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‘Smile 2’ is available to watch at home on digital starting Nov. 19 and streaming on Paramount+ at a later date. Here are the best deals.

Smile! The horror box office hit of the fall is coming to spook you on the small screen soon. Smile 2, the pop star-centric sequel to Parker Finn’s 2022 feature, is one of the rare film follow-ups to outshine the original. Charlie’s Angels actress Naomi Scott stars as the film’s lead, a pop megastar named Skye Riley. The cast also features Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, and Ray Nicholson.

Whether you skipped the theater or want to watch it again, Smile 2 is available to watch at home beginning Nov. 19. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Smile 2 about?

Taking place just days after the original left off, the film follows international pop star Skye Riley (Scott), who is working toward a career comeback a year after a devastating crash that killed her boyfriend. Though she’s been sober since the crash, the emotional and physical pressure of the tour leads her to seek out an old drug dealer acquaintance Lewis (Gage) for painkillers. Unfortunately, she gets a bit more than she bargained for, as Lewis has been infected by the Smile curse and passes it to Skye. What follows is an “unpredictable narrative that’s full of jump scares, creepy imagery, and spine-tingling sound effects,” and of course, a bunch of eerie smiling people.

Here’s the full trailer:

Is Smile 2 worth watching?

Still in select theaters nationwide, Smile 2 has been a surprising box office hit. Against a $28 million production budget, the film has grossed an exceptional $125 million worldwide. What’s more, $23 million of that came from its opening weekend. Even more impressive, critics and fans alike are loving it more than the original — a very rare feat for a sequel. Smile 2 currently holds an 85 percent critic rating and 81 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the original Smile holds 79 percent and 77 percent, respectively.

Mashable reviewer Monica Catillo called it “even more fun and gory this time around” in her review. “It’s not often that a sequel exceeds its original, but Smile 2 delivers the thrills and chills of its predecessor with an even more pronounced funhouse feel.”

Read our full review of Smile 2.

How to watch Smile 2 at home

Just a month after Smile 2 dominated the box office, it’s set to make its at-home debut on video-on-demand sites like Prime Video and Apple TV+. You can now purchase the film for your own digital library. A rental option will also be available eventually. If you’d rather stream the Smile sequel, keep reading to learn more.

As of Nov. 19, you can purchase the film at the following retailers:

Prime Video — $24.99 to buy

Apple TV — $24.99 to buy

YouTube — $24.99 to buy

Fandango at Home (Vudu) — $24.99 to buy

Is Smile 2 streaming?

Smile 2‘s first stop in the home entertainment market will be digital on demand. If you don’t want to pay $24.99 for the film, however, it will be making its streaming debut at a later date. Since it’s a Paramount Pictures film, like the original, it’ll be joining the Paramount+ library. While there’s no official streaming date yet, we can make an educated guess based on the timeline of other Paramount Pictures films and expect to see Smile 2 hit the streaming circuit in mid-to-late December.

For reference, Paramount Pictures’ A Quiet Place: Day One opened in theaters June 28, made its digital-on-demand debut on Aug. 2, and hit Paramount+ on Aug. 27.

If you want to prepare for the film’s arrival, you can sign up for a Paramount+ subscription starting at $7.99 per month. There are also a few ways you can save some money on a subscription. Check out the best Paramount+ streaming deals below.

The best Paramount+ streaming deals (to watch later)

Most affordable: Get a free 7-day trial, then $7.99/month

Want to spend the least amount of money possible to watch Smile 2? Your best bet is to wait for the official streaming release and sign up for a month of Paramount+ Essential for just $7.99. If you’re new to the streamer, you’ll get a seven-day trial, which will allow you to watch it for free. After you watch, just be sure to cancel your subscription if you want to avoid the monthly charge. You’ll have to watch some ads throughout the movie, but just think of them as built-in bathroom breaks.

Best long-term deal: Save 38% on a Paramount+ Essential annual subscription

If you opt for the annual plan instead of the monthly plan, you can save 38% on your subscription. You’ll have to pay more upfront, but it pays off in the grand scheme of your streaming lineup. An annual Paramount+ Essential plan will run you $59.99 per year, which breaks down to only $5 per month as opposed to $7.99 per month. That’s basically like getting 12 months for less than the price of eight. If you want to watch more than just Smile 2 and ads aren’t a dealbreaker, this is your best bet.

Best deal for no ads: Save 23% on a Paramount+ with Showtime annual subscription

If ads are a deal breaker for you, you’ll have to sign up for the ad-free tier: Paramount+ with Showtime. This will run you either $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year (which breaks down to just $10 per month). Plus, if you’re new to the streamer, you can also take advantage of that seven-day trial. Beyond just giving you access to ad-free Paramount+ content, the extra cost also unlocks access to Showtime originals and movies (like Yellowjackets and The Curse), live TV with CBS, and college football. Although you’ll have to pay more, it’s definitely a whole lot of bang for your buck.

