throws Robert into a meat grinder of political, professional, and personal anxieties. Pierpoint & Co. sends him as their representative to the select committee investigating the British government’s bailout of Lumi.

Nothing more than a pawn in Pierpoint’s fight with Henry and his own powerful allies, Robert is forced to evaluate his position at the investment bank — especially after learning that his boss Eric Tao (Ken Leung) called him “expendable.” As if that wasn’t enough, Robert’s also still reckoning with his romantic feelings for coworker and friend Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela), who’s in a relationship with Henry. It’s all a very tangled web, one whose threads intertwine in a surreal sequence toward the end of the episode, when Robert takes ayahuasca with Henry. In a first for Industry — a show already rife with scenes of substance use — we witness Robert’s trip firsthand, which brings us through a nightmarish take on the Pierpoint trading floor and Robert’s own rundown house.

“I remember saying to the writers, ‘This is a big swing,'” Lawtey told Mashable when discussing his first reactions to reading about Robert’s trip in the “Company Man” script. “This is certainly a tonal shift for the show, and I think it may come as a surprise to people who’ve been with us from the beginning, but I think that’s a great thing. It’s nice to be part of a project that is creatively evolving rather than just staying in the same place. Of course, we still pay homage to the same themes and ideas, but we’re putting them into different shapes.”

Among these themes and ideas are Robert’s many insecurities, which get a drug-fueled remix here. Anxieties about his working-class background surface in the appearance of a shoeshiner at Pierpoint, and in Henry’s breathless laughter at Robert’s expense (which could also double as mockery over Robert’s feelings for Yasmin). Meanwhile, his mommy issues pop up in a vision of Nicole, who stands in his kitchen, hoists up her skirt, and lets liquid run down her legs and cascade to the floor, an action which mirrors everything from Henry and Yasmin’s earlier urine play to Robert’s leaky ceiling to a pregnant woman’s water breaking. The accompanying sound of a baby crying lends extra weight to the latter interpretation, especially as the next stage of the trip brings Robert face to face with an image of his mother projected in heavenly white on a massive screen at Pierpoint.

I remember saying to the writers, ‘This is a big swing.’
– Harry Lawtey

Perhaps the biggest worry on display here is Robert’s own relationship with Pierpoint. The whole trip opens with Robert in the Pierpoint bathroom, staring up at the word “wanker” scrawled on the ceiling. It’s right where grad Hari Dhar (Nabhaan Rizwan) was before he died in Industry’s very first episode. Will Robert reach a similar fate if he stays a company man? Based on Eric’s neck-slicing motion later in the trip (paired perfectly with his Henry VIII Halloween costume), Robert’s subconscious certainly seems to think so. And since the trip is about “searching for some kind of existential freedom and liberation,” as Lawtey put it, could this be Robert’s subconscious telling him to free himself from Pierpoint entirely?

Robert is a silent searcher throughout it all, reacting sometimes with horror, sometimes with awe. And while Lawtey is no stranger to playing a character who’s under the influence — think back to all of Robert’s wild partying in Season 1 — this trip scene is unlike anything he, or anyone else, has done on Industry.

“W​​hen you’re playing a substance-induced experience like that, you don’t want it to feel generalized or clichéd,” Lawtey said. “By its nature, the way the show covers it is quite abstract and quite lyrical, almost dreamlike. If the tone is doing that for you, you don’t want to lean into that too much as the actor, you want it to feel grounded and genuine. So that was a challenge as well.”

Another challenge? Shooting the trip sequence on the Pierpoint trading floor, where every screen is lit up with a key Robert scene from prior seasons of Industry. Look closely and you’ll catch the moment where he finds Hari’s dead body, or his RIF day speech from the Season 1 finale. For Lawtey, who doesn’t like watching his own performances and therefore hasn’t seen any of Industry, filming that moment was “bizarre.”

“It was my own personal hellscape to walk into a room that’s just flooded with solely me and scenes that I shot five years ago,” Lawtey said. “But it very much lent itself to the moment, because I think Robert is supposed to be pretty terrified of that kind of vision.”

He added, joking: “[Showrunners] Mickey [Down] and Konrad [Kay] know that I don’t watch Industry — much to their frustration sometimes — so I think they took a specific pleasure in just forcing me to see 200 versions of myself.”

