Latest from TechRadar NZ in Gaming

Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, October 27 (game #1737)

Johnny Dee — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, October 26 (game #1736).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1737) — hint #1 — Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1737) — hint #2 — repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1737) — hint #3 — uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1737) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1737) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• H

• S

• W

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1737) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1737, are…

ANKLE
HAVOC
SULKY
WHITE

A tricky 5-vowel game.

It took me a while to get to HAVOC, but every other word containing C,H,O, and A that I could think of (mocha, coach) was ruled out by having correct letters in wrong positions.

As is so often the case, the letter V unlocked the correct guess.

Daily Sequence today (game #1737) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1737, are…

SPRAY
SHELF
PLATE
HEDGE

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1736, Monday, 26 October: ASSAY, GLEAM, MUCUS, WRING
Quordle #1735, Sunday, 25 October: RAINY, BUSED, PROXY, UNDID
Quordle #1734, Saturday, 24 October: TOXIN, SMART, MOUSE, STYLE
Quordle #1733, Friday, 23 October: BLIMP, HOIST, FRIED, LURID
Quordle #1732, Thursday, 22 October: DECAL, WIDTH, WOKEN, LEVER
Quordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTH
Quordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPY
Quordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUID
Quordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEO
Quordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCK
Quordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNK
Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE

NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, October 27 (game #968)

Johnny Dee — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, October 26 (game #967).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #968) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Who ya gonna call?

NYT Strands today (game #968) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

TREK
MORE
MOCK
SCREAM
CORKER
EXTRA

NYT Strands today (game #968) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #968) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 4th row

• Last side: right, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #968) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #968, are…

ANTS
RATS
MICE
COCKROACHES
TICKS
TERMITES
SPANGRAM: EXTERMINATOR

My rating: Hard
My score: 1 hint

EXTERMINATOR felt a lot longer than 12 letters. This was one spangram that I saw early but left until the end as I was uncertain over the spelling.

Having said that, I was uncertain from the very start after getting it into my head that the whole search was something to do with Ghostbusters.

A hint gave me ANTS and after spotting RATS it was obvious that we were looking for the kind of household pests that cause an infestation. Fortunately we’ve only ever suffered from MICE in our house, a situation that was resolved by becoming proud cat owners.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, October 26, game #967)

WELCOME
HOST
MEET
INVITE
RECEIVE
ENTERTAIN
SPANGRAM: HOSPITALITY

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, October 27 (game #1234)

Johnny Dee — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, October 26 (game #1233).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1234) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

TACO
PEPPER
DRUM
JAR
TINKER
TOWER
FIDDLE
JINGLE
LIBERTY
CANAL
TRIFLE
DIVING
ANVIL
BOTTOMS
STIRRUP
MEDDLE

NYT Connections today (game #1234) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: Fidget with an object
GREEN: Aural anatomy
BLUE: End with a thing you ring
PURPLE: Start with a thing you ring

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1234) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: MESS (WITH)
GREEN: PARTS OF THE EAR
BLUE: _____BELL
PURPLE: BELL_____

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1234) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1234, are…

YELLOW: MESS (WITH): FIDDLE, MEDDLE, TINKER, TRIFLE
GREEN: PARTS OF THE EAR: ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, STIRRUP
BLUE: _____BELL: DIVING, JINGLE, LIBERTY, TACO
PURPLE: BELL_____: BOTTOMS, JAR, PEPPER, TOWER

My rating: Hard
My score: 3 mistakes

When I am on a mission with a Connections group I find it hard to stop myself until I’ve finally got it.

It took me four guesses to get the four tiles that made up ______BELL, because I kept including TINKER — a situation that could have been easily resolved if I’d spent some time looking at the connections that didn’t involve bells.

Annoying, but on a more positive note landing the four tiles that began with BELL won me a Purple First.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, October 26, 2026, game #1233)

YELLOW: RESPONSES TO "HOW ARE YOU?": CHILLING, MANAGING, NOT BAD, SAME OLD
GREEN: KINDS OF MATS: PRAYER, WELCOME, WRESTLING, YOGA
BLUE: AKC DOG BREED GROUPS: HERDING, HOUND, SPORTING, TOY
PURPLE: HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED: HALLOWEEK, HOSTED, JAWN, PSYCHS

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Meet the TechRadar Readers' Choice Awards 2026 winners — all 100% chosen by you

TechRadar — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:55:19 +0000

It's been an excellent year for tech releases, with the arrival of everything from new TV panel developments, to groundbreaking drones, to awesome spatial audio speakers, to a new breed of AI-connected screenless fitness wearable.

It's also been a really difficult year in tech, though, due to the component crisis and rising prices across nearly all products. In the middle of that tension, it only makes sense for us to find out which companies navigated the challenges best by asking the community of tech lovers out there — and so here are the first TechRadar Readers' Choice Awards.

The results are in, so below we've listed the TechRadar Readers' Choice Awards 2026 winners winners in every category, all 100% voted by you!

Phones & tablets

Phone of the Year

Apple iPhone 18 Pro

It’s no great surprise that readers chose the iPhone 18 Pro as the Phone of the Year. After all, this — along with the iPhone 18 Pro Max — scored five stars in our review, which is a rating we hardly ever give out to phones. But with its excellent camera system — complete with genuinely useful upgrades like a variable aperture and pro controls — plus an exceptionally fast chipset, great battery life, beautiful new Burgundy and Glacier colors, and a superb screen and software, the iPhone 18 Pro excels in just about every area. So its five stars, and Readers' Phone of the Year award, are well deserved.

Phone Brand of the Year

Apple

Given that the iPhone 18 Pro won Phone of the Year and that Apple’s handsets are well represented among the other Readers’ Choice award winners below, it’s hard to see how any other company could have won Phone Brand of the Year. Apple might not release as many different models as some brands, but it still has a phone for almost everyone — whether you want a high-end flagship, a top-tier gaming phone, a DSLR alternative, something more affordable, or even, this year, a foldable phone (though the Duo was released too late to be eligible for these awards). And not only has Apple covered most of the bases here, but all of its handsets excel and e with genuine upgrades compared to last year’s models.

Phones Innovation of the Year

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Given that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 was the first passport-shaped foldable to arrive on the scene in Western markets this year, it's easy to see why readers voted it as the Phones Innovation of the Year. This new form factor makes it even more pocketable than a book-style foldable, but still gives you a large screen when it’s unfolded. The smaller cover screen also makes it perfect for one-handed use when you don’t need the large inner display, and coupled with flagship performance and high–quality displays, this is a great all-round phone — not just an innovative one.

Best Value Phone

Apple iPhone 17e

The iPhone 17e might not be the cheapest phone, but its lower price makes it highly affordable by iPhone standards, and it comes with double the storage of the iPhone 16e without upping the starting price. Plus, with features like MagSafe and an A19 chipset, you’re getting a lot for your money, so it’s no wonder this was voted Best Value Phone. iPhones tend to get updated for many years and hold their value well too, so this isn’t just good value on day one — it should also serve you well for a long time.

Best Mid-Range Phone

Apple iPhone 17

There’s no base iPhone 18 yet, and it’s a testament to just how good the iPhone 17 still is that readers have voted it the Best Mid-Range Phone. Everything that was good about the iPhone 17 at launch still remains so in 2026 — including its powerful A19 chipset, always-on display with ProMotion, and improved cameras. The iPhone 17’s price hasn’t dropped since launch (in fact, thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, it's actually gone up), but you’re still getting a lot for your money compared to many other mid-range phones.

Best Folding Phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the Readers’ Choice Phone Innovation of the Year, it’s the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra that readers think is the overall Best Folding Phone. This isn’t surprising either, as while the form factor here is nothing new, this is Samsung’s most polished, premium, and feature-packed foldable yet — so much so that it got ‘Ultra’ added to the name. For the first time, the foldable screen is essentially flat, with a near-invisible crease, and the Z Fold 8 Ultra also has a bigger battery, more power, and improved cameras compared to its predecessor, while still being slimmer, making for a phone that lives up to its ‘Ultra’ name.

Best Flip Phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

Samsung is clearly still the king of foldables for now in readers’ eyes, since they’ve also voted the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 as the Best Flip Phone. Arguably, this phone didn’t have much competition outside of the Motorola Razr line, but that doesn’t take away from its achievements, including new Horizontal Lock and Fan Cam features, which make it a major upgrade for recording videos. Coupled with a slightly slimmer design than last year, improved software, and a chipset upgrade, it’s no wonder the Z Flip 8 has flipped its way into readers’ hearts.

Best Camera Phone

Apple iPhone 18 Pro

The iPhone 18 Pro — along with the iPhone 18 Pro Max — have some serious camera upgrades, so it makes sense that readers would have voted this the Best Camera Phone. You’re getting a trio of 48MP cameras on the back, covering wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto (4x zoom) views, and in a rare move for phones, the wide snapper also has a variable aperture. That feature, coupled with new pro controls, gives you more power than ever to take control of your shots. But the iPhone 18 Pro still shines for point-and-shoot photography, too, and its cameras capture more detail than ever before.

Best Gaming Phone

Apple iPhone 18 Pro

The iPhone 18 Pro also takes the Readers’ Choice Best Gaming Phone award, and this makes total sense too, given the sheer amount of power on offer here. The phone has a seriously fast A20 Pro chipset paired with improved thermal management — so it can keep cool and maintain its smooth performance even over a lengthy gaming session. On top of that, the App Store simply has a better selection of high-end games than you’ll find over on Android, and they’re usually well optimized for Apple’s hardware.

Best AI Phone

Google Pixel 11 Pro

Between them, Samsung and Apple have swept almost all of these awards — but not quite all of them, as readers voted the Google Pixel 11 Pro as the Best AI Phone. Despite Siri’s recent AI makeover, this makes perfect sense, as Google has spent the last few years improving the Pixel’s AI features and more deeply integrating them into the operating system. The result with the Pixel 11 Pro is a phone with AI everywhere. You can tap into Gemini from any screen, and new features such as Rambler for voice dictation and Magic Capture for photography bring genuinely useful AI-powered upgrades to this phone's core functionality.

Cameras & drones

Camera of the Year

Sony A7R VI

From a shortlist that included the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Sony A7 V, Leica M-EV1 and a trio of five-star DJI products, it was the A7R VI that topped your votes, and it’s easy to see why: Sony gave us highly-detailed images and blazing-fast performance in a single, well-designed model, rounding the package off by debuting its first new battery in almost a decade for class-leading endurance. We rarely use the word ‘perfect’, but for many photographers, the Sony A7R VI mirrorless camera will be just that.

Camera Brand of the Year

Sony

Readers voted the A7R VI as a double winner, the A7 V as the Best Mid-range Camera, the RX10 V as the Best Compact Camera and the 100mm F2.8 macro as the Best Lens winner — so it’s little wonder that the camera giant wins the Brand of the Year vote too. And the accolade is fully deserved; other leading brands have had a majorly quiet year by comparison, besides perhaps the relentless DJI. Sony’s mirrorless camera lineup is looking strong, and its lens range is formidable. If you can afford its admittedly pricey gear, it’s the ecosystem that has it all.

Camera Innovation of the Year

Antigravity A1

Antigravity was a complete unknown before this year, but the Insta360-seeded company burst onto the scene with the world's first 360-degree drone, the A1. Pipping DJI to the post, the Antigravity A1 is effectively an Insta360 X5 that flies, which means it shoots crisp 8K video of every angle, and when paired with the company’s goggles and motion controller, gives a flight experience that’s both immersive and intuitive. The possibilities for this tech are truly exciting.

Best Beginner Camera

Fujifilm X-T30 III

Love Fujifilm’s retro design but can’t stretch to the pricey X100 VI or X-E5? In steps the portable Fujifilm X-T30 III, fitted with the company’s entry-level 26MP APS-C sensor for sharp stills, 6K video with 10-bit color depth, a tilt screen, EVF and a flash. It’s an excellent entry point to the Fujifilm X-mount for photography-focused users, with very few rivals at its affordable price point, besides the recent OM PEN. The X-T30 III is set to become one of Fujifilm's best sellers.

Best Mid-range camera

Sony A7 V

The Sony A7 IV held onto top spot in our best mirrorless cameras guide for years and had only recently lost its spot to the Nikon Z6 III, only for Sony to wrestle it back with the mark IV’s successor. The Sony A7 V feels like the complete camera; its new processor, ‘partially stacked’ sensor and improved subject tracking autofocus deliver a boost in stills and video performance, even if the A7 V has the same 33MP resolution as its predecessor. The A7 V is a true all-rounder.

Best Professional Camera

Sony A7R VI

Of course the readers' Camera of the Year also scoops top prize in its individual category. With Canon doing its business last year, and Nikon remaining totally quiet, the A7R VI really stood out. and it's a solid upgrade of the A7R V, with a bump in resolution from 61MP to 66.8MP, but more importantly it’s a quicker stacked sensor that’s ultimately way more versatile. The completely new battery (for class-leading battery life) and Sony’s best autofocus and design yet add further polish to the Sony A7R VI.

Best Compact and Instant Camera

Sony RX10 V

We didn't see it coming, but nine years after the now-discontinued RX10 IV, Sony revived its series of bridge cameras, and made the best even better. It ditched the Cyber-Shot name and brushed up the Sony RX10 V’s design to feel more Alpha, but ultimately the shooting experience from the same 20.1MP 1-inch sensor and 24-600mm F2.8-4 lens combo is entirely familiar, and it's one that many enthusiast wildlife photographers will love. Add the chunkier battery, better autofocus and faster burst shooting, and it’s an even better, albeit pricier, all-in-one camera.

Best Action and Vlogging Camera

Insta 360 Luna Ultra

DJI was busy priming its twin-lens Pocket 4P camera to attempt to change the vlogging camera game, only for Insta360 to steal its thunder with the Luna Ultra, and what an innovative camera it is. Taking the compact, gimbal-mounted camera formula of the Pocket series, the Insta360 Luna Ultra went one step further by adding a 3x telephoto camera, and fitted the device with a clever detachable remote module, which can control the camera remotely and doubles up as a mic. Never has solo vlogging been easier.

Best Camera Lens

Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS

At 10 years old, Sony’s 90mm macro lens was beginning to look a little dated, and so Sony macro photographers were delighted when the company released an entirely new model with a larger than life 1.4x magnification: the Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS. Much like the similar Canon 100mm macro lens from 2021, Sony’s doubles up nicely as a portrait lens too, plus it's supported with image stabilization, compatible with teleconverters, and optically it's pretty much flawless.

Best camera accessory

Birdfy Bird Bath Pro

We’ve been reviewing bird feeder cameras for years, but it was the Birdfy Bird Bath Pro that made a splash in 2026 (pun intended). Amid warnings of the part that flat tray bird feeders can play in spreading avian diseases, in stepped this unique bird bath camera, with a more hygienic fountain, and that enabled us to observe a different kind of splashing and preening bird behavior from up close, with the same live feed and app notifications we've come to love from bird feeder cameras. The first generation product needs a little refining, but there's nothing else like it for bird lovers.

Best drone

Antigravity A1

The Antigravity A1 clearly made an impression on readers, picking up its second award here. It’s great to see a company besides DJI entering the drone space, and to do it so well with its first 360–degree drone. The Antigravity A1 shoots 8K video taken from any angle, and delivers an immersive flight experience through its goggles and motion controller. And with firmware updates and new accessories since the product's launch, Antigravity looks like it's just getting started.

Computing

Computing Brand of the Year

Apple

Apple shook up the computing world this year with the introduction of its affordable MacBook Neo, which combined a relatively low price tag with a premium design, all without making too many compromises when it comes to performance. It left Windows competitors scrambling to compete, so we ended up with a range of excellent affordable Windows 11 laptops arriving later — which means Apple had perhaps the biggest impact on computing in 2026, and readers clearly felt it.

Best Computing Innovation

Nvidia DLSS 4.5

Out of all the AI upscaling tech that's been helping PC gamers eke out more performance from their rigs, Nvidia's DLSS is by far the most advanced, and its 4.5 release brings better image quality, while Dynamic Multi Frame Generation does a great job of balancing image quality with high frame rates. Nvidia also added 6X Frame Generation, which allows compatible GPUs to reach incredibly high frame rates.

Best Value Laptop

Apple MacBook Neo

When Apple launched the MacBook Neo earlier this year for $599 / £599 / AU$1,049, it made a huge impact. It was a lower price than many of us were expecting, and no Windows 11 laptop, or Chromebook, that cost similar could compete. Sure, there were compromises to keep the price down, such as a lack of backlit keyboard, slow USB ports and just 8GB of memory, but the overall package offered incredible value for money. So, it was a bit of a shame that Apple increased the price a few months later to $699 / £699, making it less good value. Still, even with the price rise, you won't find a better laptop for the price.

Best AI Laptop

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 (2025)

After a few years where it felt like Apple was being left behind, it's beginning to roll out more of its Apple Intelligence (AI) features, and while it's still early days, the results are promising, with many of the tools featuring Apple's signature polish. Because the company has been including its Neural Engine in its chips for years, it actually has a bit of a head start when it comes to on-device AI, and the latest MacBook Pro is a great example of this.

Best Gaming Laptop

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

Gaming laptops don't come much bigger and brasher than the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026). It features desktop-grade performance thanks to a mighty RTX 5090 laptop GPU, plus a cutting-edge Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. Its huge 18-inch screen is also fantastic, powered by mini-LED technology, which makes modern games look gorgeous. However, all this power comes with a high price tag.

Best PC Gaming Handheld

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20

While some PC gaming handhelds are going all-in on raw performance with cutting-edge components, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 is more of a refinement of the existing ROG Xbox Ally — but that is actually a bit of a masterstroke, as it means it's cheaper than rivals such as MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. Don't think this is a budget device, however, and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 features some nice improvements such as an OLED screen that looks fantastic, as well as improved buttons and TMR joysticks.

Best Gaming Keyboard

Turtle Beach Command Series KB7 TKL

The Turtle Beach Command Series KB7 TKL is an unusual gaming keyboard, because instead of a physical numpad, it has a built-in touchscreen that can give you quick access to macros, apps, and shortcuts that can give you a competitive edge. Thanks to its 8K polling rate, it's fast and responsive, and when you're not playing games, it feels great to type on as well.

Best Gaming Monitor

Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF is a brilliant gaming monitor for people who are seriously into their competitive esports, thanks to its incredibly fast 500Hz refresh rate. Matched with ultra-low response times, and you have a monitor that will keep up with even the most frantic of games, and the OLED screen tech makes those games look incredible.

Best Gaming Mouse

Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike

The Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike more than earns its rare five-star rating thanks to its fantastic build quality and lightweight design that makes it feel comfortable no matter what your grip type is. It also features a unique haptic inductive trigger system that lets you fine-tune the mouse buttons to perfectly suit your playstyle.

Gaming

Gaming Device of the Year

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro 2

The new Stealth Pro 2 headset from Turtle Beach is a fantastic premium headset that builds on everything great about its predecessor. The sound quality is spectacular, of course, but there's now improved battery life and solutions within its dock, a slick new lifestyle-friendly design, and a fantastic microphone all working together at the core of what makes it excel in gaming audio.

Gaming Brand of the Year

Turtle Beach

Gaming hardware behemoth Turtle Beach has released a whole heap of awesome gaming gear and devices in the past year or so, from pushing the boundaries of what a gaming mouse can be, deploying brilliant aesthetics to controllers, all the way to following up one of the best headsets of recent times with a superb successor.