Best deal for students: Save 25% on Paramount+ Essential

College students can score a Paramount+ Essential monthly subscription for just $4.50 per month, so long as they can verify their student status using SheerID. Once verified, student discounts are valid for four years, even if you graduate prior to the four-year period. After four years, you’ll be charged the standard rate for an Essential monthly subscription.

Best third-party deal: Get Paramount+ for free with a Walmart+ membership

It may not be the simplest way to watch Smile 2, but a Walmart+ membership gives you free access to Paramount+ and plenty of other sweet benefits. Better yet, you can kick things off with a free 30-day trial, so you can enjoy an entire month of streaming without paying a cent. Just be sure to cancel before your trial ends if you want to avoid charges. If you want to keep your Walmart+ membership going, it’ll cost you either $12.95 per month or $98 per year ($8.17/month).

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Live stream Colombia vs. Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Colombia vs. Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers for free on SBS On Demand. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Colombia lost their last World Cup qualifying fixture against Uruguay, but they are still in third place in the standings. They will be looking to regain momentum against Equador in their next match, but it’s not going to be easy. Equador are only three points behind Colombia, and thrashed Bolivia in their last game.

If you want to watch Colombia vs. Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Colombia vs. Ecuador?

Colombia vs. Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on Nov. 19. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez.

How to watch Colombia vs. Ecuador for free

Colombia vs. Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers is available to live stream for free on SBS On Demand in Australia.

If you’re abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock SBS On Demand. VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access free live streams on SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Colombia vs. Ecuador 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 SBS On Demand

Stream Colombia vs. Ecuador 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 Colombia vs. Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup Qualifiers before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for SBS On Demand?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SBS On Demand, 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 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 Colombia vs. Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

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Live stream Brazil vs. Uruguay in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Uruguay in World Cup Qualifiers for free on SBS On Demand. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Brazil were not able to overcome Venezuala in their last World Cup qualifying fixture, with Vinicius Junior missing a penalty. That was a tough result for a team struggling under the weight of expectations.

Uruguay are two points above Brazil after beating Colombia 3-2 in their last game. They’ll be confident of taking something away from this huge game.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. Uruguay in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. Uruguay?

Brazil vs. Uruguay in World Cup Qualifiers kicks off at 7:45 p.m. ET on Nov. 19. This fixture takes place at the Arena Fonte Nova.

How to watch Brazil vs. Uruguay for free

Brazil vs. Uruguay in World Cup Qualifiers is available to live stream for free on SBS On Demand in Australia.

If you’re abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock SBS On Demand. VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access free live streams on SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Brazil vs. Uruguay 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 SBS On Demand

Stream Brazil vs. Uruguay 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 Brazil vs. Uruguay in World Cup Qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup Qualifiers before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for SBS On Demand?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SBS On Demand, 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 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 Brazil vs. Uruguay in World Cup Qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

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Watch the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix in F1 for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Watch the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix for free on ORF or ServusTV. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Max Verstappen has almost done enough to secure another F1 title, and nobody can have any complaints after his masterclass in Brazil. It was the performance of a champion, and now Verstappen will clinch his fourth world title in Las Vegas if he finishes the race 60 points or more ahead of Norris in the standings.

Norris must make up at least three points on Verstappen to keep the dream alive. It’s all eyes on Las Vegas to see if he can make it happen.

If you’re interested in watching the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.

When is the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix?

The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place over 50 laps of the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, USA. The full schedule can be found here:

Practice 1 — 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 21

Practice 2 — 1 to 2 a.m. ET on Nov. 22

Practice 3 — 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 22

Qualifying — 1 to 2 a.m. ET on Nov. 23

Race — 1 a.m. ET on Nov. 24

The good news for fans is that it’s possible to live stream the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix without spending anything.

How to watch the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix for free

You can find free live streams of F1 on these platforms:

Austria — ORF or ServusTV (12 races each)

ORF and ServusTV are geo-restricted to Austria, so you might need to use a VPN to access these free live streams from abroad. VPNs are tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access free live streams of F1 from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free streaming services by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a 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 Austria

Connect to ORF or ServusTV

Watch the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix from anywhere in the world

Please be aware that Formula 1 take the view that the use of a VPN to watch content from another territory may be a breach of the relevant broadcasters’ terms of service and may constitute copyright infringement. It is your responsibility to ensure that your use of a VPN is legal and Mashable does not encourage any illegal use of a VPN.