Amid all the screens and nods to earlier Industry episodes, another image in the trip stands out: The words “eat it” scrolling by on the Pierpoint ticker display, a reference to a Season 1 moment when Yasmin made Robert eat his own ejaculate off of a mirror. The phrase’s appearance here is a pointed reminder to how the relationship between the two — now roommates — began.

“That [initial] dynamic between them was entirely fostered on this very status-oriented kink relationship, which Robert was very willing and consenting to,” Lawtey said. “But he was purposely moving himself into a position of inferiority in relation to Yasmin, which is subtly related to his ideas of her from the class perspective. So much about his attraction to Yasmin is built around his aspirational desire to transcend his own class. To shake that off and realize how toxic that may have been for his own self-esteem is a big part of Robert’s journey, and a big part of [his and Yasmin’s] connection as two characters. In the final episodes of this season, we realize there may be more substance to their care for one another once you remove all that baggage.”

Robert’s baggage in relation to Yasmin may not be the only weight his trip alleviated. For starters, he decides to sell his crumbling old house. And as he returns home at the end of the episode, he seems lighter, more aware of who he is beyond his insecurities. Despite Henry’s post-trip warning not to, Robert is able to look at himself in the mirror and even muster a smile. Perhaps, for once in this episode, he likes who he sees.

Industry Season 3 is now streaming on Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

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Connections is a New York Times word game that’s all about finding the “common threads between words.” How to solve the puzzle.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 September 9’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

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

Yellow: Looking embarrassed

Green: Uninterrupted

Blue: Trying out foods and drinks

Purple: Funny shows

Here are today’s Connections categories

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

Yellow: Get Red in the Face

Green: Continuous

Blue: Flavor Assortment

Purple: Sitcoms

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 #456 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Get Red in the Face: BLUSH, BURN, FLUSH, GLOW

Continuous: CONSECUTIVE, NONSTOP, SOLID, STRAIGHT

Flavor Assortment: FLIGHT, PLATTER, SAMPLER, TASTING

Sitcoms: BLOSSOM, COACH, COMMUNITY, FULL HOUSE

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.

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

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

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

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Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Carlos Diehz, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini star in “Conclave,” a wickedly fun, Vatican-set thriller. Review.

The cast alone is reason to line up for Conclave. The psychological thriller from All Quiet on the Western Front helmer Edward Berger stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. These talents are so rightfully heralded for their stirring gravitas that what they’re doing on-screen together is almost beside the point. However, the secrets at the center of this Vatican-set tale are rich with intrigue, sharp humor, and provocative plot twists. 

Based on Robert Harris’ 2016 novel of the same name, Conclave takes the masses behind the velvet curtain for one of the Catholic church’s most secretive traditions, the choosing of a new pope. When a pontiff dies, cardinal electors from around the globe convene in a papal conclave, where they vote for one of their ranks to ascend to become the earthly head of the church. 

Whatever conversations, debates, or politicking are had in this meeting remain behind closed doors — as do the cardinals themselves — while the world watches for them to send up white smoke to indicate the vote, and if the requisite two-thirds majority has been achieved. This is all the background a layman needs to enter Conclave. But those who grew up in the faith might find richer meanings in its whispered drama and jolting revelations. 

Ralph Fiennes leads a sensational cast in Conclave. 

A dark amusement might be inherent to seeing the English actor best known for playing the ultra-evil Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies portray a pious cardinal here. Of course, Fiennes has range, having leapt from that theatrical, hissing wizard to the Coen Bros’ Hollywood spoof Hail, Caesar!, where he played a precise and annoyed director, to the flamboyant concierge of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes can do everything from brash to buoyant, and here he is hemmed in by vestments and decorum. But the potential that he could explode brings a ringing tension to Conclave from the start. 

As Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, Fiennes is the film’s hero, serving not only as the dean of the conclave, overseeing all its details, but also as an amateur detective, wheedling out the secrets that his brethren hide in hopes of being elected the new pope. This is not expressly in his job description, but when a concerning rumor surfaces as the conclave gathers, he feels compelled to sniff out the truth.