Gaming Innovation of the Year

Turtle Beach MC7

A screen on a mouse?! Outrageous! But also: excellently innovative by Turtle Beach. In terms of changing perceptions about what gaming mice can do, the Command Series MC7 is a brilliant gaming product and should increase the functionality that gaming mice can offer players.

Best Console Accessory

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 wheel

Offering a brilliant direct-drive bundle, the KD3 wheel is a fantastic addition to the budget end of the market and offers incredible value for money. The feedback from the 3.2Nm motor, pedal set, and even the aesthetics all play their part in making the VelocityOne Race KD3 a brilliant racing wheel.

Best Gaming Service

Xbox Game Pass

Having its price slashed this year, thankfully, is a big boon to players, and it has meant that Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription still offers good value while also allowing players to jump into the likes of Gears of War: E-Day without paying the full price of a game.

Best Gaming Controller

Turtle Beach Pacific Skyline Wireless Controller

This might be the best possible controller for GTA 6. With a delightfully retro pastel aesthetic, this Xbox pad stands apart in a sea of comparatively boring-looking alternatives. It's got beautiful RGB lighting to boot, and competitive specs, including features such as remappable rear buttons and built-in audio controls, to back up the good looks.

Best Gaming Headset

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro 2

A premium headset that does it all, the Stealth Pro 2 from Turtle Beach is about as close to the full package as gaming headsets have gotten in the past year. It also had a tough act to follow, with its predecessor being so good too, and is worthy of its place as one of the past year's best.

Best Gaming Chair

Secretlab Atlas

Having thoroughly mastered the gaming chair, this year saw Secretlab branch out into something new. The Secretlab Atlas is a strong task chair that's perfect for work, relaxation, and, of course, gaming. The unique design incorporates a fantastic self-adjusting lumbar mechanism, which makes comfortable seating effortless.

TV & home theater

TV of the year

Sony Bravia 9 II

A TV needs to be sensational to stand out from the best TVs of 2026, and the Bravia 9 II is exactly that. Its RGB mini-LED panel delivers OLED-grade contrast and color, but with the brightness of mini-LED — and its audio system means it sounds as good as it looks.

Home Entertainment Brand of the Year

Sony

With multiple gongs in this year's reader-voted awards, it's not a surprise to see Sony pick up the Brand of the Year award too. Sony's focus on making premium products with innovative tech has yielded impressive results across TVs and soundbars, and its RGB technology and wireless speaker systems have been especially worth the wait.

Home Entertainment Innovation of the Year

Sony True RGB

True RGB is Sony's branding for its RGB mini-LED technology. Like other mini-LED displays, True RGB uses a very bright mini-LED backlight to deliver brightness that OLEDs can only dream of. RGB mini-LED takes the tech further, with each LED packing separate, independently controlled red, green and blue diodes instead of a single color. That means much better color accuracy and off-angle viewing. Sony isn't the only company to introduce this tech in 2026, but the way it designed its version has led to the most impressive results.

Best Gaming TV

TCL QM8L

The TCL QM8L is a superb TV for gaming thanks to its support for 4K at up to 144Hz across all four HDMI 2.1 ports, variable refresh rate at up to 288Hz, low latency, and impressive built-in audio as a bonus. We gave it a maximum score for gaming in our review, and said it's "a pleasure to game on" — and clearly the readers agree. This TV is TCL doing what TCL does best: delivering lots of fun for a way lower price than you expect.

Best TV for Sound

Sony Bravia 9 II

It's another win for Sony's flagship, this time for its Acoustic Multi-Audio+ sound system that has two full-range drivers, two subwoofers, two tweeters and a pair of angled beam tweeters to add height. With 80W of power, the Sony Bravia 9 II is impressively loud as well as beautifully detailed, and it sounds terrific in movies and music.

Best OLED TV

LG G6

The LG G6 stood out this year for massively improving its visibility in even very bright rooms, and it set a very high bar for OLED excellence overall this year. The picture quality is outstanding, it's phenomenal for gaming, and webOS remains one of our favorite smart TV platforms.

Best mini-LED TV

Sony Bravia 9 II

RGB mini-LED is spectacular, and right now nobody's doing it quite like Sony. The Bravia 9 II is the best backlit TV we've ever seen, breaking new ground when it comes to color and contrast, but maintaining the realistic, reference look that Sony strives for.

Best Value TV

TCL QM7L

The TCL QM7L is a remarkable achievement, reaching image quality shockingly close to the heights of TCL's flagships for a significantly lower price. Like its award-winning QM8L sibling, it's a superb gaming TV, and it's an excellent all-rounder with a good specification and a generally premium feel.

Best Projector

Anker Soundcore Nebula P1

It looks like you share our view of the Anker Soundcore Nebula P1: it's a lot of fun, and as a package it's hard to beat. The P1 takes the best bits of the much more expensive X1, including its nifty wireless speakers, and boils them down into a much more affordable portable projector package so you can enjoy big-screen fun anywhere.

Best Soundbar

Sonos Beam Ultra

The days when Sonos had the premium soundbar sector to itself are long gone, but the Sonos Beam Ultra puts the company right back at the head of the pack: five out of five stars-good as we detailed in our Sonos Beam Ultra review. It's an Arc Ultra but smaller, delivering superbly detailed and immersive audio in a really small package.

Best Wireless Home Theater Speakers

Sony Bravia Theater Trio

The Sony Bravia Theater Trio is an LCR system, which means it has left, center and right wireless speakers to create a much wider soundstage than the best soundbars alone can deliver. It delivers a powerful, warm and wide sound, and if you add a wireless subwoofer things get even more entertaining. In the world of giant-screen TVs, this is a really tempting option, as our voters clearly felt.

Streaming

Streaming Service of the Year

Netflix

Netflix is always a controversial company, especially when it comes to price hikes — but there's a reason it can get away with all the rises, and that's because it's the best. Its own Netflix Originals continue to excite and delight, it makes smart buys from all around the world, and its documentaries are often superb. Add in excellent parental controls, apps for every conceivable device and a very affordable ad-supported tier and you can see why Netflix is a worthy winner.

Best Streaming Service for Movies

Netflix

Netflix's mix of original movies and bought-in blockbusters in a huge range of genres means there's always some movie magic to stream, whether that's the latest Wallace & Gromit movie (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), Godzilla Minus One, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse or classics such as Jaws. Netflix's current movie catalog features some of the world's most celebrated filmmakers including Alfonso Cuarón, Martin Scorcese, Jane Campion, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Spike Lee and many more.

Best Streaming Service for Documentaries

Netflix

Netflix was quick to recognize the power of documentaries to deliver big drama with very low budgets, and its current slate includes a huge range that stretches from the hard-hitting to the heart-warming. From true crime reconstructions to spectacular shows such as American Symphony, Netflix's documentary department is full of must-watch stories.

Best Streaming Service for TV Series

Apple TV

The recently renamed Apple TV, formerly Apple TV+, may not have the massive catalogs of its streaming rivals, but when your line-up includes the likes of Slow Horses, Pluribus, Small Prophets, Hijack, Shrinking, Severance, Margot's Got Money Troubles, Widows Bay and more, it's clear that you're prizing quality over quantity. Apple's one-tier approach is refreshing: there's no need to pay more for ad-free viewing, higher resolution or spatial audio.

Best Free Streaming Service of the Year

Tubi

Like many readers we're big fans of Tubi: it's one of the finest FAST (free ad-supported television) streamers around, with a huge range of entertainment to choose from. Don't expect the very latest hit shows or blockbusters, but the catalog is impressively large and wide-ranging so there's always something fun to watch — and the ads aren't so frequent that they become irritating.

Audio

Headphones of the Year

Apple AirPods Max 2

As we said in our full AirPods Max 2 review, these cans are "doubtless the best noise-cancelling iPhone headphones on the planet" while also being incredibly comfortable and boasting some of the best voice capture on any headphones we've ever experienced. Clearly the readers felt the same way, and like us were able to overcome the fact that Apple kept that weird, weird case…

Audio Brand of the Year

Bowers & Wilkins

There's something undeniably elite, sophisticated and next-level about B&W's products, whether it's the luxurious five-star PX8 S2 headphones, the deliciously expensive earbuds, or its astounding new-generation Diamond-series speakers. Clearly, the readers agreed that the attention to both design and sound here is a cut above the rest.

Audio Innovation of the Year

Cambridge L/R S speakers

We called this set of bijou active speakers "an immediate pound-for-pound market-leader contender" in our five-star review. There are two channels of amplification for each speaker, and a full DSP crossover which acts as a PWM signal to each amplifier, for astounding accuracy, and custom connecter between the speakers for ensuring all of that comes through appropriately. Are they a tad over-engineered? Perhaps — but this is an innovation award, and it seems like that's exactly what the readers responded to.

Best Wireless Headphones

Sony 1000X The Collexion

What better way to mark a whole decade (yes, we feel old too) since Sony's now modern classic 1000X headphones landed than to distill everything that's ever been great about them into a solo, celebratory product? OK, they're the company's priciest set of wireless Bluetooth headphones yet but, as we said in our Sony 1000X The Collexion review, "their luxurious build, detailed sound, and top-tier comfortability help to justify their price tag."

Best Wireless Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM6

Another Sony winner, and no one can argue with Sony's detailed sound quality. But Sony's buds are also always a leader due to their features, and the Quick Attention option, should someone need a quick word with you have the ANC on, alone is a good enough reason for the readers to have voted for these buds.

Best Open Earbuds

Shokz OpenFit Pro

We were happy to see that, despite their not-insignificant asking fee, these are getting the recognition they so fully deserve. The fit is secure and fuss free (aided by extra optional bands in the box, which are useful for sports), and the excellent active noise reduction is nothing short of class-leading. Read our full Shokz Openfit Pro review for the full match report, but as far as we're concerned, Shokz hit an ace here.

Best Value Headphones

Sony WH-CH730N

There's a strong set of features in Sony WH-CH730N for the money, plus competent sound and a nifty, foldable design. At such a low price, the all-round quality you get here is impressive, and Sony's budget headphones have been popular for years — evidently, the new model is landing with readers as well.

Best Value Earbuds

Earfun Air Pro 4 Plus

Earfun's built up a huge, loyal fanbase owing to its consistently good, affordable earbuds. The Earfun Air Pro 4 do nothing to buck that trend, delivering very good value for money, and premium features. So we're not surprised to see them as the readers' pick, and they're a deserving winner.

Best Value Open Earbuds

Anker Soundcore Aeroclip 2

Yes, we're into second-generation ear cuff-style open earbuds in 2026 and long may they reign! The Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 are a solid upgrade over their predecessors, offering higher-resolution audio, better waterproofing, clearer calls, and a more tailored sound, as we explored in our Soundcore Aeroclip 2 review. They benefit from a bit of extra tuning to sound exciting, but they're a great option for fans of this clip-on design, particularly in the pictured 'Burgundy Red' finish. Very 'new romantic'!

Best Wired Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000

A huge win for a set of 58mm open-back drivers and A-T's known wizardry in the game. I'd caveat the win by saying you can't just buy these headphones and expect great sound from your source device — you have to buy a decent amp to drive them too — but we've covered it all in our five-star Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 review. Know this: get them properly powered and, as long as you don't care that other people will hear whatever you're listening to, they'll reward you with some of the best audio quality we've ever heard from headphones.

Best Wired Earbuds

Sennheiser CX 80U

When people ask us, "What's the cheapest way to get better sound from my phone?" our response is to name-drop these cheap 2026-release USB-C wired earbuds. For around $35 / £30 you really cannot expect more. OK, you don't get volume controls on the in-line remote and the mic isn't especially good in calls, as we note in our glowing Sennheiser CX 80U review — but you do get agile bass, clarity through mids and vivid, sparkling highs. Pair that with their surprisingly solid noise isolation and you’re looking at an awesome pair of wired buds for music.

Best Bluetooth Speaker

JBL Xtreme 5

JBL seemingly cannot go wrong when it comes to portable speakers, whatever their size — although it's worth noting that this is a big boy… but the triumph is big too. Truth be told, we've never met a JBL Bluetooth speaker we didn't like quite a bit, but this particular model? This is one of the best portable Bluetooth puppies we've ever tested — as our five-star JBL Xtreme 5 review emphasizes — so it's easy to see why the readers picked it.

Best Wireless Speaker

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker

If your budget can stretch to it, there’s just so much to like about the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, and so little to take issue with — and we're happy that you think so too. In our Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker review we appreciated the tall, punchy and well-defined spatial audio performance from a winsome and well-made Wi-Fi speaker.

Best Portable Audio Player

Astell & Kern PD5

Astell & Kern's newest 'entry level' hi-res audio player (we put that in quotation marks purely because entry level for A&K may be different for the rest of us…) is a simple and deserved winner here. The hi-res digital audio player specialist knows what it's doing with quality portable music machines.

Best Turntable

Sony PS-LX5BT

This is Sony's joint-newest Bluetooth record player (the slightly pricier of a new duo), and because the PS-LX5BT features Bluetooth transmission via the aptX Adaptive codec, it'll give you better-quality streams if your receiver is up to it. Because of its onboard phono stage, it can also hard-wire to pretty much any system you care to mention — and to top it all off, Sony's made the whole thing automatic where playback is concerned. See our full Sony PS-LX5BT review for the full scoop on why this is the beginner-friendly player to beat — something the readers clearly agreed with.

Best DAC

Astell & Kern AK HC5

In our full-fat review of the HC5, we praised this little hi-res audio DAC for the spacious detail it brought to our portable music game, its classy build and finish and the fact that it really is portable. Essentially, it gives your phone, laptop or even your games console the audio skills of a top-end hi-res music player.

Best Stereo Speakers

Cambridge L/R S

A double win for the colorful little Cambridge speakers! These little beauties also won our readership's Audio Innovation of the Year gong too, and it means Cambridge's gamble with these all-new active speakers (the smallest and most-intriguing in a new three-strong range) has really paid off. As our Cambridge Audio L/R S review and the awards here prove, they're a winner.

Health & Fitness tech

Health and Fitness Device of the Year

Apple Watch Ultra 4

It's always tough to push the Apple Watch Ultra off the top spot, and readers once again voted it to give it the top price, and that's because it's such a comprehensive best-in-class beast of a smartwatch. While it doesn't look much different from last year's design from the front, the Ultra 4's redesigned sensor array means it can record heart rate readings up to 60 times more often as older models, plus it (finally!) gets a Readiness score. It remains the smartwatch to beat for another year at least.

Health & Fitness Brand of the Year

Garmin

Garmin has had a good year. The hugely popular brand went from strength to strength this year, not only delivering another five-star watch with the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro (among other great adventure- and cycling-focused devices), but also delivering the wearable we named the best screenless fitness tracker of 2026 (and there have been quite a few) — the Garmin Cirqa.

Health and Fitness Innovation of the Year

Google Fitbit Air

Despite hot competition (including the Garmin Cirqa), our readers voted the Google Fitbit Air (which came first) the best health tech innovation of 2026. It was quite revolutionary in the fitness tracker field: up until it landed, the screenless space was dominated by the cripplingly expensive Whoop. The Fitbit Air broke this trend and used the power of Google's existing Gemini AI framework to democratize the AI element, delivering it at a lower price, while keeping the basics nice and cheap for under $100 / £90.

Best Smartwatch

Apple Watch Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 hasn't changed a huge amount since last year (or indeed, since its inception), but it's improving on an already-excellent model with increased battery life and a redesigned health-sensing LED array. This new 'Health Sensing System' takes heart rate readings 60x more often during the day, resulting in what Apple says is the most accurate heart rate detection ever on a wearable. Of course, it's also a fantastic smartwatch with a sumptuous screen and useful features.

Best Running Watch

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro

From a technical standpoint, this may be Garmin's finest watch yet, and the one on every serious endurance athlete's Christmas list. The Fenix 9 Pro takes Garmin's excellent Fenix 8 and adds a brighter screen, an all-titanium nano-moulded case, a new green light for improved visibility, better maps, InReach and Solar options, and loads more. We rated it a five-star triumph in our Garmin Fenix 9 Pro review.

Best Fitness Tracker

Garmin Cirqa

Although the Fitbit Air came first, we labelled the Garmin Cirqa as our ideal 'Goldilocks' tracker: cheaper than the Whoop, but more feature-rich than the Fitbit. Garmin's tracker lasts for over a week and features a tactile button to start-stop workouts and alarms, after which you get a haptic notification. This is a terrific way to interact with a screenless device and get assurance your workouts are being tracked, rather than opening up the app to manually start an activity.

Best Smart Ring

Oura Ring 5

Although there were other smart rings released from the likes of RingConn and Circular this year, the Oura won out again this year simply by virtue of its app's powerful smarts. You do need a membership, but Oura is a premium device, and new health insights along with a redesigned, slimmer ring means it's easy to see why the readers voted it as their pick.

Best Electric Toothbrush

Suri Core 1.0

Suri is the toothbrush company that creates simple sonic toothbrushes with sustainable elements, and it's managed to bring the price down a touch with the Suri Core 1.0, becoming more affordable while retaining its Apple-esque, good-looking design ethos. With the magnetic back attachment and simple dual modes, it's unspectacular, but a free brush head recycling program and a slick look go a long way to making it popular.

Best Connected Fitness Tech

Withings BodyScan 2

Withings' top-flight smart scale is this year's best connected tech entry, which offers so much more than just weight. The retractable handle enables the scale to run currents through the whole body, taking heart rate readings and cardiovascular snapshots in addition to all the usual metrics and a new 'vascular age' metric. Its accurate, reliable, and usable by the whole family with multiple profiles.

Home tech

Home Device of the Year

Philips Hue Essential

The Philips Hue Essential series is an affordable entry to smart lighting that doesn’t compromise on quality. Philips Hue Essential bulbs and LED strips are compatible with all devices in the Hue ecosystem, but work equally well on their own, with brightness, color reproduction, and responsiveness that rivals smart lights costing several times the price.

Home Tech Brand of the Year

Philips Hue

It's been an epic year for Philips Hue. At one end of the scale, the brand has made smart lighting more accessible with the budget-friendly Hue Essential series of bulbs and LED strips. At the other end, the new Philips Hue Bridge Pro lets power users connect over 150 lights in a single network and delivers exciting AI features — with lots more on the horizon. Smart lighting has never been so exciting.

Home Tech Innovation of the Year

Philips Hue Essential

If you like the idea of installing smart lights, but have been put off by the price, the Philips Hue Essential series is for you. This innovative collection of smart lights offers all the best features of the Philips Hue system without the hefty price tag, meaning that it's a game-changer for people put off by the price of whole-home smart lighting in the past.

Best Home Light Tech

Philips Hue Essential

Another win for Philips Hue Essential, though this one was inevitable given its other victories here. The Essential light range is affordable and versatile, offering brightness, color, and smart functionality that belies the products' modest price. In side-by-side tests, it’s hard to differentiate between these and their premium counterparts, and they’re fully compatible with automations, scenes, switches and sensors through the Philips Hue app. A perfect entry to smart lighting.

Best Home Security Device

TP-Link Tapo C660

When it comes to home security cameras, the TP-Link Tapo C660 checks off everything on our wishlist: easy installation, extra long battery life topped up with a solar panel, crisp 4K footage, and no subscription necessary to store it all. It’s remarkably affordable too, and if you have a large property, a multi-camera bundle will let you watch over it from all angles. For peace of mind, it's unbeatable.