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams without actually spending anything. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming F1 live is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming F1 for free, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

Fast streaming speeds

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 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

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Live stream Chile vs. Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Chile vs. Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers for free on SBS On Demand. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Chile have been really poor in the South American World Cup Qualifiers, but they will feel like they stand a chance against Venezuela. In front of their own supporters, they will believe that they can turn things around. Of course, it’s not going to be easy. Venezuela are six points ahead of Chile and drew against Brazil in their last match.

If you want to watch Chile vs. Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chile vs. Venezuela?

Chile vs. Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 19. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.

How to watch Chile vs. Venezuela for free

Chile vs. Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers is available to live stream for free on SBS On Demand in Australia.

If you’re abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock SBS On Demand. VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access free live streams on SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Chile vs. Venezuela 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 SBS On Demand

Stream Chile vs. Venezuela 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 Chile vs. Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup Qualifiers before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for SBS On Demand?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SBS On Demand, 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 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 Chile vs. Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

Live stream Argentina vs. Peru in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Argentina vs. Peru in World Cup Qualifiers for free on SBS On Demand. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Argentina lost their last World Cup qualifying fixture against Paraguay, so they’ll be looking to bounce back against Peru and solidify their position at the top of the standings. Peru are struggling near the bottom of the table, so Argentina will be favorites to win this matchup at home.

If you want to watch Argentina vs. Peru in World Cup Qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Argentina vs. Peru?

Argentina vs. Peru in World Cup Qualifiers kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 19. This fixture takes place at La Bombonera.

How to watch Argentina vs. Peru for free

Argentina vs. Peru in World Cup Qualifiers is available to live stream for free on SBS On Demand in Australia.

If you’re abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock SBS On Demand. VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access free live streams on SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Argentina vs. Peru 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 SBS On Demand

Stream Argentina vs. Peru 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 Argentina vs. Peru in World Cup Qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup Qualifiers before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for SBS On Demand?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SBS On Demand, 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 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 Argentina vs. Peru in World Cup Qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

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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: Pick-ups

These words belong in the kitchen.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are used to eat.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Utensils.

NYT Strands word list for November 19

Spoon

Skewer

Fork

Spork

Knife

Tongs

Chopsticks

Utensils

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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Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1249 on November 19, 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 November 19’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 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.

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

Departing from one place to another.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

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

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter G.

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…

GOING.

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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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 November 19’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: Expert

Green: Unlock your phone

Blue: Types of pasta

Purple: Involves two things

Here are today’s Connections categories

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

Yellow: Area of Expertise

Green: Ways to Unlock A Device

Blue: Pasta Shapes

Purple: Double____

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 #526 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Area of Expertise: CONCENTRATION, FIELD, FOCUS, SPECIALTY

Ways to Unlock A Device: FACE, FINGERPRINT, PASSWORD, PIN

Pasta Shapes: EAR, ELBOW, RIBBON, WHEEL

Double____: AGENT, DRIBBLE, JEOPARDY, STANDARD

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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As of Nov. 18, you can score up to 58% off select board games at Amazon. Shop Hasbro, Monopoly, and more.

SAVE UP TO 58%: As of Nov. 18, you can score up to 58% off select board games at Amazon.

With Thanksgiving coming up in just a week, you might be scrambling to find something for the kids to do (that doesn’t involve a screen) while relatives visit or to keep everyone occupied and entertained as you host friends and family for the upcoming holiday season.

Luckily, Amazon has a pretty sizeable selection of board games currently on sale — from family-friendly classics to the latest strategy and party games. And as of Nov. 18, you can score up to 58% off popular titles like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Twister.

Here are the best board game finds that caught our eye:

Best board game deal overall

Why we like it

Operation is a game of skill and precision that’s fun for kids and adults. In this classic game (which I also had growing up), players use a pair of metal tweezers to carefully remove tiny plastic body parts from the patient’s body without touching the sides and setting off the buzzer. Each successful removal earns them a paper $50 or $100, and the player who racks up the most dough by the end of the game wins.

Pro tip: This also makes for a fun drinking game for older crowds!

Best runner-up board game deal

Why we like it

Twister is a party game that ties you up in knots (literally!). To play, you spin the wheel and twist your body to put your hands and feet on whatever color it lands on. It’s perfect for rainy days, family game nights, or any time you need a good laugh and a bit of a stretch, and with up to four players, it’s ideal for small groups or a double date. It’s also portable and 45% off right now, so you can’t lose (monetarily, at least).

Best budget board game deal

Why we like it

For just $5, you and your friends or family can get in on Sorry! — a classic that teaches strategy, planning, and friendly competition. This game board includes 12 pawns, 44 cards, and instructions. Just be warned: If you can’t take a joke or are a sore loser, this might not be the game for you.

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