Among this college of cardinals are Aldo Bellini (a sublimely serene Stanley Tucci), a soft-spoken progressive who denounces homophobia and promotes a greater role for women in the church. Though an early favorite — as a much-beloved friend to the last pope — Aldo faces off against the ultra-conservative Tedesco (a perfectly pompous Sergio Castellitto), whose agenda is to push the church back into the dark ages with a Latin mass and a vehement rejection of cross-faith acceptance. Also in the mix is the suspiciously conciliatory Tremblay (an intriguingly slippery John Lithgow), the fiery Adeyemi (a snarling Lucian Msamati), and Benitez (a beatific Carlos Diehz), a young cardinal who is totally unknown to the others until the conclave. Among the lot of them, the category of Best Supporting Actor just got stacked, as the resentments, ambition, and resoluteness collide in intrigue and arguments.

Lawrence strives to conduct the conclave with dignity. But as shocking details about his brethren surface, his idealism is challenged with pragmatism. Should he out sins and corruption if it means breaking tradition? Does the end — naming a proper pope — justify the means? And truly, how do you rationalize electing a fallible person to a position that is infallible? 

Conclave is a sophisticated and sharply enthralling thriller.

This is a movie that understands the complications of Catholicism, where reason collides with belief and human nature with divinity

Here’s where I confess I’m a lapsed Catholic of decades. Still, I was swept up in Berger’s shrewd direction, which meets the curiosity of those of us to whom the conclave has long been shrouded in mystique and mystery. While the plot of Conclave includes many scandalous elements, the characters are often restrained (or arguably repressed) in their reactions. Even when talking plainly about their personal politics, there’s a careful reticence that I recognized from my years in church, its rectories, and Catholic school. 

This culture has a specific way of saying something without saying it. And Peter Straughan’s script understands that, executing this delicacy brilliantly. Even the affable Aldo speaks in this hard-to-pin-down manner, saying he doesn’t think parishioners should be told they have to have 10 kids, instead of saying what he really means: He’d be a pope who’d support birth control. That would be too radical to utter in the Vatican, and Conclave is well aware. Yet this keen reluctance to be frank also bolsters the film’s central conflicts, where what lies beneath the surface could be prove polarizing. 

Behind these men’s bright-red robes and regal posturing, they are as flawed as the rest of us (maybe more so). Conclave doesn’t treat this as some sort of shock unto itself. Instead, the film holds a great deal of empathy for its complicated cardinals. In the terms of Catholicism, it may hate the sin, but not the sinner. Yet as our humble, fallible conduit, we see Lawrence struggle with this brand of radical acceptance. We see his eyes ignite when he uncovers treachery. We feel his heart break when a skeleton clatters out of a metaphorical closet. In these moments of internal turmoil, it’s easy to imagine the Oscar sizzle reel for Best Actor.

Not everyone is as willing to forgive, and here is where Rossellini, as a nun who serves in the Vatican, excels. Where these men swan around as lords of the manor, she and her sisters are to be seen but not heard. But they’ll hear her. The humor of Conclave is subtle, carefully picking its punchlines to lighten its hard-hitting homily. But when Rossellini’s Sister Agnes delivers a tight-lipped speech before the cardinals and completes it with a curt bow, that small gesture hits like a mic drop. It’s liberating in its fine-point hilarity. 

In the end, Conclave is not a story about sin or secrets but about moving forward. When the dust has settled — or the smoke has risen — who will we be with the choices we’ve made? The best bit of Berger’s film might be that it gives a nuanced answer for its hero, Lawrence, who holds the film’s quiet final moment with a poignant power. But for the viewer, we are left to wonder not just what we might have done, but who we are in the face of the film’s final reveal. 

Conclave was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival; it will open in select theaters Nov. 1.

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A PlayStation 5 review of Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2

When Relic Entertainment dropped Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine back in 2011, it quickly carved out a niche as one of those solid, under-the-radar action games of the sixth-gen era. Sure, it wasn’t the most mind-blowing title on the shelf—more of a straightforward, linear hack-and-slash—but that didn’t stop it from being a perfect gateway drug into the chaotic, sprawling universe of Warhammer 40K.

Over the years, Space Marine developed a cult following, particularly among 40K fans hungry for more video game adaptations of their favorite universe. For more than a decade, players clamored for a follow-up. With so much potential left on the table, the question lingered: why hasn’t this game gotten the sequel it so clearly deserves?