Best Robot Vacuum

Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai

The ingenious Spot+Scrub Ai is designed to tackle stubborn dried-on stains that other robovacs can’t handle, using artificial intelligence to identify troublesome dirt and then mopping it repeatedly until it’s gone. Its self-cleaning is exceptional too, and overall it’s an excellent choice for little-and-often cleaning that will keep your floors looking immaculate.

Best Vacuum

Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum and Auto-Empty Dok

A winning pair — the ultra-light and super-maneuverable Dyson V10 Konical funnels hair to the center of the brushroll to prevent it wrapping around the spindle, while the Auto-Empty Dok removes all the hassle and mess of emptying the vacuum’s dust cup. A perfect duo for allergy-sufferers and pet-owners alike.

Best Air Fryer

Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer

The Ninja Crispi Pro’s standout features are its clever glass cooking dishes, which let you store, cook, and serve food with no mess or hassle. The air fryer cooks quickly and quietly, whether you’re crisping up a few fries or roasting a whole chicken, and the dishes are a cinch to clean in the dishwasher when you’re done. Air frying should always be this easy.

Best Coffee Machine

Lavazza Assoluta

The Lavazza Assoluta takes the guesswork out of making espresso with a clever system that scans the barcode on your coffee beans, then tweaks the machine’s brew settings accordingly. Its built-in milk frother prepares creamy lattes and macchiatos without the need to master a steam wand, and its drinks menu is fully customizable. Want an extra shot in your cappuccino? No problem!

Best Value Coffee Machine

Philips Baristina

The Philips Baristina makes brewing espresso with fresh beans just as simple as using coffee pods. It handles dosing, grinding and extraction for you, and its ingenious design with a removeable portafilter handle makes it a cinch to clean compared to a typical automatic coffee maker. A perfect entry-level espresso machine — and accessibly priced, too.

Best Fan

Dyson Hot+Cool HF1

This compact fan will serve you well all year round, offering effective cooling during the summer and efficient heating during the colder months. It’s supplied with a remote, but we were most impressed by the Dyson Hot+Cool HF1's mobile app, which made setting timers and schedules a breeze — and even let us pre-heat a room so it was cozy when we arrived home.

Steam was down for many —but the 'loading user data' bug now seems to be fixed

mark.wilson@futurenet.com (Mark Wilson) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:59:27 +0000

Steam had a bad start to the week on Monday, with thousands of users reporting that a "loading user data" issue was preventing them from logging in — but it now seems to be fixed.

Reports about the problem spiked on Downdetector at around 4.30am ET / 9.30am BST on Monday, October 26. There were also countless reports on social media and Reddit of people experiencing the same issue.

There was no official statement or update from Valve about the problem, but here's how the gaming platform's outage played out today...

The story so far

Many Steam reported being unable to log into their accounts today
Most were reporting being stuck on a "loading user data" page
The reports started at around 4am ET / 9am BST, but it now seems to be fixed

October 26, 2026 – 9:05 AM

Reports are on the rise

(Image credit: Downdetector)

Today's Steam issue has been a bit of a slow burn rather than a sudden outage, but reports are now increasing sharply.

On Downdetector, they've now hit a peak of almost 500 in the US and about 450 in the UK. However, it does seem to be a global issue according to a Reddit thread, with users in Germany, the Netherlands and Russia all saying they can't log in.

Over on the Steam Dashboard, there's no report of an official problem — so this appears to be a software bug or issue rather than a service outage.

October 26, 2026 – 9:12 AM

The screen of pain

Welp @Steam I have got the loading user data endless screen. Been trying to fix it for a good while but nothing is working. Even uninstalled everything. If you could get back to me as soon as possible that would be great thanks. https://t.co/Dywd32tdrBOctober 26, 2026

This is the screen that thousands of Steam users are reporting seeing right now — and it seems resistant to most of the commonly-known fixes.

Many users have reported closing their games and restarting their PCs, but without any joy. This also doesn't seem to be a maintenance outage — those typically takes place on Wednesdays at 00:00 UTC.

The Steam Dashboard continues to show no official issues, but hopefully we'll get some official guidance from Steam soon...

October 26, 2026 – 9:26 AM

This isn't an outage

(Image credit: Steam)

The Steam dashboard is green across the board right now, so we don't appear to be looking at a network outage.

That means all of Steam's traditional advice — from restarting Stream, to clearing your download cache or changing your download region — isn't really applicable or working for most people.

Some have reported that restarting their PC without an internet connection, launching Steam in offline mode, then re-connecting to the internet has done the trick for them, but many are reporting that it hasn't solved their issues.

October 26, 2026 – 9:40 AM

You're not alone

(Image credit: Downdetector)

Those Steam reports on Downdetector are very much going in the wrong direction — with the spike now near-vertical in the US and UK.

Almost everyone is reporting the same problem — being stuck on a "loading user data" page when trying to log in. Many are reporting that this happened after they cleared their download cache, but it isn't clear if that's a universal theme.

There's still been no official word from Valve on social media or other channels, but I'm trying to get a response now and will report back as soon as I hear anything.

October 26, 2026 – 9:54 AM

We're at four hours and counting

Problem logging in to Steam
from r/steamsupport

Today's Steam issues started at around 4am ET / 9am BST but there's still no sign of a fix or any successful troubleshooting tips.

The Reddit thread above continues to grow with comments from across the globe, from Japan to Spain — and while some are suggesting fixes (like turning off Wi-Fi, opening Steam, then turning on Wi-Fi again) they don't seem to be working for very many users.

I've contacted Valve for an official response and will update you as soon as I hear anything.

October 26, 2026 – 10:26 AM

A possible fix?

(Image credit: Photo Oz / Shutterstock)

Strangely, there's been no official statement from Valve about today's "loading user data" issue yet, despite it starting over five hours ago.

This is, unsurprisingly, causing an increasing amount of frustration from gamers on X and Reddit. For some, quitting Steam, removing their PC from their network, reopening the app, and then re-connecting their PC to their network or Wi-Fi seems to do the trick — but many are also reporting that this doesn't work for them.

Hopefully, Valve will push out a fix for this bug soon — or at least tell an increasingly angry horde of Steam gamers when that might happen...

October 26, 2026 – 10:59 AM

On the mend?

(Image credit: Downdetector)

This is the first sign of a drop in Steam reports on Downdetector that we've seen in over five hours.

There's no been reports of an official fix, but it seems many are able to log into their Steam accounts again. Let's hope that trend continues...

October 26, 2026 – 12:03 PM

Steam is back (for most)

(Image credit: Downdetector)

Good news, it seems that Steam's "loading user data" issue is now fixed — for most people, at least.

The reports on Downdetector have plummeted back to baseline levels, while many have reported on social media and Reddit that they can now log in again.

Valve never did comment on the cause of the issue, but it seems Steam fans can now go back to enjoying bug-free gaming sessions...

Quordle hints and answers for Monday, October 26 (game #1736)

Johnny Dee — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, October 25 (game #1735).

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1736) — hint #1 — Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1736) — hint #2 — repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1736) — hint #3 — uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1736) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1736) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• G

• M

• W

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1736) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1736, are…

ASSAY
GLEAM
MUCUS
WRING

I was pretty sure that my final word today ended S-A-Y, but it took me a while to get to ASSAY, a period which mainly involved me entering random letters.

Initially, I thought it was a variation of essay (the word I really wanted to enter) but I have since learned that assay means “an investigative laboratory procedure used to qualitatively or quantitatively measure the presence, amount, or functional activity of a target substance”.

Daily Sequence today (game #1736) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1736, are…

VICAR
POLKA
IONIC
ACRID

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1735, Sunday, 25 October: RAINY, BUSED, PROXY, UNDID
Quordle #1734, Saturday, 24 October: TOXIN, SMART, MOUSE, STYLE
Quordle #1733, Friday, 23 October: BLIMP, HOIST, FRIED, LURID
Quordle #1732, Thursday, 22 October: DECAL, WIDTH, WOKEN, LEVER
Quordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTH
Quordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPY
Quordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUID
Quordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEO
Quordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCK
Quordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNK
Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE

NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, October 26 (game #1233)

Johnny Dee — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, October 25 (game #1232).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1233) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

WELCOME
HALLOWEEK
CHILLING
TOY
YOGA
JAWN
SPORTING
PRAYER
PSYCHS
HOUND
MANAGING
WRESTLING
SAME OLD
HOSTED
HERDING
NOT BAD

NYT Connections today (game #1233) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: Answers to a personal question
GREEN: Add something like a small carpet
BLUE: Classy canines
PURPLE: Alterations to scary films

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1233) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: RESPONSES TO "HOW ARE YOU?"
GREEN: KINDS OF MATS
BLUE: AKC DOG BREED GROUPS
PURPLE: HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1233) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1233, are…

YELLOW: RESPONSES TO "HOW ARE YOU?": CHILLING, MANAGING, NOT BAD, SAME OLD
GREEN: KINDS OF MATS: PRAYER, WELCOME, WRESTLING, YOGA
BLUE: AKC DOG BREED GROUPS: HERDING, HOUND, SPORTING, TOY
PURPLE: HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED: HALLOWEEK, HOSTED, JAWN, PSYCHS

My rating: Hard
My score: 1 mistake

The fact that I escaped today with just one mistake from this game is a miracle, as I had absolutely no clue about any of the groups. The closest I got to being confident was the yellow group, where I had a minor wobble over MANAGING but convinced myself that they were all something to do with therapy.

My mistake came with collecting the four KINDS OF MATS, where I had TOY instead of WELCOME and figured it out after getting the “one away” pop-up.

Down to the final eight I couldn’t see any links at all beyond JAWN and PSYCHS both being odd words and HOUND and SPORTING sounding like they belonged together. I added TOY and HERDING for the hell of it and was thrilled to land a correct set.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, October 25, 2026, game #1232)

YELLOW: STEAL: BOOST, PALM, POCKET, SWIPE
GREEN: PASTA SHAPES: BOW TIE, ELBOW, SHELL, WAGON WHEEL
BLUE: FICTIONAL TOMS: RIPLEY, SAWYER, SWIFT, THUMB
PURPLE: THINGS THAT CAN BE SNAPPED: FINGERS, FOOTBALL, GLOW STICK, RUBBER BAND

What is NYT Connections?

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, October 26 (game #967)

Johnny Dee — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, October 25 (game #966).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #967) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Please, be my guest!

NYT Strands today (game #967) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

POSH
VITALITY
HONEST
COVE
VINE
THERE

NYT Strands today (game #967) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #967) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: top, 4th column

• Last side: bottom, 1st column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #967) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #967, are…

WELCOME
HOST
MEET
INVITE
RECEIVE
ENTERTAIN
SPANGRAM: HOSPITALITY

My rating: Hard
My score: 1 hint

My head was absolutely not in the game (as they used to say in High School Musical) today.

I say this just in case I have made an easy game far more difficult than it was. I think I lost heart after thinking I’d found a spangram with welcomehome, and getting really disappointed when WELCOME was just a regular game word.

Even with this vital piece of information about the type of words we were looking for (my first thought when I saw today’s theme was the song Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast) I still needed a hint to kick me onwards.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, October 25, game #966)

SCAFFOLDING
FRAMEWORK
STRUCTURE
SKELETON
SPANGRAM: FOUNDATIONS

What is NYT Strands?

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

'We ended up with four really big campaigns and 70 missions. It's insane' — Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director says King Art's ideas 'snowballed' after deciding on four faction campaigns with branching stories

Demi Williams — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 16:30:00 +0000

King Art co-founder and Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen says the game's four faction campaigns were decided "super early" on
Theysen says Warhammer in general "is fundamentally about the factions," and they wanted to make a cinematic experience
He admits that the team's ideas "snowballed" until the campaigns also feature branching storylines and "70 missions"

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 is an ambitious real-time strategy game (RTS) featuring four campaigns and branching missions, because King Art was admittedly really enthusiastic about centering the factions in the story.

Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming, where he'd also spoken about borrowing from the original Dawn of War's systems, King Art co-founder and Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen said that the decision to have four separate faction campaigns for the Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and Adeptus Mechanicus was "the first thing we decided" because Dawn of War, and Warhammer in general, "is fundamentally about the factions" and "how weird and crazy and cool they are."

"You don't really learn too much or everything you want to learn about Necrons or AdMech if you play just the Space Marines and fight them in a handful of missions," Theysen explained. "And so we always said, 'Okay, no, no, if we have four factions, we definitely want one campaign for each of the factions.'"

The creative director said King Art also looked at what the "best" RTS campaigns were, such as Warcraft 3, and realized that it was "very important" to have a cinematic experience with cutscenes, heroes, and a story that is "more interesting."

Theysen went on to explain how the team's ideas kept evolving around the four faction campaigns; it also wanted branching stories and mutually exclusive missions. Eventually, Dawn of War 4's campaigns became something ambitious, featuring individual stories with their own progressions, and at least 70 missions.

He also confirmed that King Art spoke with Games Workshop about its four faction campaign ideas, which he reiterated was decided "super early," and collaborated with the lore.

"It snowballed basically," Theysen said. "I mean, we like art, and we like campaigns a lot, and so for us it was like a little bit like kids in a candy shop, right? And we said, basically, you know what, also, it would be nice if you could choose which hero to play. Then you have two different sides of the same story, or you can actually change how the story progresses, and in the end, we ended up with four really big campaigns and like 70 missions or something; it's insane.

"But, again, we like campaigns."

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 is slated to launch on PC on December 3.

CRKD Nitro Deck 2 review: a great but heavy Switch 2 handheld controller

lewis.maddison@futurenet.com (Lewis Maddison) — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000

CRKD Nitro Deck 2: One-minute review

The CRKD Nitro Deck 2 is primarily billed as a Nintendo Switch 2 controller for handheld use, but it offers a lot more besides. It's CRKD’s follow-up to the Nitro Deck and Nitro Deck+, two previous accessories aimed at the original Nintendo Switch.

The CRKD Nitro Deck 2 has a functional design focused more on ergonomics than style, although some of the colorways add some panache; the Pal Grey variant I reviewed, for instance, harked back to retro Nintendo controllers, thanks to its colorful face buttons and darker grey accents.

The Nitro Deck 2 fits to the Switch and Switch 2 by clamping on the sides of the unit, rather than actually connecting to the Joy-Con 2 slots. A small button on the back clicks and twists to tightly grip your console, and tight it is; even when I held it upside down, my console didn’t move an inch. You can then connect to your console wirelessly via Bluetooth or wired by using the included U-shaped USB adapter.

CRKD’s mobile app can be used to remap the inputs of the Nitro Deck 2, as well as enable the ‘No Deadzone’ mode for the joysticks. Its interface is clear and easy to use, and I didn’t experience any bugs. One downside, though, is that you have to reconnect to the app every time you open it by holding two buttons for three seconds, which limits the convenience of back-and-forth adjustments.

All the buttons feel great, providing plenty of clicky feedback and responsiveness. The back buttons are awkwardly placed, though, and I found myself accidentally triggering them on occasion.

(Image credit: Future)

The real highlight of the Nitro Deck 2, though, is its joysticks. Not only are they precise and responsive, but they also feature dials that let you adjust their tension at any point, which is an excellent design choice and should allow any gamer to get their preferred feel.

Unfortunately, poor ergonomics detract from the Nitro Deck 2’s otherwise positive performance aspects. Not only do the pads angle inwards at the bottom, contrary to the majority of gamepads, but it’s also heavy when loaded with a console. These factors can make it cumbersome and awkward to use, especially when trying to game upright.

The Nitro Deck 2 is easy to pair to the Switch or Switch 2 via Bluetooth, although it takes a while to reconnect to your console after sleeping. Reconnection is quicker in wired mode, but it’s still not instantaneous. It was also easy to pair with PC and Android devices, although it’s a shame you can’t switch between them without having to pair each time.

The battery life of the Nitro Deck 2 is reasonable, lasting for as long as CRKD claims (15-20 hours), according to my testing. It’s a small inconvenience that you have to charge it separately from your console, though.

When you consider all that it offers, the Nitro Deck 2 represents good value. Not only are you getting handheld pads for the Switch 1 and Switch 2, but you’re also getting protection for your console, a standalone controller you can use with other platforms besides Nintendo’s, and a kickstand. Comfort issues do hamper the experience somewhat, but if you don’t mind holding a weighty unit, the Nitro Deck 2 is a fine choice as a versatile gamepad.

CRKD Nitro Deck 2 review: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

$89.99 / £89.99 / AU$161
Available now in multiple colorways
Good price for a versatile handheld gamepad

The Nitro Deck 2 costs $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$161 and is available now in four colorways: Smoke Black, Pal Grey, LRG Fusion, and White. It comes with a USB cable, a double-ended USB adapter, and a legacy adapter for Switch 1 compatibility. The joystick caps and D-pad hat are replaceable, but no extra sets for either are included in the box.

This is a reasonable price for a unit that’s not only a Switch and Switch 2 handheld case and handheld controller, but also a standalone gamepad for PC and mobile, both wired and wireless.

You won’t find many more complete solutions for your Switch 2 than this, or even third-party substitutes for the Joy-Con 2 controllers, save for a few examples, such as the Mobapad M12 HD and M12S. A more left-field alternative to the Nitro Deck 2 is the GameSir G8+, a Bluetooth mobile controller that doesn’t officially support the Switch 2, but users have reported compatibility with the system.

If you just want a more comfortable handheld experience for your Switch 2 while sticking with the Joy-Con 2 pads, the Genki Attack Vector is a reasonably priced solution that offers three sets of grips as well as a backplate cover. What’s more, it can remain attached to your console when docked.

CRKD Nitro Deck 2 review: Specs

Price	$89.99 / £89.99 / AU$161
Weight	12.8oz / 363g
Dimensions	10.5-12.5 x 4.7 x 2.2in / 266.7-317.5 x 118.3 x 55.3mm
Compatibility	Switch, Switch 2, PC, iOS, Android
Connection type	Wireless (Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life	15-20 hours

CRKD Nitro Deck 2 review: Design & features

(Image credit: Future)

Functional looks
Solid build quality
Basic but effective mobile app

The Nitro Deck 2 has an appearance that’s more about function than form, with its soft edges and curves being more about ergonomics than aesthetics. It’s a fetching piece of design nonetheless, and the Pal Grey finish of my review unit added a retro appeal, with its dark grey accents and colorful face buttons alluding to the classic SNES controller.

The build quality is respectable, too. Although the plastic shell didn’t initially strike me as being particularly premium, I quickly felt its solidity and sturdiness once I held it in my hands. The sliding mechanisms for both pads operate smoothly as well.

Rather than the pads of the Nitro Deck 2 actually attaching to each Joy-Con slot on the Switch or Switch 2, they simply clamp to the sides of the console without actually inserting into these slots. To tighten the clamp, you simply push and twist the button on the rear of the unit. This requires a fair amount of force, and so does releasing it to remove the console, but I wouldn’t say it was overly arduous, and it’s worth the effort for the secure fit it provides.

When attached, the Switch 2 fits snugly and securely; I had no worries about it coming loose, as there wasn’t a hint of looseness. The unit also aligns precisely with the dimensions and contours of the Switch 2, although my one small gripe is that accessing the game card flap can be fiddly, as there’s little room to reach down to lift it up. This isn’t an issue when the Nitro Deck 2 is attached to the Switch 1, though, since the flap on that console opens the other way.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of which, the Nitro Deck 2 fits just as well to the Switch 1 as it does to the Switch 2. Thanks to the included legacy adapter, its USB-C port is still accessible, so you can still have a wired connection between the console and the Nitro Deck 2. This wired connection to both the Switch 1 and 2 is handled by another adapter, a double-ended U-shaped USB-C jack, that slots into the bottom of the Deck and the console.

The Nitro Deck 2 also features a kickstand on the back, allowing you to use your console with another controller. This is made of metal and feels very solid. It’s also very sturdy when open, and it folds flush into the back of the Deck. It can be a little difficult to release it from its clip, but this is a small price to pay for its secure fastening.

To customize the inputs of the extra shoulder and back buttons, you can use the M button in combination with others to alter the mapping. However, you can also use CRKD’s mobile app, where you can remap every button, as well as enable a ‘No Deadzone’ mode for the joysticks in order to increase their sensitivity.

The app is clearly laid out and easy to navigate, and I didn’t experience any bugs or glitches, which was somewhat of a surprise given the poor rating it has on app stores. For some bizarre reason, though, it only operates in landscape mode, but more frustrating is the fact that switching between the app and your console isn’t exactly a seamless experience; you have to hold the Home button and the left D-pad button for 3 seconds every time you go back to the app after exiting it.

CRKD Nitro Deck 2 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

Excellent joysticks
Awkward to use upright
Some connectivity issues

While its grips may look ergonomic, I struggled to get entirely comfortable with the Nitro Deck 2. Partly, this is due to the sheer weight of the unit when loaded with a console, which makes holding it upright a chore, even for short periods.

But the other half of the problem stems from the grips’ orientation. They protrude outwards at the top rather than at the bottom, running counter to the best Nintendo Switch 2 controller shapes, and are at a less natural angle for your hands. I did acclimatize to their form somewhat, but I was never entirely at ease with it.

I also found the back buttons awkward to use, as they were too low down to align with my natural finger placement around the grips. Their low travel and resistance meant there were times when I accidentally triggered them, too.

These issues aside, though, the Nitro Deck 2 offers fantastic performance. The face buttons are clicky and satisfying to use, while the D-pad is very comfortable thanks to its circular hat. Its floating design also meant presses had plenty of travel, which in turn created good feedback. I found the shoulder buttons were easy to reach and use as well.

(Image credit: Future)

The best input of all, though, is the joysticks, which feature dials at their bases for adjusting resistance on the fly. This is a great idea and one I wish more controllers implemented. Looser settings allow for easy maneuvering and quick flicks, while tighter settings give you more control and precision.

The Nitro Deck 2 also features motion controls. I found these to be accurate and responsive when aiming with the bow in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, although using them in handheld mode isn’t exactly practical, given the whole console moves with your hands.

Unfortunately, I did experience some small connectivity issues with the Nitro Deck 2. Although pairing with my consoles was a relatively quick process, it can be slow to reconnect when you wake your console. It activated quicker when I used a wired connection, but it wasn’t instant.

The Nitro Deck 2 worked just as well with my Switch 1 as it did with my Switch 2. It’s a shame, though, that the aforementioned legacy adapter doesn’t support console charging. I’m not sure whether this was a particular issue with my review unit or a known limitation, but either way it’s a shame from a convenience perspective.

As for other platforms, I had no issues connecting or using the Nitro Deck 2 with PC or my Android smartphone via Bluetooth, although hot-switching isn’t possible, with pairing required each time you move between devices.

The battery life of the Nitro Deck 2 is reasonable — according to my testing, it lasts about as long as CRKD claims it can, which is between 15 and 20 hours. However, it’s a shame you can’t charge your console and the Deck with a single cable, as there’s no passthrough feature.

Should I buy the CRKD Nitro Deck 2?

Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	The price is very good for a multi-platform handheld controller-cum-dock, and the quality is impressive, too.	4.5/5
Design & features	The Nitro Deck 2 has a functional form and great build quality, and the fit for the Switch and Switch 2 is secure. There are a few minor design niggles, though.	4/5
Performance	All inputs are tactile and responsive, while the adjustable joysticks are exemplary. The unit is a little heavy and awkward to hold upright for long periods, though.	4/5
Total	The Nitro Deck 2 is a very versatile and high-quality handheld controller for Nintendo and other platforms, but a few issues hold it back from being truly outstanding.	4/5

Buy the CRKD Nitro Deck 2 if…

You’re fussy about stick feel
With the instantly adjustable tension for the joysticks, every gamer should be able to get the right feel.

You want a versatile controller
Not only does the Nitro Deck 2 work with the Switch and Switch 2 in handheld mode, but it can also be used to game on PC and mobile devices.

Don't buy it if…

You want something light and very portable
With a console attached, the Nitro Deck 2 is noticeably heavy and bulky in the hand.

You want instant connectivity
The Nitro Deck 2 doesn’t wake up instantly with your console, and switching between devices requires repairing.

CRKD Nitro Deck 2 review: Also consider

	CRKD Nitro Deck 2	GameSir G8+ Bluetooth	Genki Attack Vector
Price	$89.99 / £89.99 / AU$161	$79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99	£39.99 (about $50 / AU$76)
Weight	12.8oz / 363g	10.72oz / 314g	N/A
Dimensions	10.5-12.5 x 4.7 x 2.2in / 266.7-317.5 x 118.3 x 55.3mm	9.06 x 4.21 x 2.17in / 230 x 107 x 55mm	N/A
Compatibility	Switch, Switch 2, PC, iOS, Android	Android, iOS, Switch, PC, macOS	Switch 2
Connection	Wireless (Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)	Bluetooth 5.3, Wired (USB-C), Dongle (sold separately)	N/A
Software	CRKD (mobile)	GameSir App (Android only)	N/A

GameSir G8+
Although not explicitly marketed as a Switch 2 controller, user reports suggest that the G8+ does indeed work with the console. When we tested it on mobile devices, we were impressed with its comfortable grips and smooth, precise thumbsticks and triggers. Read our full GameSir G8+ review.

Genki Attack Vector
If you want to stick with the Joy-Con 2 pads but require better handheld ergonomics, Genki’s accessory may just fit the bill. It comes with three sets of grips to accommodate all kinds of hands, while the back cover adds some protection to your Switch 2 without compromising its fit in the dock (unlike the Nitro Deck 2). Read our full Genki Attack Vector review.

How I tested the CRKD Nitro Deck 2

(Image credit: Future)

Tested for over a week
Used on various platforms
Relied on extensive gaming experience

I tested the Nitro Deck 2 for over a week, using it with both the Switch and Switch 2, as well as with a PC and my Android smartphone. I tested both wired and wireless connections. I also tested CRKD’s companion mobile app.

I played games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, both of which are good tests for the responsiveness of the buttons and comfort of the D-pad. I also played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is a great test of all facets of a controller, including the motion controls.

I’ve been gaming for decades and have plenty of experience testing controllers and other peripherals for numerous platforms, including the Switch and Switch 2. I’ve also reviewed other Switch 2 accessories, including handheld grips.

Read more about how we test
First reviewed October 2026

Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, October 25 (game #1735)

Johnny Dee — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, October 24 (game #1734).

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1735) — hint #1 — Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1735) — hint #2 — repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1735) — hint #3 — uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1735) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1735) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• R

• B

• P

• U

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1735) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1735, are…

RAINY
BUSED
PROXY
UNDID

My triumph in this game was getting PROXY.

After deciding that the R and O had to be in the second and third positions I could only think of two words that fitted and ended in Y — IRONY and PROXY. X marks the spot yet again.

Daily Sequence today (game #1735) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1735, are…

FLUTE
TALLY
FUZZY
BATHE

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1734, Saturday, 24 October: TOXIN, SMART, MOUSE, STYLE
Quordle #1733, Friday, 23 October: BLIMP, HOIST, FRIED, LURID
Quordle #1732, Thursday, 22 October: DECAL, WIDTH, WOKEN, LEVER
Quordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTH
Quordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPY
Quordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUID
Quordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEO
Quordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCK
Quordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNK
Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST

NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, October 25 (game #1232)

Johnny Dee — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, October 24 (game #1231).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1232) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

GLOW STICK
WAGON WHEEL
POCKET
FOOTBALL
THUMB
ELBOW
SWIFT
FINGERS
SHELL
PALM
RUBBER BAND
BOW TIE
SAWYER
SWIPE
RIPLEY
BOOST

NYT Connections today (game #1232) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: Pinch
GREEN: Italian carbs
BLUE: Thomas’s of note
PURPLE: A thing in common that rhymes with “tapped”

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1232) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: STEAL
GREEN: PASTA SHAPES
BLUE: FICTIONAL TOMS
PURPLE: THINGS THAT CAN BE SNAPPED

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1232) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1232, are…

YELLOW: STEAL: BOOST, PALM, POCKET, SWIPE
GREEN: PASTA SHAPES: BOW TIE, ELBOW, SHELL, WAGON WHEEL
BLUE: FICTIONAL TOMS: RIPLEY, SAWYER, SWIFT, THUMB
PURPLE: THINGS THAT CAN BE SNAPPED: FINGERS, FOOTBALL, GLOW STICK, RUBBER BAND

My rating: Hard
My score: 3 mistakes

A confession: the green and purple groups completely passed me by today and I really struggled with the last eight tiles..

I eat a lot of pasta, so this feels a little bit annoying. BOW TIE and SHELL I get, but ELBOW? Meanwhile, cultural differences hindered me getting THINGS THAT CAN BE SNAPPED as I have no idea what a quarterback does involving snapping.

Had FOOTBALL been replaced by ANKLE and ELBOW by conchiglie I would have done better… possibly. Instead, I got across the line with guesswork.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, October 24, 2026, game #1231)

YELLOW: KINDS OF STRIPS: BACON, COMIC, FILM, MÖBIUS
GREEN: THINGS ON STICKS: HOBBY HORSE, PINWHEEL, POPSICLE, SPARKLER
BLUE: ONLINE AD FORMATS: BANNER, INTERSTITIAL, OVERLAY, POP-UP
PURPLE: _____ BAR: CANDY, SALAD, SPACE, SPORTS

What is NYT Connections?

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, October 25 (game #966)

Johnny Dee — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, October 24 (game #965).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #966) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Something to build on

NYT Strands today (game #966) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

KNOT
STEEL
WORK
DRAW
SUNK
SLEET
LARD

NYT Strands today (game #966) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #966) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: bottom, 5th column

• Last side: bottom, 1st column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #966) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #966, are…

SCAFFOLDING
FRAMEWORK
STRUCTURE
SKELETON
SPANGRAM: FOUNDATIONS

My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect

I decided to take the theme literally and went hunting for FOUNDATIONS, which I was delighted to spot as a rare right-to-left, bottom-to-bottom spangram towering impressively across the board.

This was my 113th Spangram First.

From here, SCAFFOLDING was the only other construction word I knew — but I was able to build on my confident start with some easily spottable words.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, October 24, game #965)

BASKET
WASHER
SINK
RACK
DETERGENT
IRON
SPANGRAM: LAUNDRYDAY

What is NYT Strands?

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

After parting ways with Xbox, I pray that Double Fine is working on more games like Psychonauts 2 — one of the best platformers since Super Mario Odyssey

Jade King — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000

There are few studios I respect more in the gaming world than Double Fine. Founded by industry legend Tim Schafer way back in July 2000, the mastermind behind adventure game classics like Grim Fandango and Full Throttle has spent the past 26 years making a range of games that have you doing everything from jumping into people’s brains to becoming a rock legend to using Russian dolls to solve puzzles.

Every single thing this developer creates is so unique, and none more so than Psychonauts 2.

From the Backlog

Every gamer has a backlog — and that’s no different for us at TechRadar Gaming. From the Backlog is a series about overdue first plays, revisiting classics, returning to online experiences, or rediscovering and appreciating established favorites in new ways. Read the full series here.

And I love this delightfully unorthodox platformer not just because of its excellent characters and imaginative level design, but also because of the hard journey it went on to see the light of day after six long years of development. Now I consider most video games a miracle, but not all video games have a 23+ hour documentary showing exactly how they were made and all the things people sacrificed to make them so special.

You owe it to yourself to watch it, more so now that Double Fine has parted ways with Microsoft and is yet again stepping into the world as an independent studio with so much left to give. Enough about that for now, though; let us touch on everything that makes Psychonauts 2 such a masterpiece now that I’ve hit the credits for the first time.

Insane in the membrane

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios/Double Fine)

The concept of being able to read the minds of those around you and even jump into their brains to root around sounds thrilling at first, but I bet it doesn’t take long before you stumble across mountains of trauma and terrible opinions.

But what if you could change people by delving deep into their subconscious and pulling on a few strings? That’s exactly what our hero Razputin "Raz" Aquato must do as a newly minted member of the Psychonauts, who also happens to come from a family of eccentric circus performers who are horrendously allergic to water. That explains the gaudy green skin and penchant for 3D platforming.

Psychonauts 2 starts incredibly strong as you’re yeeted into the head of a paranoid dentist harbouring the location of a long-lost psychic supervillain. If you’re afraid of rotting teeth or the idea of someone rooting around in your chompers with sharp objects, this level totally isn’t for you, but goodness me, is it gorgeous.

I’m filled with a feeling of proud disgust as I grasp onto a zipper of teeth using my telekinesis, only to pull it down to reveal a new area, while bouncing across a squishy yet jagged mixture of gums and teeth resembles a video game equivalent of a SpongeBob SquarePants close-up gag.

(Image credit: Double Fine)

It’s gross, needlessly detailed, yet instantly endearing. Thankfully, the remaining levels in Psychonauts 2 are equally as impressive but don’t make you want to lose your lunch. I’ll never forget helping a brain in a jar regain his physical form by reuniting his senses, who almost happen to play in a rock band pulled straight from the psychedelic 1960s, or the Casino Hospital, where sentient syringes are rolling the dice to try and have a baby.

Every level is a platforming masterclass that begins with a central premise before using that foundation to offer up stellar obstacles and puzzles which are always challenging enough to feel rewarding. During my first playthrough, I became obsessed with collectibles, leaving the beaten path behind in favour of hard-to-reach areas or consistently backtracking to make sure nothing was left behind. That’s the sign of a great platformer — each level is an utter joy to traverse the first time round before evolving into a familiar playground awash with secrets.

What color is the sky in your world?

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Beyond how good Psychonauts 2 can feel to play, it’s the writing and characters that occupy this platformer that help it rise to another echelon of greatness. Raz may be a psychic hero, but he’s also a naive little kid with so much left to learn about the world, which makes having to constantly fix the mistakes made by adults around him a smidge awkward.

This acts as an effective springboard for Schafer and his team to tell nuanced stories surrounding issues like alcoholism, depression, grief, and what it means to be human. The game world is held up by eccentric psychic realism, but the way it narratively expresses itself couldn’t be more real if it tried.

Throughout its seven-year tenure with Xbox, Double Fine never managed to release another game of this magnitude as it opted for smaller, more experimental titles like Kiln and Keeper. But I’ve no doubt that Schafer is currently hard at work on a new project as creative director or project lead, whether this ends up being a new IP or a sequel to something fans love.

It’s the sort of experience it will need to produce in order to succeed as an independent studio in today’s climate, where even a single failed project can usher in a studio’s sudden demise. Its enduring history and legions of hardcore fans sadly don’t make it immune to this fate.

Platformers of this depth and caliber are hard to come by these days

I’m not saying I want Psychonauts 3 — although that would be lovely — but the medium would be far darker if Double Fine stopped creating games like the idiosyncratic platformer.

It offers so much heart, so much purpose, and showcases what video games are capable of outside of chasing trends and retreading nostalgic old ground. We simply don’t have nearly enough experiences like it in the modern era, so hopefully Double Fine’s current Amnesia Fortnight campaign will produce something just as spectacular.

Platformers of this depth and caliber are hard to come by these days unless you’re being made by Nintendo, so if you’re after an emotionally satisfying adventure that will stay with you for years to come, I can’t recommend Psychonauts 2 enough. Oh, and be sure to give the documentary a watch as well. If we make enough noise, maybe we’ll be crowdfunding the third game sooner than we think.

Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, October 24 (game #1734)

Johnny Dee — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #1733).

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #1 — Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #2 — repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #3 — uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• T

• S

• M

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1734) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1734, are…

TOXIN
SMART
MOUSE
STYLE

Our first five-vowel game for a while also delivered the rare letter X.

Even though I was sure the word in the first column was TOXIN I still hesitated to guess it until I’d completed the others.

That’s the thing about rare letters, it’s very hard to not handle them with care.

Daily Sequence today (game #1734) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1734, are…

SUING
THERE
TENET
BRIEF

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1733, Friday, 23 October: BLIMP, HOIST, FRIED, LURID
Quordle #1732, Thursday, 22 October: DECAL, WIDTH, WOKEN, LEVER
Quordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTH
Quordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPY
Quordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUID
Quordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEO
Quordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCK
Quordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNK
Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST
Quordle #1714, Sunday, 4 October: INFER, RAINY, THING, ARENA

NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, October 24 (game #1231)

Johnny Dee — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #1230).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

COMIC
SALAD
BACON
SPARKLER
POPSICLE
POP-UP
CANDY
HOBBY HORSE
BANNER
PINWHEEL
SPACE
FILM
INTERSTITIAL
SPORTS
MÖBIUS
OVERLAY

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: Come in narrow pieces
GREEN: A format you can hold
BLUE: Methods of internet advertising
PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “car”

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: KINDS OF STRIPS
GREEN: THINGS ON STICKS
BLUE: ONLINE AD FORMATS
PURPLE: _____ BAR

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1231, are…

YELLOW: KINDS OF STRIPS: BACON, COMIC, FILM, MÖBIUS
GREEN: THINGS ON STICKS: HOBBY HORSE, PINWHEEL, POPSICLE, SPARKLER
BLUE: ONLINE AD FORMATS: BANNER, INTERSTITIAL, OVERLAY, POP-UP
PURPLE: _____ BAR: CANDY, SALAD, SPACE, SPORTS

My rating: Hard
My score: 1 mistake

Unlike TV and print advertising, ONLINE AD FORMATS are not something people are going to feel much nostalgia for in the future, mainly because in order to work they decided that they had to be annoying, flickering things that got in the way of what you actually wanted to look at on the internet.

This is where I made my mistake — guessing PINWHEEL before deciding that INTERSTITIAL sounded like the sort of annoying word that belonged in the world of online ads; these are the ones that take up the entire screen and require you to hunt for the X to click off them.

I can’t help thinking online advertising would be more successful if they could find a way to make it less annoying.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, October 23, 2026, game #1230)

YELLOW: FORTHRIGHT: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, VOCAL
GREEN: THINGS YOU INSTALL ON A COMPUTER: DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN, UPDATE
BLUE: QUANTITIES IN A FORMULA FOR POWER: DISTANCE, FORCE, POWER, TIME
PURPLE: _____ TAP: DOUBLE, LOVE, PHONE, SPINAL

What is NYT Connections?

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, October 24 (game #965)

Johnny Dee — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #964).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Re-fresh-ing

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

DRAKE
READY
SUNDRY
CASK
DETER
GREED

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 4th row

• Last side: right, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #965) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #965, are…

BASKET
WASHER
SINK
RACK
DETERGENT
IRON
SPANGRAM: LAUNDRYDAY

My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect

I didn’t need any hints, but I didn’t exactly smash this game out of the park…

Instead of seeing DETERGENT I added “deter” and “gent”, I bailed out of connecting LAUNDRYDAY at “laundry” and tried to tap out “cark” before RACK.