Now, Saber Interactive has answered that call with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2—a sequel that aims to be bigger, bolder, and more bombastic than its predecessor. Space Marine 2 retains the blood-soaked, brutal gameplay of the original, but with a much stronger emphasis on cooperative play, allowing players to team up with friends and tackle massive swarms of enemies together. The result? A slicker, more polished experience that fully embraces the scale and chaos of the Warhammer 40K universe, bringing the series to new heights while building on the foundation of what made the original special.

Space Marine 2 plot

This section may contain mild spoilers for ‘Space Marine’ and ‘Space Marine 2’.

Space Marine 2 marks the long-awaited return of Captain Demetrian Titus—recently reinstated to the Ultramarines as a Primaris (an enhanced, genetically upgraded version of a standard Space Marine). At the end of Space Marine, he was dragged off in chains for the crime of resisting the lure of chaos, accused of heresy by the Imperium. Fast-forward a century of brutal torture, and another hundred years serving a self-imposed penance in the Deathwatch, and Titus is back on the front lines. His shot at redemption? A planet on the brink of annihilation thanks to a Tyranid invasion, with a top-secret superweapon lurking in the background.

But it’s not all heroics and glory. Titus has to fight not only the swarming Tyranids and Forces of Chaos but also the cold skepticism of his Ultramarines brothers—suspicious of his sudden appearance and secret service record.

This might not be your stop if you’re hoping for rich character development or villains with layered motivations. Titus and his squadmates, Chairon and Gadriel, are essentially overpowered, oversized death machines being shuffled from one apocalyptic mission to the next, playing the part of glorified, blood-soaked errand boys for their commanders.

And yet, within the bleak, war-torn confines of the Warhammer 40K universe, the lack of nuance in the plot doesn’t feel like much of an issue. In all fairness, these are Ultramarines we’re talking about—stoic, rule-obsessed supersoldiers devoted to the Codex Astartes like it’s a holy scripture. That’s translated in-game as military bro-speak dialed up to eleven. Their sole purpose? To kill. Over and over. And over again.

So yeah, don’t expect philosophical musings on the horrors of war. Instead, Space Marine 2 delivers what the universe demands: a swift 6-to-8-hour campaign packed with righteous, violent efficiency. War and death are the only constants here, and Titus knows the script well. Kill first, ask no questions later.

The campaign of Space Marine 2 assumes a baseline understanding of the Warhammer 40K universe, with little to no hand-holding when it comes to the deep lore. There’s no in-game codex or glossary to explain the various factions or enemies you face, which can leave newcomers feeling a bit lost. Considering the massive hype surrounding the game, this feels like a missed opportunity. For a title that could easily serve as an entry point into the 40K universe, it would’ve been great to include explanations on the different factions or enemies—especially when it comes to key antagonists like the Thousand Sons legion, who take center stage in the latter half of the campaign.

Space Marine 2 gameplay

Space Marine 2 builds on its predecessor in every conceivable way, especially in the combat department. Where the original game often felt a bit floaty, Space Marine 2 delivers satisfying weight and impact with every swing, smash, and stab. As Captain Titus, you’ll gradually unlock a robust arsenal of melee and ranged weapons, making every fight feel visceral and dynamic.

On the melee front, you’ll wield iconic tools of destruction like the chainsword, power sword, sledgehammer, and combat knife. The Boltgun is your go-to for ranged combat, available in different variations with scopes, grenade launchers, and beefier ammo. The arsenal also includes the Bolt Pistol, the Melta (a close-range, shotgun-like flamethrower), and devastating one-use heavy weapon variants of the Boltgun and Melta.

Space Marine 2 delivers jaw-dropping, dynamic set pieces, as its core gameplay revolves around battling relentless swarms of Tyranids—vicious, hive-minded aliens hellbent on devouring every shred of biomatter in the universe. In the heat of combat, you’ll face smaller Tyranids that swarm and claw at you while simultaneously fending off larger, sword-wielding brutes, making every encounter a chaotic survival dance.