Having made such inelegant progress, it was somewhat ironic to be rewarded with the “perfect!” pop-up, as much like my own efforts at clothes washing it was far from it.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, October 23, game #964)

NOSY
EAVESDROPPING
INQUISITIVE
SNOOPY
PRYING
SPANGRAM: BUSYBODY

What is NYT Strands?

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

'At some point we did have a small rhythm game, but it didn't exactly match the feeling that you're promoting a show' — Stranger Than Heaven director says the showbiz system was 'a real challenge' and inspired by musicians with an 'antenna' for music

Demi Williams — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe says the game's Showbiz system was "a real challenge" for RGG Studio
Abe says lots of research was put into finding out what a show promoter does and how to depict that in-game
Abe adds that "At some point we did have a small rhythm game," but the idea didn't match the team's vision

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe has revealed how RGG Studio designed the game's Showbiz narrative system and how difficult it was to get right.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Abe said the Showbiz, an entertainment management system requiring the main character, Makoto Daito, to build a business, find sources of inspiration for music, and plan productions as a promoter, "was a real challenge for us."

The director explained that RGG started by asking: what does a promoter actually do? Because "you know what a singer does, and you know what a band does, but you don't exactly know what a promoter does in the music industry," so research began from there.

Abe revealed that "At some point we did have a small rhythm game, but it didn't exactly match the feeling that you're promoting a show," so the team went back to the whiteboard phase to try different things.

"One thing that we noticed is that a promoter is the person who brings in not just the money, but also the inspiration and the whole vision of the show," Abe said. "We thought that's an interesting aspect that we can put into this game."

In Stranger Than Heaven, players can walk around cities and interact with things in the environment, like a grandfather clock or a bonfire, and collect sounds as inspiration for music. Daito can then take these samples and collaborate with a composer to create new music and plan a production for the singer and band.

"The inspiration sources are basically like when you have a certain job, you always have these antennas looking for something," Abe said. "So, if you're a musician, you always have this antenna for the music you're hearing, and that can inspire people to create new stuff, and that was no different for Makoto as well.

Abe added, "That's why this game system of finding and then using that inspiration to create music came to life in the game."

Stranger Than Heaven releases on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

'Historical accuracy wasn't the goal from the very beginning' — Stranger Than Heaven director says while research for its era-spanning game was 'really difficult,' the cities will still have 'a lot of fiction'

Demi Williams — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe says RGG Studios did a lot of "difficult" research to depict the game's many cities across different time periods
However, Abe says "historical accuracy wasn't the goal from the very beginning," and the team took creative liberties
He says there is a lot of "fiction" woven through the cities for the player experience

RGG Studio did plenty of research for its multi-era action role-playing game, Stranger Than Heaven, but director Mikinobu Abe has said historical accuracy wasn't the end goal.

In a discussion with TechRadar Gaming about the early stages of development, Abe confirmed that a story spanning 50 years and five cities in Japan required a lot of research, which "itself was really difficult," and that RGG visited all the cities depicted in the game and libraries for material.

"No one knows what it was like back in 1915 Kokura, or 1929 Kure," Abe said. "So, we had to dig into a lot of our pictures, and we visited a lot of museums. We even bought a lot of books that were published back then, or magazines that were published back then, and read every single one of them. There was one time that bugs were coming out of them, which was not good to have in the office! We did a lot of research like that."

However, as much as research was vital to get a sense of the time periods RGG wanted to depict, the director said "historical accuracy wasn't the goal from the very beginning," and the team took creative liberties.

"We took a lot of inspiration from what we researched, but we wanted to depict the city in a way that we feel really represents the video game experience that we want the player to have," Abe explained. "There's a lot of fiction within the cities, but we wanted to capture the tone of what it could have been like or how it could have felt to be in that place."

It wasn't just historical research; Abe said he and the art director, Daishi Kanaya, researched paintings, vintage lenses, and film that were created during these decades, and that they "took a lot of inspiration from the equipment side of things," like what brush artists used when drawing at the time.

"We took a lot of inspiration from those and re-imagined how we, as creators in 2026, would use that equipment and create this new vibe or atmosphere for the game," he said. "That's just how this older colour, and the look, and the tone, and the atmosphere of the city came to life.

"I don't think 1915 Kokura was that populated or was that big of a city, but you know, we really wanted to capture the essence and humanise it in a way that we feel like it's really entertaining for people to play."

Stranger Than Heaven releases on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

Epic AI MegaJam challenges developers to build a game in 4 days with AI

Darren Allan — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Epic is kicking off an 'AI MegaJam' next month
It's a four-day competition for developers to build a game with AI, giving away $50,000 worth of prizes
Coming on top of Epic's recent push of AI in its preview launcher and elsewhere, this has provoked quite the negative reaction from gamers

Epic has announced an 'AI MegaJam' in which you can 'vibe your way to $50K,' a neat little rhyme there, but gamers are predictably bewildered by the idea of this event which rewards game developers using AI.

The MegaJam is a four-day competition that starts on November 12, whereby teams of up to five people can use unlimited AI agents to create a playable game in either Unreal Engine or Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).

You can compete and code from anywhere, although there will be teams taking part locally (for two days) in San Francisco at Digital Jungle, where Epic promises "teams from Anthropic, Google, Meshy, OpenAI, SpaceXSI" and other big-name AI brands (expect daily livestreams, too).

Epic tells us: "Bring any AI tools into your workflow, from asset generation to coding agents. Get creative! Prototype the mechanic you never had time for, or try the art style you weren't sure you could pull off."

The prize pool is $50,000, which is split up into a bunch of categories. The main prizes are for the best Unreal Engine and UEFN games, which will net $7,500 respectively, with second and third places winning $5,000 and $2,500 in those categories too.

The best student project for either UE or UEFN will also receive $7,500, with the same runner-up prizes of $5,000 and $2,500.

The best team overall will bag a further $5,000, meaning the maximum prize here will be $12,500 (as presumably they must be one of the main category winners). There are a bunch of other modifier prizes, mind you, as extras on top, including best mobile game or solo developer ($2,500 apiece).

Epic also notes that: "Standout Unreal Engine and UEFN entries can earn development continuation grants of up to $50,000 to keep building after the jam."

Analysis: negative vibes

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Ralf Liebhold )

As you might imagine, there's been an immediate and strong negative reaction from gamers. There are multiple observations that Steam is already full of 'AI slop' games, with gamers asking why on earth Epic is encouraging this.

The irony of Epic proclaiming that the invited vibe-coders should "get creative!" isn't lost, either, given that most gamers view AI as the grim reaper for creativity, wielding its pixelated scythe as it kills and extracts the souls of games.

As one Redditor laments: "We're being bombarded with thousands of AI slop games because 'with AI, anyone can make their dreams a reality and become a game dev!' The game market is going to collapse, as seen in the latest Steam Next Fest, all thanks to AI bros and AI billionaires. Oh, how I hate Tim Sweeney."

In short, there's a lot of venting and vexation out there, so does this feel tone deaf from Epic? Very much so, but you wouldn't expect anything else really given CEO Tim Sweeney's recent (and past) comments on the subject of AI in gaming, and what's been going on at Epic lately.

Witness Sweeney's proclamation earlier this month that a "huge pivot" is happening at Epic where it's "moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration," with the chief exec arguing that AI can be "empowering for creators" and not the death of gaming. And of course there's also the new Epic launcher in preview, which took a tongue-in-cheek approach with a release announcement that declared: "Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that's way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look."

All of which went down swimmingly well with most PC gamers, of course.

Interestingly, the idea for this AI MegaJam may have originated in this discussion on X, where SYD Games Studio suggests such a developer competition. Sweeney replies that it's an "interesting idea" and appears to have taken that ball and run with it (he also observes that AI represents "truly a new age of gaming and software ahead").

I get that AI can be a useful tool when employed by game developers to save some time doing coding grunt work (with the appropriate careful checks in place), but extending vibe-coding more broadly to embrace the entire game-making process is just asking for trouble and heaping on the bad feelings towards Epic here. At this point, Epic seems to be almost trolling gamers, and coding aside, the general vibes are getting distinctly nasty.

A Red Tolarian Terror is coming in Star Trek Universes Beyond

hamish.hector@futurenet.com (Hamish Hector) — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:59:10 +0000

Magic: The Gathering is ready to boldly go where it has never gone before with its upcoming Star Trek Universes Beyond set, and I have a pair of cards from it to showcase for you today!

Let’s start with Jake Sisko, War Correspondent. A mono-Green Commander with Landfall is nothing new, though I see them working much better in the 99 given their ability, especially in more budget-friendly or color-restricted decks after somewhat reliable card draw.

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / CBS)

I’m coming back around on incidental lifegain, especially on cards like this where it’s not the only reward for your chosen strategy — in this case, playing as many lands as possible. In more grindy, elongated games, it can help you cling to life for a turn or two more to eke out a win, and can offset any life loss afflicted by your value engines.

The Clue reward for your second land drop each turn isn’t as useful as a full card, but in a deck with access to plenty of mana (which Landfall decks tend to be) and especially in such decks without the card draw efficiency afforded by Blue, it’s not a terrible alternative.

Tireless Tracker sees play for this reason, and while Jake Sisko is arguably worse given the restrictions on its Clue generation, it does offer a little redundancy.

If you do want to build Jake Sisko, War Correspondent out as a Commander, I’d recommend including cards like Academy Manufactor, Stridehangar Automaton, and Tippy-Toe, Terrific Partner which each turn you Clue into a Clue and other tokens — Tippy-Toe will also turn even one Landfall trigger into card draw on your end step. You’ll also want cards like Captain Kathryn Janeway, Exploration, and Asuza, Lost but Seeking to help you consistently play two lands a turn.

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / CBS)

Turning to Ravenous Cosmozoan, a Red Tolarian Terror that gives up protection and some stats for Flying and Haste — lending itself to a more immediately aggressive approach the turn it comes down.

At Uncommon, the Cosmozoan won’t see the Pauper play of its predecessor, but I fear it may mimic Terror’s low Standard play rate.

There are some notable differences. Flying and Haste should help the Cosmozoan pressure opponents more aggressively the turn it comes down — even if it packs a softer punch — and notably it cares about all nonland, noncreatures in your Graveyard, not merely your Instants and Sorceries.

We’ll have to wait and see if that’s enough to save it, though.

The best (perhaps only) place for it may unfortunately be Limited. If the environment is more grindy and games tend to go a little longer, it shouldn’t cost more than a couple of mana in the late game, and a few of these could swing over an opponent’s board to steadily chip them down to zero — perhaps as a surprise attack thanks to its Haste.

'Maybe you win the battle but lose the war because you put all your resources into one battle' — Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director says King Art Games 'wanted battles to take a while' so borrowed from the original strategy game's systems

Demi Williams — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:56:08 +0000

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen has explained how the original Dawn of War influenced the new game's RTS systems
Theysen says King Art Games "wanted the battles to take a while" in Dawn of War 4
He says that the game's on-field reinforcement feature was almost cut because it was "weird," but now the team loves it because it "brings the macro [management] and the economy side into the battles"

King Art Games co-founder and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen has described how the game manifests the classic real-time strategy (RTS) experience of the original Dawn of War.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Theysen explained that the first question the team asked itself was which game it wanted to draw inspiration from for the foundations of Dawn of War 4; it ultimately chose the first game, which was released in 2004, as it was the more "classic RTS" and the game the team refers to as its "north star."

"We basically said, 'Okay, we want to do a new Dawn of War,' but then the question was: 'What are we talking about? Dawn of War 1 or 2?' Which are both great but very different," Theysen said. "Maybe even Dawn of War 3. And we said, 'Okay, let's really go back to Dawn of War 1, which for us was more this classic RTS with base building, with big battles."

King Art looked at how big the battles were and how long they took in the original game, and decided on a larger and longer "time-to-kill" gameplay system for the newest iteration.

"We wanted the battles to take a while, so that you can actually throw more units into the battle, right?" he said. "And maybe you win the battle and lose the war because you put all your resources into this one battle, for example; it was something that we looked into a lot, because you know it's something that different RTS [games] handle very differently.

On-field reinforcements is one of the "weirder" things Dawn of War 4 will feature, which Theysen revealed King Art didn't have initially because it's an old system that not many modern RTS games have. Turns out, when the team tested it, [and they] really liked it.

"We felt like it was a little bit weird, right?" he said. "Lore-wise, it doesn't make any sense, and even gameplay-wise, it's not something that a ton of RTS games have. Maybe it's a weird thing that they had like 20 years ago, and maybe it's not that important, but then we actually tried it out, and now we love it."

The creative director added that "we think it's great" because on-field reinforcement also "brings the macro[management] and the economy side into the battles," as well as the real-time unit control with micromanagement.

"By just auto-healing everything or auto-reinforcing everything, the battles become easier, but actually the economy part suffers, right? Or it becomes harder," Theysen explained. "But if you are more about the macro and more about the big picture, it might be totally fine to just put all your units on auto in battle, and they'll do their stuff.

"While if you're really into micro, you probably say, 'no, I can optimize the battle', and then you spend less time in the macro but more in the micro, and that's also fine, and that is maybe an example you know that we directly took from Dawn of War 1."

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 is slated to launch on PC on December 3.

WoW: Forever senior game designer says there is 'really well-buried stuff' in the game 'that's going to take people a long time to find' that was 'turned off' for the beta — 'There's going to be things to discover that we didn't surface'

Demi Williams — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:42:39 +0000

World of Warcraft: Forever senior game designer Josh “Aggrend” Greenfield confirms the MMO still has "thousands" of undiscovered secrets
Greenfield says, "There’s going to be things to discover that we didn’t surface"
He adds that there is "really well-buried stuff out there that’s probably going to take people a long time to find"

Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that World of Warcraft: Forever features thousands of secrets, like items, that were turned off in the beta.

In its 'End of Beta Special' podcast, senior game designer Josh “Aggrend” Greenfield, alongside other WoW: Forever developers, was asked about the undiscovered secrets in the beta, revealing that Blizzard disabled many of them for the first 30 levels (via GameSpot).

"There’s definitely some secrets and stuff that we had turned off," Greenfield said. "There’s going to be things to discover that we didn’t surface, suffice to say that."

When host Josh Corbett brought up that there are supposedly "thousands" of things hidden in the MMO, Greenfield agreed; some of those secrets include items and recipes, but the developer refrained from sharing more details.

"Honestly, it's almost kind of hard to say, because the thing is, I guess it's interesting to frame it like this, that our team has gone through this sort of evolution," Greenfield said. "We're a lot larger than we were before; we have a lot more really talented designers, really creative people working on it, and I think we've all sort of done our own little things here and there along the way of 'I'm going to hide this in this nook and cranny, and I'm going to turn it off for beta, and then we'll see what people see,' and stuff like that."

He added that there are "all kinds of things" to uncover and hinted at "fun things" like "emergent behaviors that have happened in the game based on the things that people have found" and "some of the new sort of technology tools we have to play with."

"It’s hard to talk about secret stuff," Greenfield continued. "It’s secret, right? We want people to find it. There’s some really, really, really cool, and really, really, really well-buried stuff out there that’s probably going to take people a long time to find. If we tip our hats to it too much, it’s just going to take the fun away."

Many of these secrets are so hidden that even data miners can uncover them, and lead encounter designer Michael Nuthals more or less confirmed during the podcast that some features may be used in future WoW: Forever content, such as the Manor Mistmantle, which was recently found in Duskwood.

"There might be some homes, some manors, out there that folks have found that might be something interesting in the future,” Nuthals said. "You might have seen some instance portals hiding in some inconspicuous spots. There are some things coming in the future, and we’re really excited to share those as we get there."

WoW: Forever launches on November 4, and the game's beta officially ends today after getting a short extension.

TechRadar Gaming recently interviewed Blizzard about WoW: Forever, which shared its design philosophy for creating an authentic "Classic Plus" experience and addressed the controversial new Skyborne race available to both Alliance and Horde.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review: blockbuster gaming at its best

dash.wood@futurenet.com (Dashiell Wood) — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:57:37 +0000

You could be forgiven for having reservations going into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. After all, both last year’s instalment, the much-derided Black Ops 7, and this game’s direct predecessor, Modern Warfare III, were clearly rushed and displayed a level of sloppiness that suggested the first-person shooter franchise had reached its breaking point.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: October 23, 2026

Thankfully, it’s now apparent that these were merely temporary hiccups, and Modern Warfare 4 sees developer Infinity Ward successfully bring Call of Duty back from the brink with a fresh and exciting instalment that represents the absolute pinnacle of what the series has to offer.

The brilliant single-player story campaign delivers blockbuster thrills, there’s a stellar extraction shooter component filled with tense encounters in DMZ, and the core multiplayer experience is wonderfully crafted. It’s a package that you shouldn’t miss, and if it represents the trajectory of future installments, I’m confident that we’re in good hands.

Boots on the ground

Activision

The Modern Warfare 4 campaign is simply superb and sets a new benchmark for the series’ cinematic storytelling. It truly feels like the culmination of the last decade of the Call of Duty series – and not just the Modern Warfare games.

It all kicks off in the fictional city of Hajin, South Korea, where you play as the lowly Private Park. An unwilling conscript in the country’s mandatory service program, he and his squadmates are suddenly thrust onto the front lines when a routine patrol is interrupted by the start of a full-scale invasion by North Korea. There are some genuinely shocking scenes in the opening as your team pushes through a rapidly crumbling city, dodging artillery strikes and witnessing widespread civilian casualties.

The early death of a squadmate hammers home the high stakes, and the decision to focus on newcomers rather than the established Modern Warfare cast makes it clear that there’s no plot armor here. You genuinely start to care about these new arrivals, with each member bringing a distinct and memorable personality to the squad’s dynamic. Dunn, a US Marine embedded in the local unit, is a particular highlight. His cultural cluelessness and overconfident swagger are frequently played for laughs, stopping the otherwise bleak tone from becoming too unrelentingly miserable.

It’s a big departure from the almost Marvel-movie-like silliness of the recent Call of Duty games (I’m looking at you, giant Harper mission from Black Ops 7), and the focus on a ground invasion makes for a grittier story that’s more in line with the events of the original Modern Warfare trilogy. Despite this more constrained focus, there are still plenty of memorable set-piece moments, such as an invigorating sequence that has you rapidly switching between different team members spread out across an air base, working together to fend off waves of North Korean troops.

Activision

There’s even one massive, open-world mission that unfolds similarly to a Far Cry game. It’s far more in-depth than the disappointing open-zone levels of 2023’s Modern Warfare III, with resources to scavenge, outposts to clear, and even a few puzzles to crack. It took me a few hours to clear, and since I didn’t see everything, I really appreciate being able to return to it later from the mission select screen and pick up where I left off.

Park’s story plays out mostly linearly, but it's interspersed with missions that detail the exploits of the fan-favorite Captain Price in the lead-up to the invasion. Set a few years after the events of the previous game, which, spoiler alert, ends with Price executing his long-term adversary, General Shepherd, in the middle of the Pentagon, the former SAS soldier is now on the run and travels between global locations hunting the members of a sinister cabal.

Price’s segments offer all the bombastic Mission: Impossible action that made the recent Black Ops 6 campaign so great. One minute you're infiltrating a New York nightclub, and the next you’re speeding through Paris, hanging out the side of a car chased by legions of heavily armed gangsters. Vladimir Makarov, a terrorist Price pursued throughout the previous game, is unceremoniously killed off in just the second mission, paving the way for the introduction of Archer, a new foe portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen. Unlike Makarov, he’s a compelling villain with coherent motivations and, importantly, enough screen time to appear like more than an afterthought, as his predecessor unfortunately did.

While Park’s journey sees the recruit come face to face with the horrors of war but emerge victorious thanks to camaraderie and teamwork, Price’s is all about the dangers of abandoning your morals and sacrificing those close to you in pursuit of revenge. They contrast excellently and, while the messaging certainly isn’t subtle, the way both gradually converge for a unified conclusion is nevertheless highly satisfying.

Off the books

(Image credit: Activision)

The events of the campaign lead directly into the new DMZ extraction shooter mode, which sees mercenaries returning to the crumbling ruins of Hajin to find and extract abandoned military tech left over from the war. It plays like a simplified version of titles such as Arena Breakout: Infinite or Escape from Tarkov, with your chosen operator dropping in to the map from an upgradable field base.

This serves as a little hub world that you return to in between runs, offering limited storage for your scavenged gear, a 3D printer to forge new equipment with collected resources, a vendor for spending extracted cash, and intelligence detailing the non-player character (NPC) foes and most dangerous players active in the zone. While most extraction shooter games include base-building elements, it’s rare to see your home as a physical 3D space you can actually explore, and it makes the experience feel much more immersive.

You have three options when deploying into Hajin: Story Missions, Dynamic Ops, and Free Roam. Free Roam is the most basic: it drops you into the massive map with a few other players to pursue your own goals, whether that means finding good weapons to extract or trying to complete DMZ Orders, little challenges that guide your experience. Dynamic Ops is more guided, feeding you a stream of multi-stage objectives with increasing rewards for each that you manage to complete.

(Image credit: Activision)

They’re assigned at random, with a good variety of options in the mission pool that range from taking out key NPC targets to taking over military camps and collecting stashed bombs to destroy marked vehicles. Story Missions, meanwhile, offer a more linear experience that feels much closer to the campaign.

One early highlight had my team of three taking on guards at an abandoned hospital, pushing our way up to the intensive care unit and wheeling a sedated enemy general to a rooftop extraction point under heavy fire. It was genuinely exhilarating, and became even more exciting when a squad of enemy players turned up to disrupt our mission.

Other players can appear regardless of your chosen mode, leading to tense PvP situations where one wrong move can mean the difference between a successful escape and losing your current operator and all of their equipment. Not every encounter has to end in a fight, though, as you can work together with enemy teams (and even opt to join them) if they’re willing to cooperate, leading to some fun emergent play.

Best bit

(Image credit: Activision)

Diving into DMZ with friends is a delight. The mode works fantastically as a duo, chatting with each other as you explore the huge map, complete objectives, and evade (or attack) rival squads.

I entered one story mission and quickly discovered that my team of randoms was absolutely terrible, with no apparent interest in actually completing our tasks, so I beelined to a nearby enemy squad shouting “friendly” until they sent me the invite to join them. I quickly led my new friends right back to my useless former teammates, and took great pleasure in helping mow them down to steal all their gear.

No two games feel the same, and if that wasn’t reason enough to keep coming back, Hajin itself is a treat to explore. It’s big, beautiful, and filled with a variety of aesthetically distinct zones ranging from freezing cold, abandoned North Korean villages to the rusty ruins of the South Korean city and even some of the barren outskirts of Russia. Even when you’ve seen it all, the dynamic weather effects can still take you by surprise, introducing challenging conditions like dense fog or heavy rainstorms that make it more difficult to navigate and spot foes.

DMZ would be a strong offering as a standalone extraction shooter game, so it represents incredible value when bundled in alongside the rest of the Modern Warfare 4 package. This is a mode that I’m going to be coming back to time and time again in the weeks and months ahead.

A fresh start

(Image credit: Activision)

Of course, no Call of Duty game is complete without a robust suite of core multiplayer modes, and Modern Warfare 4 delivers a truly superb experience across the board in this regard. The pacing of matches is perfect: noticeably snappier than the comparatively pedestrian battles of Modern Warfare II but not as overwhelmingly rapid as the wall-jumping, hip-firing action of Black Ops 7.

Fast movement helps you navigate the smaller maps of classic modes like Team Deathmatch or Kill Confirmed quickly so you’re always encountering new enemies to fight, keeping the excitement high. Focusing on tactical positioning is still rewarded, thanks to a finely tuned TTK (time to kill) that gives the player who lands the first hit an advantage, but not a guaranteed victory against particularly skilled opponents. New traversal mechanics like a ledge grab that lets you hang off the side of buildings and objects are seamlessly implemented too, opening up new exciting opportunities on every battlefield.

As I noted in my impressions of the Modern Warfare 4 beta, the overhauled ballistic system is far more than a marketing bullet point and genuinely impacts how you engage with weapons by accurately simulating the trajectory of bullets based on the position of your muzzle. In practical terms, it means being able to reliably hit shots when quickly shooting from the hip, which gives you a chance against players that slide around corners with SMGs at breakneck speeds to try and catch you off guard.

(Image credit: Activision)

The guns themselves are all fantastic to use, with best-in-class model fidelity, impactful sound effects, and slick animations. There’s a great variety in the arsenal to boot, which spans from modern assault rifles to the antique WWII gear used by the real-world North Korean military. GUNNY, a new automated helper smartly built into the gunsmith system, makes it easier than ever to tweak your attachments for that perfect build. While I will always prefer poring over the detailed stats, giving newcomers the ability to automatically create good attachment setups based on their specific playstyles helps keep the playing field even.

As for the maps, they’re some of the best that we’ve had in recent years. They’re definitely on the smaller side unless you dive into the massive Ground War: Combat Outpost mode (which plays almost like a Battlefield match), though none of them stand out as suffering from poorly balanced spawn points or unfair sightlines. They’re visually stunning. Those taking place in South Korea, such as Silkworm, stand out particularly with their lavishly detailed streets, while little animated intros grant each arena a distinct visual identity.

Wrap all of this up in a slick UI that finally doesn’t look like the Netflix home screen, and it’s hard not to come to the conclusion that Modern Warfare 4 is going to reshape the direction of the long-running series going forward. If I had to truly nitpick, I would fault the lack of faction divisions in the operator lineup – being able to tell at a glance which team a player is on without having to rely on the red enemy indicator would help readability.

For something this insignificant to be my only complaint is a testament to how strong the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 package is

Should I play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?

Play it if…

You’ve been waiting for a triumphant return
If you’ve skipped the last few Call of Duty titles in order to wait for the franchise’s next big hit, then Modern Warfare 4 is it. There’s never been a better time to dive back in.

You want an unbeatable package
Thanks to a strong single-player mode and excellent core multiplayer experience, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 represents excellence across the board. You even get an entire, engaging extraction shooter thrown in with the included DMZ mode.

You love the Modern Warfare story
Modern Warfare 4 brings the latest Modern Warfare narrative to a satisfying and definitive conclusion that’s well worth experiencing if you’ve played the previous entries.

Don’t play it if…

You prefer the faster pace of Black Ops 7
Modern Warfare 4 is a fast-paced game as far as Call of Duty goes, but engagements are still not as rapid as in Black Ops 7. Stick with last year's instalment if you prefer that style of play.

Accessibility features

As with most modern Call of Duty games, there is an expansive selection of accessibility settings. This includes a wide selection of visual presets designed to enhance readability, as well as an assortment of subtitle options for the campaign.

The controls are also highly customizable, with full remapping supported whether you’re using a keyboard and mouse or a controller. You can also tweak aim assist settings and enable presets designed to reduce motor strain.

How I reviewed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

I played more than 25 hours of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for the purpose of this review. This included a full playthrough of the campaign, multiple DMZ sessions both solo and with a friend, and plenty of multiplayer. I also drew on my experience playing more than ten hours of the game’s beta, and some extra hands-on time in a studio visit earlier this year.

I tested everything on PC using a 5070 Ti-powered model by retailer Sca with a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus. This setup lets me play smoothly on custom graphics settings at 1080p with most options set to High.

For peripherals, I used the new Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid keyboard and Logitech G Pro X3 SuperStrike mouse throughout my time with the game.

First reviewed October 2026

Nacon announces the Revolution Pro X – Special Edition, a new Hell Is Us-inspired Xbox controller offering 'joystick tension adjustment, Hall Effect sensors, and micro-switch combine technologies'

Demi Williams — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:29:50 +0000

Nacon reveals its officially licensed Xbox controller, the Revolution Pro X – Special Edition
The controller design is inspired by Hell Is Us and is now available for £109.99 / $129.90 / €129.99
It combines mechanical fine-tuning for all playstyles and tournament-grade precision

Nacon has announced the Revolution Pro X – Special Edition, its new officially licensed Xbox wireless controller inspired by Rogue Factor's action-adventure game, Hell Is Us.

Revolution Pro X – Special Edition is designed for competitive gaming and combines mechanical tuning and tournament-grade precision, allowing players on PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Smart TVs to customize controls to suit their playstyle.

Available now at NaconGaming for £109.99 / $129.90 / €129.99, the jet-black controller features a minimalist whorl design inspired by Hell Is Us and features contactless Hall Effect joysticks and instant triggers equipped with micro-switches "without mechanical wear," plus two programmable shortcut buttons on the back.

It also offers four vibration motors, two programmable rear buttons, a 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, and a 3 m detachable braided USB-C cable.

"Its control ring lets you adjust the mechanical tension of the joysticks with a single gesture to prioritize either fast movements or precise aiming, depending on the situation," Nacon said.

When connected to a PC, it offers a wired mode with a 1,000 Hz polling rate and matches a claimed latency of 1 ms, prioritizing responsiveness in fast-paced games like first-person shooters.

"With the Revolution Pro X – SE, we wanted to offer a full-featured precision controller at a competitive price,” says Yannick Allaert, director of Nacon's accessories division.

"Its joystick tension adjustment, Hall Effect sensors, and micro-switch combine technologies designed to allow every player to tailor their controls to their playing style."

An alleged former BioWare dev leaks the 'Mass Effect Universe' trailer following studio closure, and fans believe this could be a 'Deadpool-style' move 'intended to generate public pressure and potentially give the cancelled project a second chance'

Demi Williams — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:31:18 +0000

An alleged former BioWare developer has leaked the trailer for "Mass Effect Universe"
The cinematic trailer has been verified as real and features "in-engine footage" and "pre-production assets"
Fans are hoping the game can be saved following BioWare's closure

A first look at the next Mass Effect game has leaked online following its cancelation and BioWare's closure, and fans are in an uproar, with many hoping for a revival.

One day after EA permanently shuttered the legendary developer behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, an alleged former BioWare employee leaked the Mass Effect 5 trailer on Reddit, and sadly, it looks amazing.

The cinematic trailer for "Mass Effect Universe" begins with text that reads, "The following is in-engine footage from our small team. It uses our pre-production assets." It then showcases a new protagonist, who appears to be an ex-soldier, in settings familiar to the series with a spy-thriller vibe.

We also see Liara T'Soni alongside new characters who appear to be companions, including a male Quarian, enemy encounters, and some awesome-looking action.

Now verified by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier as a real trailer for the game BioWare was developing up until its closure, the teaser has rocked the internet and sparked even more backlash against EA.

"I'm crying," one fan said on X. This is everything I wanted. They were a lot farther than we thought. F*** EA."

Another wrote, "This is absurd. These developers deserve for their years of work to see the light of day. They were clearly f***** cooking something special. Save BioWare. Save Mass Effect."

Mass Effect Universe may be dead, but fans hope the project will be revived, with a Change.org petition called "#SaveMassEffect" now live and holding over 45,799 signatures as of writing.

Fans are also speculating the leak could be a publicity stunt to save BioWare and the game, similar to how the Deadpool movie was revived after actor Ryan Reynolds personally leaked the test footage to the public.

"The alleged Mass Effect Universe trailer looks incredible," a fan account said. "We personally believe this could be a 'Deadpool-style' leak, intended to generate public pressure and potentially give the cancelled project a second chance. Could this be an attempt to save Mass Effect?"

BioWare's closure came as part of EA's first major restructuring plan that led to 400 layoffs across the publisher's studios, including "50-ish" of the remaining people at BioWare, according to former cinematic supervisor Tony de Waal.

De Waal spoke out about Mass Effect 5's cancelation after being laid off and said, "I believe we were making something special: a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to match."

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65% review: an awesome and affordable mechanical keyboard

Reece Bithrey — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:53:26 +0000

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65%: two-minute review

Razer has a long and storied history when it comes to its own mechanical keyboards, but at virtually every opportunity, it has charged a bit of a premium for them. Even the more enthusiast-focused ones, such as the BlackWidow V4 75%, have tended to transplant the brand's gaming look onto a hot-swappable, sound-dampened board with a premium price to match. The Reclusa X Mini 65% takes a different approach. At $49.99/£59.99/AU$99.95, it's aimed squarely at the budget end of the market, and at people who might be buying their first mechanical keyboard, which is a good market to go after.

The problem a first-time buyer has is simply the breadth of choice on offer, and it can be very daunting to pick a keyboard, even if I think it's simpler than the internet wants you to think. Likewise, a lot of the choices on offer tend to skimp on certain things, or they aren't offering a complete package – Razer has hit the nail on the head when it comes to the fundamentals of a good affordable mechanical keyboard.

For instance, the plastic chassis is compact but has a surprising amount of heft, and I couldn't find any real deck flex. For the money, that's a pleasant surprise. Moreover, the third-gen Orange tactile switches are the best Razer has made in a while, with a pleasant feel under finger that kept me using this keyboard long after the review period was up, and the mint green colorway is a departure from the brand's usually quite aggressive, gamer-centric styling.

(Image credit: Future)

It's only really the little things that let it down. I'll continue to bemoan the presence of ABS keycaps, even on a more affordable keyboard, and the lack of any form of adjustable feet on the underside feels like an oversight. The absence of any wireless connectivity may not please some, but I don't necessarily see it as a big issue given the price.

Even so, the Reclusa X Mini 65% is a very easy keyboard to like. It's sturdy, smooth to type on, and looks the part, and it has room to grow if you want to experiment with different switches, being hot-swappable and all. It's a fantastic first mechanical keyboard for a lot of folks, and all the more fun being from a brand I might not have expected to get it so right.

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65% review: Design

Especially compact
Pleasant green keycaps
Surprisingly sturdy

As much as the Reclusa X Mini 65% isn't an expensive keyboard, it doesn't exactly feel like a bargain-bin product, either. Far too often, cheaper keyboards from brands up and down the reputational ladder are plastic fantastic, with corners that flex and a chassis that feels like it'll give up as soon as you put your fingers down to type.

Not so with this product. The plastic chassis may be compact, but it has a surprising amount of heft and no real deck flex, which I'm delighted about. I first got hands-on with this product at Gamescom 2026, and the first thing I did was pick it up, try to flex the chassis, and was met with resistance from the keyboard's frame, which genuinely surprised me. That doesn't happen too often these days.

The style Razer has opted for with this keyboard is also unlike any of its previous efforts. The brand's other keyboards, even the more enthusiast-focused ones such as the BlackWidow V4 75%, simply transplanted the signature look of its gaming products and supplemented it with hot-swappable switches, sound dampening, and so on. The Reclusa X Mini 65% actually looks a little more like a product that someone getting into mechanical keyboards might want to purchase.

(Image credit: Future)

I'm a particular fan of the keycap styling and color options with the mint green accents for Esc, Return, the Space Bar, and arrow keys, plus white for other function keys. The main alphanumerics are black with the same green hue for the legends. Being doubleshot is nice for durability, too, although I will continue to nag Razer about its use of the shiny ABS plastics. Even at the more affordable end of the market, we're seeing the more durable (and much more shine-resistant) PBT used more often, so it would have been nice to see it here.

The 65% layout is largely okay to use day-to-day, and provides you with some of the functionality of bigger footprint keyboards, such as a single column nav cluster and arrow keys in the corner. Other functions, such as the F-row, media playback and controlling the keyboard's RGB backlighting, are relegated to a function layer. I'd prefer a bigger layout, but 65% is the absolute smallest I can get away with using day-to-day without feeling hemmed in.

(Image credit: Future)

The interface around the back is nice and simple, with just a USB-C port for hooking the keyboard up to a PC or Mac. After all, it is just wired, with no other connectivity options available – for the price, it's perfectly fine.

I do have another bone to pick, though. The underside has no adjustable feet. While the default rake of the Reclusa X Mini 65% is comfortable enough for me, it's a shame that you can't tilt it any further up.

Design score: 4.5/5

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65% review: Performance

Tactile Gen 3 Orange switches feel solid under finger
Decent acoustics and customisation potential
Bright RGB lighting and convenient software on offer

One of my bigger keyboard-related axes to grind has often been Razer's own switches. The older Green and Yellow switches never did anything for me compared to other options out there, and the third-gen Orange soft tactiles that's been fitted to my sample of the Reclusa X Mini 65% have been Razer's pick of the bunch for some time.

These are 50g switches, providing a slightly heavier press than your typical crop of linears, with a little more weight under finger than I usually like. There's a decent tactile bump halfway down the keypress to boot. For typing an array of articles with this keyboard, this review included, it's been nothing if not agreeable.

(Image credit: Future)

The switches also come pre-lubricated, meaning they’ve had a small dab of lubricant on the stem, switch housing, and elsewhere inside for a smoother keystroke. The idea of lubricating switches has become more tied to the modern mechanical keyboard hobby in the main, and it works to the Oranges’ advantage by offering a smooth keystroke that’s nicely interrupted by the soft tactile bump halfway down the keystroke.

If these switches aren't your jam, though, then the Reclusa X Mini 65% is hot-swappable and compatible with your usual MX-style three- or five-pin switches, and it works the way you'd expect, with no soldering or funny business required. That said, I couldn't spot a keycap or switch puller in the box, so you'll need to supply your own if you want to swap them out. Doing so is easy enough, though, so you can change switches in a matter of minutes, potentially changing the feel of the keyboard completely. For instance, I had some Cherry MX Northern Lights knocking around, which are a lighter and much quieter linear switch, which changed the feel of the 'board completely.

Regarding noise, this Razer keyboard isn't the quietest, and when you get up to speed, it can be quite loud. That said, there is internal dampening to help reduce any case rattle and ping, and the acoustics on offer here are largely pleasant, with a crisp and quite bright sound when you get into the groove.

(Image credit: Future)

Software duties are handled by Razer's Synapse 4 suite, which is a major improvement on the older and clunkier forms of Synapse that came before it. As expected for a keyboard that isn't packed to the rafters with HE or TMR or whatever else, the customisation here is largely limited to key remapping on two layers, plus enabling the brand's Snap Tap feature for unusually brisk side-to-side movement in the likes of CS:2 and configuring the keyboard's RGB lighting.

The Reclusa X Mini 65%'s solid keycaps mean the Chroma lighting this keyboard has is more of an underglow than a full-blown Pink Floyd gig, although it's still plenty bright enough and works well with the aesthetic of the keyboard.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65% review: Price & release date

$49.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95
Released September 8, 2026
Towards the bottom end of the market

Razer launched the Reclusa X Mini 65% in September 2026. At $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95, it's easily one of the most affordable keyboards the brand has ever released, let alone an enthusiast-focused one.

That price puts it firmly in entry-level territory. It's much cheaper than the Razer BlackWidow V4 75%, which sits in the more enthusiast-focused part of Razer's range, and it takes on the likes of the MechLands Vibe99, another budget board that trades a premium finish for strong value. It also sits alongside Gamakay's TK75 V2, which proved you don't need to spend big to get a satisfying typing feel.