At the heart of the combat system are the parry and execution mechanics. Simple in practice, enemies telegraph their moves with color-coded indicators—blue for parryable attacks and orange for those you’ll need to dodge. A perfect parry will instantly kill smaller enemies, while larger foes get stunned, allowing for a quick, satisfying gunshot finish. Mastering this is key, as Titus can soak up damage fast. Like the first game, you have a health bar and shield, but your health doesn’t regenerate—you’ll need to rely on sparse health pickups. Instead, keeping your shields intact is crucial, which can only be done through executions. Once you’ve chipped away at larger enemies through strikes and parries, you can pull off brutal glory kills, which restore your shields. You can do this on smaller enemies too, though it’s hit or miss.

Weirdly, when playing co-op this creates a scramble for execution kills since your health and shields tend to whittle down fast. I understand the intent from the developers is to basically “git gud” at the dodge and parry mechanics but it’s almost impossible to do that with the amount of range and melee enemies all coalescing on you at one time.

This melee-heavy combat loop, while thrilling at first, can become repetitive, especially when playing solo. As you fend off the constant barrage of enemies—both melee and ranged—it’s clear the game is designed with a PvE co-op experience in mind. With friends, this chaotic swarm combat feels intense and strategic. But playing alone, as I did, it often felt more like a slog: I was either overwhelmed by the enemy hordes or frustrated by the underwhelming AI companions that left me to handle most of the heavy lifting. This isn’t me saying I’m bad at the game, but it does feel the Saber Interactive didn’t balance the game well enough for the single-player experience.

Each mission will have you return to the Battle Barge, which serves as the community hub where you can change weapons and switch game modes. Space Marine 2 offers three main modes: The campaign, Operations Mode which is the main PvE experience, and Eternal War, which is the game’s PvP offering.

Operations Mode

Operations Mode is the true core of Space Marine 2, offering eight missions that run parallel to the events of the main campaign. In these missions, you take on the role of a squad of Space Marines handling secondary objectives that directly aid Titus and his team. Along with Eternal War, these modes are where you can gain XP and points to buy gear, weapons, and armor skins to upgrade for your Space Marine.

The standout feature here is the ability to play as your own fully customizable Space Marine across six unique classes, each with its own distinct set of weapons and perks. The Tactical class is your versatile all-rounder, capable of using most weapons. The Bulwark is a defensive powerhouse, armed with a shield to block incoming damage. The Sniper excels at long-range precision, while the Assault class, equipped with a jump pack, thrives in aerial melee combat. The Heavy class is your go-to for carrying the biggest, most devastating weapons, and the Vanguard is a hybrid of Tactical and Assault, able to grapple enemies and take them down with fast-paced mobility.

No two runs of a mission in Space Marine 2’s Operations Mode will ever feel quite the same. Larger enemies can call in relentless swarms if you don’t stop them in time, and special enemy types can randomly appear to throw even more chaos into already intense battles. This unpredictability keeps the action fresh and ensures each mission feels dynamic.

However, much like the campaign, these missions are best experienced with friends. As the main PvE content that will likely fuel countless viral clips on TikTok, these missions can be frustrating to play solo. There are no checkpoints, and once again, the AI teammates are lackluster at best. What’s more, you can’t choose your AI companions’ classes—they’re automatically assigned based on your own class choice. For instance, when I played with the Assault class, the AI chose a Bulwark and a Sniper to fill out the team, often leading to unbalanced strategies.

Currently, there are only eight missions, but with Saber Interactive’s season pass structure, it’s safe to expect more content in the future.

Eternal War

In contrast to Operations Mode, Eternal War is Space Marine 2’s PvP multiplayer offering, featuring 6v6 team battles where players can choose to fight as either the loyal Adeptus Astartes or the traitorous Heretic Astartes. Unfortunately, this mode feels like the sparsest part of the game, with only three match types and three maps. The modes themselves are pretty standard: Annihilation (Team Deathmatch), Seize Ground (Domination), and Capture and Control (King of the Hill).

One glaring issue is the balance—or lack thereof. You can use the same six classes from Operations Mode, which works great in PvE, but in PvP, it creates a mess. Some classes are vastly overpowered when pitted against others, leading to unbalanced matches. These classes complement each other well in co-op, but head-to-head, they feel awkwardly mismatched.

Another downside is that melee combat, which shines in single-player and co-op, loses all its impact against real players, making it almost useless in PvP. It’s a shame because, with more time and thoughtful tweaks, Eternal War has the potential to be fun. As it stands, it feels like a tacked-on afterthought rather than a fully fleshed-out experience.