(Image credit: Future)

What sets the Reclusa X Mini 65% apart from a lot of these more affordable mechanical boards is how much it gets right for the money. The solid chassis, hot-swappable switches and doubleshot keycaps are rarely found together at this price, and when they are found together, it can usually mean a compromise on feel, one way or another. The compromises are a wired-only connection, 1,000Hz polling and shiny ABS keycaps, but for most buyers on a budget they're easy to forgive.

Value score: 4.5/5

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65% review: Specs

Layout	65%
Switches	Razer Gen 3 Orange Tactile
Programmable keys	Yes
Dimensions	12.2 x 4.02 x 1.5 inches / 311 x 102 x 37mm (LxWxH)
RGB or backlighting	Yes - RGB (customisable)

Should I buy the Razer Reclusa X Mini 65%?

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65% Scorecard
Attribute	Notes	Score
Design	The Reclusa X Mini 65% looks great with its two-tone green keycaps, plus has a surprisingly solid plastic chassis. It's little things that let it down, such as ABS keycaps and the absence of any feet on the underside.	4.5/5
Performance	The tactile Orange switches inside are surprisingly good for a mainstream brand and comfortable for extended periods and feel smooth with a pleasant tactile bump. Software config is competent too, as is physical customisation with hot-swappable switches.	4.5/5
Value	The Reclusa X Mini 65% is one of the brand's most affordable keyboards ever, and it hits the spot for price-to-performance with excellent value for money.	4.5/5
Average Rating	The Razer Reclusa X Mini 65% impresses for a big brand's budget keyboard, proving a proper mechanical 'board for a song can be done when you put your mind to it. It looks good and feels excellent with tactile switches and a surprisingly sturdy plastic chassis. If I'm being nitpicky, the lack of any adjustable feet and more basic software customisation are sore misses, but on the whole, this is a highly impressive mechanical board.	4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want a sturdy keyboard on a budget
The Reclusa X Mini 65% has a surprising amount of heft for the money, with no noticeable deck flex. That makes it feel a good deal more expensive than it actually is. View Deal

You want a satisfying tactile switch under finger
Razer's Gen 3 Orange switches are the best it has made in a while. The pre-lubed 50g stems and soft tactile bump make for a smooth, agreeable typing feel, and they're a pleasure for long writing sessions. View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You want wireless connectivity
This is a USB-C wired board and nothing else. That's perfectly fine for the money, but if you want Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz receiver, you'll need to look at other options.View Deal

You want flip-out feet
It might seem a small nitpick, but the lack of any flip-out feet on the underside of this keyboard can be a shame if you want to get properly comfortable with this board, hindering its ergonomics a bit.View Deal

You want deep software customization
Synapse 4 is a big improvement on older versions, but you're limited to key remapping on two layers: Snap Tap and RGB control. If you want more tuning options, you'll need to look elsewhere.View Deal

Also consider

MechLands Vibe99
The MechLands Vibe99 goes after the same budget-minded buyer, and it's a solid performer, with well-lubed linear switches and a snappy response. It's a less handsome package than the Razer, though: the chassis feels solid but not premium, the retro styling doesn't charm, and the software isn't as good as it should be. It also uses a near-full-size 1800 layout rather than a 65% one, which suits you better if you want more keys.

Read our full MechLands Vibe99 reviewView Deal

Gamakay TK75 V2
If you'd rather have a 75% layout, the Gamakay TK75 V2 is a lovely alternative, with damped switches that are great for typing and gaming and near-silent in use. That's a big contrast with the Razer, which can get loud once you pick up speed. The catch is that it lacks gaming-specific tweaks, so it suits typists better than players who want the likes of Snap Tap.

Read our full Gamakay TK75 V2 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Razer Reclusa X Mini 65%

Tested for around two weeks
Used for gaming and productivity across Windows and macOS
A decade of experience as a journalist and mechanical keyboard hobbyist

I tested the Reclusa X Mini 65% for around two weeks, using it as my main keyboard for work and play during this time with both Windows and macOS.

I used it for typing up thousands of words a day with my PC and hooked it up to my MacBook Pro over Bluetooth as my primary keyboard for work, too, to judge its performance. I also used the Razer Synapse 4 software on Windows to remap keys, program the macros and see what else it had to offer.

I've been a tech journalist for the best part of a decade, and have reviewed plenty of keyboards in that time from brands big and small. I'm also a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, so I have a keen eye for peripherals and have been involved with the hobby before it hit the mainstream.

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: October 2026

NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #1230)

Johnny Dee — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, October 22 (game #1229).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1230) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

EXTENSION
LOVE
DIRECT
POWER
SPINAL
VOCAL
DRIVER
DISTANCE
PHONE
TIME
UPDATE
OPEN
FRANK
FORCE
DOUBLE
PLUGIN

NYT Connections today (game #1230) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: Say exactly what you mean
GREEN: Add to a PC
BLUE: Do the math with these
PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “cap”

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1230) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: FORTHRIGHT
GREEN: THINGS YOU INSTALL ON A COMPUTER
BLUE: QUANTITIES IN A FORMULA FOR POWER
PURPLE: _____ TAP

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1230) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1230, are…

YELLOW: FORTHRIGHT: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, VOCAL
GREEN: THINGS YOU INSTALL ON A COMPUTER: DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN, UPDATE
BLUE: QUANTITIES IN A FORMULA FOR POWER: DISTANCE, FORCE, POWER, TIME
PURPLE: _____ TAP: DOUBLE, LOVE, PHONE, SPINAL

My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect

I’ll be honest, I had never heard of the expression “love tap” but gambled that LOVE was the most likely candidate to join SPINAL, PHONE, and DOUBLE.

My leap in the dark paid off and I was rewarded with a Purple First — a great way to end the week and I hope you joined me. As Nigel Tufnel put it in This is Spinal Tap: "It's such a fine line between stupid, and uh… clever."

Thankfully, I didn’t let my triumph go to my head and managed to see THINGS YOU INSTALL ON A COMPUTER and FORTHRIGHT without slipping up.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, October 22, 2026, game #1229)

YELLOW: PARTS TO BE GRASPED: GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB
GREEN: KINDS OF SCULPTURES: BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE
BLUE: AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS: END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE
PURPLE: STARTS OF BEDDING: BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE

What is NYT Connections?

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Quordle hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #1733)

Johnny Dee — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, October 22 (game #1732).

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1733) — hint #1 — Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1733) — hint #2 — repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1733) — hint #3 — uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1733) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1733) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• H

• F

• L

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1733) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1733, are…

BLIMP
HOIST
FRIED
LURID

This game felt far too easy and I had the odd sensation of having played it before.

This was probably due to the O-I-S-T letter combination that also appeared two days ago and BLIMP — a word that seems to appear in the Daily Sequence every other month.

Daily Sequence today (game #1733) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1733, are…

TRADE
OFFAL
QUAIL
LOAMY

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1732, Thursday, 22 October: DECAL, WIDTH, WOKEN, LEVER
Quordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTH
Quordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPY
Quordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUID
Quordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEO
Quordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCK
Quordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNK
Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST
Quordle #1714, Sunday, 4 October: INFER, RAINY, THING, ARENA
Quordle #1713, Saturday, 3 October: CHORE, FLYER, STICK, PURSE

NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #964)

Johnny Dee — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, October 22 (game #963).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #964) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… None of your beeswax!

NYT Strands today (game #964) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

BEAVER
SPRING
NOSE
PRIDE
SPONGY
SITE
VEST

NYT Strands today (game #964) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #964) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 1st row

• Last side: right, 6th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #964) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #964, are…

NOSY
EAVESDROPPING
INQUISITIVE
SNOOPY
PRYING
SPANGRAM: BUSYBODY

My rating: Hard
My score: Perfect

Despite not needing any hints, I’m classifying this as a tricky game due to the length of several game words, including the WHOPPING 13-letter EAVESDROPPING.

INQUISITIVE also caused me some issues connecting it all together.

My main triumph, though, was spotting the Spangram First — an achievement that is not essential to enjoying Strands, but definitely mini-fistpump worthy.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, October 22, game #963)

KINFOLK
OFFSPRING
BLOOD
BRETHREN
ANCESTORS
SPANGRAM: FAMILYTIES

What is NYT Strands?

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Good news for World of Warcraft: Forever players: Blizzard has extended the beta and is opening WoW name reservations ahead of the game's November launch

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:16:47 +0000

World of Warcraft: Forever's beta has been extended until October 23
Beta users will have more time to play the game ahead of the MMO's November 4 launch
Early name reservations will also be available from October 27 through November 3

Blizzard Entertainment has extended the World of Warcraft: Forever beta, giving those with access additional playtime in Azeroth, ahead of the game's official release.

WoW: Forever is set to launch on November 4, and the popular beta period was initially supposed to end on October 20. However, Blizzard has announced on X that it's now extended to October 23 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST.

In addition, the studio has confirmed that early name reservations for Forever will be available from October 27 through November 3, "giving players an opportunity to secure the names that will become part of their adventures in Azeroth."

During this period, eligible players, including those who have pre-purchased the Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack, limited-time Warcraft Forever Collection, the Digital Upgrade, or Collector’s Edition, can create and reserve names for up to three characters total across all Rulesets.

Good News, Everyone!Starting Oct 27, reserve your first THREE characters’ names for WoW: Forever!The Beta is also extending to 10 AM PDT on Oct 23 🚨Full details: https://t.co/Ydqh6rzb6b https://t.co/SEhcMgg9bVOctober 20, 2026

"This means that if you create two on a PvP Ruleset, you’ll only be able to create one more character in a Normal or Role-Play Ruleset," Blizzard explained. "This restriction only applies to Early Name Reservation."

TechRadar Gaming recently interviewed Blizzard about WoW: Forever, including the MMO's controversial new Skyborne race available to both Alliance and Horde.

The team said it has a "great story" to tell with the Skyborne and, regarding its decision to make Skyborne accessible to both factions, it said, "it’s mostly to try and avoid a potentially avoidable population swing."

Blizzard also confirmed it doesn't plan to add any modern WoW races since the game exists in its own timeline, while sharing its design philosophy for creating an authentic "Classic Plus" experience, and that it's actively working to combat real-money trading (RMT) in WoW: Forever.

WoW: Forever's classes also won't be modernized, but will receive "engaging depth."

Stranger Than Heaven director says 'it was really important' for RGG that 'the player experience the whole life of a man' and that the story's 50-year timeline was essential to depicting how a yakuza organization is built

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe explains why the game's story spanning decades is being told in one game instead of multiple titles
Abe says it was "a week isn't enough to tell the story" of how a yakuza organisation is built
The director says the era-spanning story worked best when framed around a man's life

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe has explained why RGG Studios chose to tell an era-spanning story in one game, rather than across multiple titles.

"The whole starting point was that we wanted to depict why, or how, someone would create such an organisation like a yakuza organisation," Abe said in an interview with TechRadar Gaming.

Stranger Than Heaven centers on the main character, Makoto Daito, and the origins of a Yakuza organisation spanning 50 years across five cities in Japan, and Abe explained that the initial idea of containing the story within a smaller timeframe simply didn't work for the team's vision.

"We started from there, and while we were creating the narrative, we started to slowly realise that a week isn't enough to tell the story," he added. "We then explored how much time we needed to tell the narrative of a man who's going to build a gigantic yakuza organisation."

Abe went on to explain that this story worked best when framed around a man's life (Daito's) and realized it was the best outcome instead of splitting the story across multiple games, despite how long the narrative is.

"It was really important for us that the player experience the whole life of a man, because we wanted to tell this epic story of how the organisation became an organisation," he said.

"The timespan needed for that was basically a man's life. So, if we split it, people are going to experience it separately. But again, the main focus of the narrative was to tell why he created this organisation, and the timespan needed to tell that story was a life."

The director added, "So we just decided to create it and do it in one game. I will also say that the game itself is pretty long, but I'm quite satisfied with what we’ve built."

Stranger Than Heaven launches on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

EA says it's 'bringing together our Respawn and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project' that is reportedly Star Wars Battlefront 3

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:50:17 +0000

Electronic Arts has confirmed it will "be bringing together" its "Respawn and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project"
Multiple sources have confirmed with Variety that it is Star Wars Battlefront 3
The confirmation comes as EA shuts down BioWare and lays off 400 staff members across all studios

Star Wars Battlefront 3 is reportedly in development after Electronic Arts confirmed that Respawn and DICE will work collaboratively on a new project.

According to Variety, EA’s Cam Weber, president and chief studio officer, and David Tinson, president and COO, have confirmed the publisher is leaning into live-service online games after seeing success with Battlefield 6.

The executives said the game was "a great success, and we learned a lot from the launch and the live service" and alongside more Battlefield titles, "we’ll be bringing together our Respawn and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project."

EA didn't specify what this project is; however, Variety confirmed with "multiple sources" that the game is Star Wars Battlefront 3. The game has made headlines recently, with initial reports claiming it was to be developed at DICE alongside Destiny developer Bungie.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 launched in 2017, but live-service support ended in 2020, leaving the popular online multiplayer game in the dust with no further content updates, and it was thought the series was on ice.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners acquired EA in September 2025, but the deal wasn't officially closed until August 2026, making the restructuring the publisher's first major move.

Alongside Respawn and DICE's project, EA will continue to "invest heavily” in the Apex Legends franchise over the next few years, with plans to introduce new multiplayer modes and other content, and has committed to delivering "our two huge launches coming up," which are Marvel's Iron Man and Star Wars Jedi 3.

It also plans to continue supporting EA Sports, with two new projects in development, The Sims franchise and Skate.

Unfortunately, it's not all good news. The executive's plan also included a major restructuring across its studios and projects, resulting in 400 layoffs and the permanent shutdown of the legendary Dragon Age and Mass Effect studio, BioWare.

Roughly 50 people were laid off from the studio, and work on Mass Effect 5 has been canceled.

Former BioWare cinematic supervisor Tony de Waal has spoken up about the studio's closure, saying that Mass Effect 5 would have offered "a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to match"

Secretlab's new League of Legends K/DA Firestarter collection is a gorgeous new addition to its Titan Evo and Magnus Pro series — here's where to get your matching set

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Secretlab has announced its new Titan Evo and Magnus Pro League of Legends K/DA collection
The virtual pop group returns with new music, and Secretlab is celebrating with a themed gaming chair and standing gaming desk
Both are wreathed in rich burgundy flame and the K/DA iconography

Secretlab is expanding its Secretlab Titan Evo and Magnus Pro series with a new League of Legends collection inspired by the game's virtual pop group, K/DA.

K/DA has officially made a comeback after years away with a new album consisting of four tracks, 'Firestarter,' 'Never Going Back,' 'Watch Me,' and 'Girls,' and to mark the occasion, Secretlab has announced its stunning new Titan Evo gaming chair and Magnus Pro desk, launching today at Secretlab.

"The comeback we’ve all been waiting for," Secretlab announced. "Celebrate the return of K/DA, the virtual global pop supergroup within the iconic League of Legends world, with the brand newSecretlabLeague ofLegends K/DA Firestarter Collection."

Secretlab

Wreathed in rich burgundy flame, black leather, and the iconography for the members of K/DA, including Ahri, Kai'Sa, Evelynn, and Akali, the Titan Evo League of Legends Firestarter edition also features gradient embroidery and silver frame motifs on the side wings.

The Secretlab Titan Evo is one of the best gaming chairs on offer, designed with patent-pending cold-cure foam, a pebble seat base, and four-way L-adapt lumbar back support to ensure comfort for long gaming sessions.

The Titan Evo can also be paired with the Magnus Pro League of Legends Firestarter edition, the first standing desk in the K/DA collection. Featuring fire wrapped around the entire frame and the same iconography of the group's members, the desk also offers a matching cable management bundle with hot metallic pink anchors.

The Secretlab Magnus Pro features built-in power, cable management, and a controller, and is one of TechRadar Gaming's picks for the best standing desks money can buy right now.

Stranger Than Heaven director says the game's combat was inspired by old 'Ninkyo' Yakuza movies because the 'raw and gritty' action scenes fit Daito's character as an inexperienced fighter — 'We felt that atmosphere was what made those genres special'

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe says the game's combat system was inspired by classic Ninkyo yakuza movies
He says the action scenes in those movies were "raw and gritty" and encapsulated the feeling RGG Studios wanted to showcase
Abe adds that the combat system also correlates with Makoto Daito, who will start as an inexperienced fighter before evolving

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe has revealed that classic yakuza movies inspired the upcoming action game's combat system, and that it will tie into Makoto Daito's character development.

Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Abe shared how RGG Studios conceptualized the game's combat, saying that it "really wanted to make sure that the player feels this atmosphere that it’s either you kill, or you get killed," and revealed that "we took a lot of inspiration from the old Ninkyo movies."

Ninkyo is a classic subgenre of Japanese yakuza-themed movies made in the 70s and 80s. Abe said RGG was influenced by movies like New Battles Without Honor and Humanity, starring Bunta Sugawara, who also plays a character in Stranger Than Heaven, because of its unrefined action scenes.

"While we were watching these movies, we noticed that what made those movies special was how raw and gritty the action scenes are in those movies," he said. "No one throws a cool-looking fist punch or anything; it's just people rolling around and fighting. We felt that atmosphere was what made those genres special."

The "raw" action scenes also influenced the game's main character, Makoto Daito, and his gradual progression to becoming a better fighter than he starts; players will see him evolving the more they become attuned to the combat system.

"We took a lot of inspiration from that, and wanted to make sure that Daito is a character who starts out not being too good in a fight," Abe continued. "As he progresses, though, he gets more comfortable fighting people. Because of that, because the game is about one man's life, we definitely wanted to depict how the main character is evolving, or I guess more like ageing, through the narrative. We wanted to make sure that the player can also feel that, while also feeling that tension of kill or be killed."

Abe added that "It was really, really important that the combat feels intuitive to create this sense of synchronisation between the player and Daito" and to allow the player to "immerse themselves in controlling Makoto."

"As the player's skill gets better, so does Daito as a character gets better," the director said. "So that was the whole concept of what we wanted to depict through this combat system."

Stranger Than Heaven releases on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

'I believe we were making something special' — BioWare dev says the now-canceled Mass Effect 5 offered 'a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to match'

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:56:59 +0000

BioWare cinematic supervisor Tony de Waal says the now-canceled Mass Effect 5 offered "a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to match"
The developer says BioWare "saw what Larian and CD Projekt were bringing to the table" with Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 and "started down a path to bring Mass Effect to the next level"
De Waal also recounts his experience working on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which he called "a herculean effort"

A BioWare developer working on Mass Effect 5 has revealed new details about the now-canceled project, which was seemingly inspired by systems from Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077.

Following the announcement that EA is shutting down BioWare and canceling the next Mass Effect game, former BioWare cinematic supervisor Tony de Waal has spoken up about the plans for the title, revealing that he was among the remaining "50-ish" people at the studio who were laid off, suggesting Mass Effect 5 had a very small production team.

"I was one of the lucky ones who stayed with BioWare to start on the next Mass Effect, where I believe we were making something special: a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to match," De Waal said on LinkedIn (via PC Gamer).

"We saw what Larian and CD Projekt were bringing to the table with their latest offerings, and started down a path to bring Mass Effect to the next level while remaining true to the Trilogy."

De Waal started his career at BioWare "29+ years ago," left after Mass Effect 2's release, but returned in 2021 to "help get what would become Dragon Age: The Veilguard back on track and out the door."