Space Marine 2 performance

Like its hulking death-dealing warriors, Space Marine 2 runs like a well-oiled machine—most of the time. Playing on PlayStation 5, I encountered only a few technical hiccups, but they stood out when they happened. One memorable instance occurred during a mission set inside an Adeptus Mechanicus facility. While fending off waves of Tyranid enemies and swarming Rippers—tiny, maggot-like creatures that cover the entire floor and can, at times, entwine themselves like a Rat King to attack you—there’s a visually intense scene with lightning flashing everywhere as you power up a generator. It was chaotic and where the framerate took a noticeable dip, even in performance mode.

The most frustrating issue, though, came during the final boss fight. The boss glitched, getting stuck in a loop of endlessly summoning Chaos enemies. It was a section where you’re supposed to dodge until the next phase, but instead, for 20 agonizing minutes, my AI companions and I stood on the edge of the arena while the boss mindlessly hurled projectiles at us. Needless to say, it was a huge letdown.

One of the most impressive feats in Space Marine 2 is how smoothly it handles swarms of enemies on screen, all while maintaining a steady 60fps. Saber Interactive, the team behind the fairly forgettable World War Z (2019), clearly brought some technical expertise from that project into this one. While World War Z might have been mediocre overall, it was notable for its zombies’ ability to pile up and scale walls. That same tech finds new life in Space Marine 2, where massive Tyranid swarms often tumble over each other in a frantic attempt to reach you and your squad.

Visually and technically, these moments are jaw-dropping and serve as some of the game’s biggest highlights. Even more impressive, during certain missions, you can see these swarms in the distance, crawling over the horizon like a living tide, creating an unnerving backdrop that constantly reminds you of the scale of the threat. It’s impossible to look away, and it adds a palpable tension to the already intense action.

Is Space Marine 2 worth it?

If you’re a fan of Warhammer 40K or enjoyed the original Space Marine, then Space Marine 2 is absolutely worth your time. The game is a clear evolution of its predecessor, with combat that feels more impactful, smoother, and downright visceral. The weight behind every swing of your chainsword or shot from your Boltgun is satisfying, and the set pieces, especially when facing swarms of Tyranids, are both visually impressive and technically remarkable. Saber Interactive has done an excellent job crafting massive, chaotic battles that run smoothly, even with countless enemies on screen.

That said, there are some issues. While the campaign is enjoyable, it can feel a little shallow at times, with repetitive mission structures and a lack of deep narrative. The lack of any lore explainer for newcomers is also a missed opportunity, especially considering how massive the 40K universe is. The absence of checkpoints in Operations and inconsistent AI in solo play can make some missions frustrating, and the PvP multiplayer modes, feel tacked on and unbalanced. Melee combat in PvP is practically useless, and the mode itself is the weakest aspect of the game.

Despite these shortcomings, Space Marine 2 still delivers on what matters most in a Warhammer game: brutal, high-octane combat in a war-torn universe. The co-op PvE missions shine when played with friends, and the spectacle of battling massive Tyranid swarms is an experience in itself. Saber Interactive has laid a solid foundation with the promise of more content to come, so if you’re in it for the PvE action and 40K immersion, the game is definitely worth picking up. Just be aware that it’s best enjoyed with a squad, and the multiplayer modes could use some refining.

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Live stream Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of NFL fixtures has thrown together some really interesting matchups, and even though Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders is probably not top of the list, there are still plenty of reasons to tune in. And perhaps the biggest reason is that you can watch all the action without spending anything.

If you’re interested in watching Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders for free, we have all the information you need.

When is Buccaneers vs. Commanders?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sep 8. This fixture takes place at the Raymond James Stadium.

How to watch Buccaneers vs. Commanders for free

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

Visit 7plus

Live stream Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you’ll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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Live stream Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NFL is back, baby. And you can watch select NFL fixtures for free with a simple hack, and that includes the interesting matchup between the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans. Everyone is keen to see whether Caleb Williams can change the fortunes of the Bears.

If you’re interested in watching Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans for free, we have all the information you need.

When is Bears vs. Titans?

Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans starts at 1 p.m. ET on Sep 8. This fixture takes place at Soldier Field.

How to watch Bears vs. Titans for free

Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

Visit 7plus

Live stream Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you’ll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Read More