The developer shared some challenges the team encountered along the way with the final Dragon Age entry, saying it was "a herculean effort that tested the limits of even my workaholic mindset" but is "proud of the level of polish we were able to pull off in the Frostbite engine."

"Seriously, you have no idea the craziness going on under the hood of that game to make a variable player character work across 3+ hours of cinematics, and the number of conditions to account for in the scenes towards the end of the game," he added.

Speaking more on Mass Effect 5, De Waal said he's "sad" fans "won't get to see what we were cooking" and "sad for the small, talented group of devs who were all punching above their weight to make something special."

Parent company EA announced major restructuring plans across its studios and in development projects. 400 people have been laid off, including roughly 50 roles at BioWare (via Bloomberg). Now De Waal is one of many out of work.

"Please consider those who stayed with BioWare until the very end. They are truly some of the most talented people I've had the pleasure of working with throughout my career," De Waal added.

"With that, if you need someone who knows cinematic production, blending gameplay with cinematics, the tools, the tech, and has the know-how to realize complicated narratives — a true production expert with nearly three decades of experience who isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves and create content — please think of me. I'm once again looking for the next studio and project where I can use the breadth of my skills to make a difference."

'We’re removing the friction between creator vision and spatial execution' — Audeze and Audiokinetic are introducing native head-tracking support for the Maxwell 2 ANC headset directly inside Wwise

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:32:15 +0000

Audeze and Audiokinetic are collaborating to add native head-tracking support to Wwise with the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC headset
The Maxwell 2 ANC integration into Wwise will "advance spatial audio content creation possibilities for game developers"
Audiokinetic CTO Martin Dufour says the collaboration will unlock "new creative possibilities for developers, making it easier to implement vivid spatial audio that elevates player immersion"

Audeze has announced a new partnership with cross-platform audio solution provider Audiokinetic to introduce native head-tracking support for the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC headset directly inside Wwise.

The collaboration will "advance spatial audio content creation possibilities for game developers" by integrating Audeze’s next-generation Maxwell 2 ANC gaming headset with Audiokinetic’s Wwise audio creation suite, leveraging both companies' tech and expertise to push its "commitment to driving innovation across gaming audio and delivering world-class tools to creators."

This will support sound designers and game developers alike, who can use Wwise and tap into Audeze’s Maxwell 2 ANC headset, which is equipped with real-time, self-calibrating head-tracking technology.

The tech will help creatives achieve highly accurate 3D sound placement and enhanced spatial audio authoring with a plug-and-play setup, with zero external software required.

"Simply connect the Maxwell 2 ANC via USB-C or its ultra-low-latency wireless USB-C dongle to begin monitoring directly in Wwise," Audeze said. "This collaboration is set to transform how game audio is created and experienced—from VR emulation and Tempest 3D AudioTech binauralization to non-standard speaker layouts for Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) using the AK Custom Panner."

Sankar Thiagasamudram, CEO of Audeze, shared a statement, saying, "By natively integrating Maxwell 2 ANC’s self-calibrating head tracking directly into Wwise, we’re removing the friction between creator vision and spatial execution."

"Game developers now have a portable, studio-grade reference system that lets them place, audition, and mix 3D audio effortlessly in any environment. Together with Audiokinetic, we’re establishing a new benchmark for spatial audio creation across the interactive media industry."

The Maxwell 2 ANC integration will also allow developers to take full advantage of the headset’s hardware-based, low-latency head tracking, "providing unparalleled spatial accuracy for creating immersive soundscapes in video games," as well as 90 mm planar magnetic drivers with Uniforce, Fluxor, Fazor, SLAM acoustic technologies, and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is designed to maintain a consistent frequency response.

"We’re unlocking new creative possibilities for developers, making it easier to implement vivid spatial audio that elevates player immersion," added Martin Dufour, CTO of Audiokinetic.

'We're now entering an era where the name BioWare won't show up anymore when discussing upcoming RPGs' — The game industry reacts to the shuttering of legendary Mass Effect and Dragon Age studio, BioWare

Demi Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:13:54 +0000

EA has laid off 400 employees across its studios and is shutting down BioWare
The Mass Effect and Dragon Age studio confirmed that Mass Effect 5 is canceled
Developers and creatives across the industry have reacted to the news, calling it "unimaginable" and "heartbreaking"

EA is shutting down BioWare, the legendary studio behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

BioWare delivered the devastating news in a statement last night, saying that after more than 30 years as a pioneer in the choice-based role-playing game (RPG) genre, it will close down and that Mass Effect 5, which was in early development, is canceled.

The decision comes from parent company EA, which has confirmed major restructuring across its studios and projects, amounting to 400 layoffs, including roughly 50 roles at BioWare (via Bloomberg).

"For more than 30 years, BioWare has been more than a studio," the studio said. "It has been a home for storytellers, developers, and the players who brought our worlds to life. Baldur's Gate. Neverwinter Nights. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Dragon Age. Mass Effect. Anthem.

"Now, after more than three decades of shared adventures, BioWare is closing, and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending. There is nothing easy about writing those words. Our focus right now is on our incredibly talented team who put their hearts into these games, and supporting one another through this transition.

"What generations of BioWare built together is something to celebrate and remember. These games became so much more because you played them, debated your choices, fell in love with the characters, and made these worlds your own. From all of us at BioWare, thank you for being the most meaningful part of our story.”

https://t.co/TicSujMWpsOctober 21, 2026

The news has rocked the internet, not just among BioWare fans, but also developers and creatives across the games industry who have shared their reactions to the announcement.

"This is not something I ever expected to see," wrote Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke. "Larian and BioWare started their trajectories in the games industry at the same time, and BioWare led the way in making RPGs big. It's almost unimaginable that we're now entering an era where the name BioWare won't show up anymore when discussing upcoming RPGs. What a loss for all of us.

"Thank you for all the games. Thank you for the many hours of gameplay. Thank you for all the stories. You can be damned proud of what you achieved. I hope you all land well."

Casey Hudson, former BioWare GM, and Star Wars: KOTOR and the Mass Effect trilogy director, reacted to the announcement, calling it "sad news on multiple fronts - for those of us who worked there, for our friends and colleagues at BioWare who are impacted, and for fans who were looking forward to the next Mass Effect adventure."

Hudson, who is now CEO of Arcanaut Studios and is now working on a new Star Wars game called Fate of the Old Republic, added, "I started my career at BioWare and will forever be grateful to the founders, Greg and Ray, for inviting me to join in BioWare's legendary journey. Its legacy will live on through those who were part of it and continue to create games through a passion for unforgettable stories, worlds and characters."

This is sad news on multiple fronts - for those of us who worked there, for our friends and colleagues at BioWare who are impacted, and for fans who were looking forward to the next Mass Effect adventure. I started my career at BioWare and will forever be grateful to the founders, Greg and Ray, for inviting me to join in BioWare's legendary journey. Its legacy will live on through those who were part of it and continue to create games through a passion for unforgettable stories, worlds and characters.October 21, 2026

CD Projekt Red joint-CEO also shared a post, saying, "BioWare has been a massive part of CDPR history. We befriended them when localizing and selling Baldur’s Gate games in Poland, Czech, and Slovakia. And later they were [a] great help when lending us their engine for Witcher 1, sharing their wisdom and even giving us a spot at their booth at E3. I had a pleasure to visit them a few times in Edmonton and also host them in our Warsaw office. Very sad for the people affected, but also sad to see a legendary brand go down. Not a great day in the games industry."

The Game Awards founder Geoff Keighley said the news was "heartbreaking" and "I hope one day, somehow, Mass Effect will return," while Cyberpunk 2 associate game director, Paweł Sasko, said, "Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 shaped my imagination and the desire to create games. I would have never been here without BioWare igniting the fire in my heart. It inspired me, formed me, enriched my imagination, and for that I will be forever grateful. I will always remember you."

Michael Gamble, project director on Mass Effect 5 and executive producer on BioWare who worked on all the previous games in the series also shared a statement, thanking fans for their support.

"I could probably scroll for hours and continue reading the words of support for the studio, the legacy, and the impact that BioWare has had on you. It means so much to us. There is so much talent on this team of OGs, so if you are aware of any roles, please send them. I will personally vouch for everyone in my crew.

"As for me: At least I don't have to call in sick when GTA 6 comes out."

Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, October 22 (game #1732)

Johnny Dee — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, October 21 (game #1731).

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1732) — hint #1 — Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1732) — hint #2 — repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1732) — hint #3 — uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1732) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1732) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• D

• W

• L

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1732) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1732, are…

DECAL
WIDTH
WOKEN
LEVER

After writing yesterday about how letter-V-aware I am these days, I still prioritized a less obvious word today, guessing LEPER ahead of LEVER.

Thankfully, this was my only slip-up and I was able to add another day to my still-fragile win streak.

Daily Sequence today (game #1732) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1732, are…

SLIMY
ALERT
AGENT
MAKER

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTH
Quordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPY
Quordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUID
Quordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEO
Quordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCK
Quordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNK
Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST
Quordle #1714, Sunday, 4 October: INFER, RAINY, THING, ARENA
Quordle #1713, Saturday, 3 October: CHORE, FLYER, STICK, PURSE
Quordle #1711, Thursday, 1 October: NAVEL, SHEER, BIRTH, TACKY

NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, October 22 (game #1229)

Johnny Dee — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, October 21 (game #1228).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1229) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

MOBILE
COMFORT
BLANK
SAFETY
RELIEF
GRIP
END
BUST
HANDLE
TACKLE
PILL
KNOB
SHE
GUARD
HILT
STATUE

NYT Connections today (game #1229) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: Grab a hold of something
GREEN: Art you with weight
BLUE: NFL players
PURPLE: Partially sleep on these

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1229) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: PARTS TO BE GRASPED
GREEN: KINDS OF SCULPTURES
BLUE: AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS
PURPLE: STARTS OF BEDDING

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1229) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1229, are…

YELLOW: PARTS TO BE GRASPED: GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB
GREEN: KINDS OF SCULPTURES: BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE
BLUE: AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS: END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE
PURPLE: STARTS OF BEDDING: BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE

My rating: Hard
My score: Perfect

You know a game is difficult when the yellow/so-called easiest group has multiple possibilities that could trip you up. In this case, SAFETY and GUARD could easily have joined the four tiles that made up PARTS TO BE GRASPED.

Fortunately, I avoided the traps (I also had a brief moment contemplating a baby-themed foursome) before I landed KINDS OF SCULPTURES early on in the game.

Everything we do informs our Connections knowledge and for me, knowing an artist and remembering some of the ways she has described her art pieces helped me connect BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF and STATUE with confidence.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, October 21, 2026, game #1228)

YELLOW: CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMES: DUCK DUCK GOOSE, HOT POTATO, LEAPFROG, MUSICAL CHAIRS
GREEN: IMPORTANT PERSON: ALPHA DOG, BIG CHEESE, HEAVYWEIGHT, TOP BANANA
BLUE: FAMOUS PAINTINGS: AMERICAN GOTHIC, CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN, SUNFLOWERS, THE SCREAM
PURPLE: DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION):
ENGLISH HORN, GRAPE-NUTS, MANTIS SHRIMP, SWEETBREAD

What is NYT Connections?

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, October 22 (game #963)

Johnny Dee — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, October 21 (game #962).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #963) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Any relation?

NYT Strands today (game #963) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

MOOD
FLOG
TERRY
BEER
THERE
MILE

NYT Strands today (game #963) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #963) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: top, 1st column

• Last side: bottom, 6th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #963) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #963, are…

KINFOLK
OFFSPRING
BLOOD
BRETHREN
ANCESTORS
SPANGRAM: FAMILYTIES

My rating: Hard
My score: 1 hint

This was one of those days where my mind was elsewhere.

I struggled even though I had a strong sense of the words we would be looking for, although to begin with I did search for mother, father and auntie. Seeing KINFOLK and OFFSPRING ended that avenue.

I also labored over the spangram; despite the fact that I connected “family”, I missed the next four letters that made it FAMILYTIES.

I also had to use a hint after my initial burst; BLOOD seemed so obvious, but it had completely passed me by.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, October 21, game #962)

BOXES
LUGGAGE
TRUNKS
YEARBOOKS
DECORATIONS
SPANGRAM: INTHEATTIC

What is NYT Strands?

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

SteelSeries Sensei Pro review: clever battery management meets high performance

lewis.maddison@futurenet.com (Lewis Maddison) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

SteelSeries Sensei Pro review

While many wireless gaming mice are content with wired play-and-charge, the Sensei Pro takes a different tact with a battery management concept that, while not entirely new, may steer the sector in a new direction given its implementation by an esteemed brand such as SteelSeries.

In terms of looks, though, the Sensei Pro hardly departs from your typical symmetrical mouse. Its design is largely functional, with a small logo and orange scroll wheel being the only concessions to style. There are no odd angles or shapes here, or even any RGB lighting.

(Image credit: Future)

The standard model is quite large, and the prominent central hump might feel uncomfortable to certain hands. It took me a little while to adjust to it, but once I did I found it quite comfortable, helped by the super smooth finish of the shell. Those wanting more texture can attach the included grip tape to the sidewalls, mouse buttons, and even the back buttons.

Despite its bulky shape, the Sensei Pro is actually very light, weighing just 53g, yet feels perfectly solid and sturdy. This attention to build quality extends to the buttons, which all operate smoothly and provide satisfying feedback. My one gripe is with the DPI button: it’s placed underneath, a location I usually find impractical when playing games requiring frequent menu access and the like. Not only is it underneath, it’s to the right, which means right-handers won’t be able to reach it easily with their fingers.

You can customize the inputs of the Sensei Pro using SteelSeries’ GG software. Here you’ll find a remapping facility with plenty of options, including a healthy selection of media and system shortcuts. You can also adjust the DPI from 1K to 65K, with five customizable presets to cycle through. Not only that, but you can also adjust the DPI for the X and Y axes independently, which isn’t something I’ve often seen.

(Image credit: Future)

Then there are some features I’ve never seen before. These include click response adjustments between 0ms and 20ms, mouse movement acceleration tuning using preset graph curves, and sensor tilt adjustments by 45 degrees in either direction, in order to accommodate the natural angle of your hand movements. And while I’ve seen angle snapping modes in numerous other gaming mice software, I haven’t seen one with 10 levels of ‘straightening’ as there is here. Nor have I seen a scroll jump protection feature with as large a threshold range to play with (100ms to 1500ms). Other adjustments include independent lift-off and landing distance adjustments, as well as a motion sync toggle.

Again unlike many gaming mice, you can set the Ultra-wideband (UWB) polling and sensor rates separately, each with a range of 125Hz to 8KHz (with 9KHz overpolling). The explanation provided for these settings is clear and detailed, although it’s a shame 9K overpolling isn’t explained. In fact, the explanations for most features in GG are welcome, and go beyond what peripheral software usually provide. It also very handily tells you if you have Windows’ enhanced pointer precision setting enabled, and offers to disable it for you to improve performance. The overall layout of GG is clear and easy to navigate as well, although I found it slightly annoying that the actual adjustments section opens in second windows, introducing unnecessary desktop clutter.

When gaming, the Sensei Pro is a competent mouse. It glides with supreme smoothness, thanks to its large skates, while the mouse buttons are well lubed and very tactile. They have a deeper travel than many others, though, and might be a bit too heavy for those after seriously rapid spamming.

(Image credit: Future)

The side buttons and middle click are fantastically clicky, and are some of the best I’ve used. The former have a pleasingly deep travel, which only makes them more satisfying, while the latter feels like a proper button without the awkwardness that can often blight other examples. What’s more, I didn’t perform any accidental flicks when pressing it, even with Scroll Jump Protection disabled. The notching is perfectly weighted, too, allowing for both controlled single flicks and quick multiple swipes when needed.

Not being a pro gamer myself, I can’t honestly say I noticed any difference in polling and sensor rates above 1K, and certainly couldn’t discern the advantage of 9K overpolling. What I can tell you is that enabling the maximum rates, as well as the maximum sensor performance, drains battery life very quickly; you’ll get about a day’s worth at best. Dial back the polling to 1K, though, and you'll get much closer to SteelSeries' claimed top-end longevity figure of 120 hours.

(Image credit: Future)

But this is where the Sensei Pro’s USP comes into play — something SteelSeries calls the Infinite Power System. Rather than using a USB cable to play and charge at the same time, you cycle between two batteries: the one in your mouse and the other that charges on top of the UWB station. There’s no need to ever go wired — in fact, you can’t, since there’s no USB-C port on the Sensei Pro. The batteries themselves are quite easy to remove and insert, with a dot to indicate the correct alignment of the pins underneath, and requiring a simple twist to lock into place underneath the mouse. I didn’t experience any issues with the battery coming loose at any point.

So if you don't want to resort to wired play when you run flat, the Sensei Pro fits the bill perfectly. It’ll also cater to those fanatical about polling rates and deep tweaking. It’s a shame there’s no additional Bluetooth mode (especially at this price), and the relatively heavy clicks aren’t for everyone, but in other respects the Sensei Pro is sublime in action — you’ll just have to part with a large amount of cash for the privilege.

(Image credit: Future)

SteelSeries Sensei Pro review: Price & availability

$179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$260)
Preorders available now, launches October 13
Top end of the gaming mouse market

The Sensei Pro costs $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$260) and launches October 13, although preorders are open now. Full size and mini variants are available, in either black or white.

This is very expensive for a wireless gaming mouse. It’s marginally less expensive than the Razer Naga V3 Pro, but the Naga has additional Bluetooth support, as well as a plethora of customizable buttons on the side. And if you want the same ‘infinite’ battery life, it’s compatible with the Razer’s HyperFlux V2 Wireless Charging System (read: a power-supplying mouse pad), although this is a costly optional extra on top of what is already a costly pointer.

If you fancy another mouse with a swappable battery system, the AngryMiao AM Infinity.97 is a viable alternative. This is slightly less expensive than the Sensei Pro, and is even lighter than the Sensei Pro (and much lighter than the Naga), tipping the scales at just 47g. Its looks might not be to every gamer’s tastes, though, and we weren’t particularly impressed with its basic software.

SteelSeries Sensei Pro review: Specs

Connectivity	Ultra-wideband
Battery life	120 hours (1K), 32 hours (8K)
Sensor	TrueMove 42K Pro Sensor
Polling rate	8KHz (with 9KHz overpolling)
Maximum sensitivity (DPI)	42,000 (65,000 with DPI Overdrive)
Programmable buttons	6
Dimensions	125.6 x 66.5 x 38.6mm
Weight	53g

Should I buy the SteelSeries Sensei Pro?

SteelSeries Sensei Pro Scorecard

Attribute	Notes	Score
Design	High quality and lightweight construction, but the bulbous hump may deter some gamers. Also, the DPI button is inconveniently placed.	4/5
Performance	Every button feels great, although clicks are a little too heavy for easy spamming. Performance tweaking is a cut above many rivals, though.	4.5/5
Value	This is about as pricey as gaming mice get, and many of its features will be overkill for lots of gamers.	3/5

Buy the SteelSeries Sensei Pro if…

You never want to go wired
With many wireless mice, you’ll have to plug in eventually. Not so here — just swap your batteries around when you run dry.

You want the best polling rate possible
How important high polling rates actually are is up for debate, but if it matters for you, the Sensei Pro’s 9K over-polling facility is pretty much unbeatable.

Don't buy it if…

You want multiple wireless modes
There’s no Bluetooth support for easy hot-switching, which is a shame on a mouse this expensive.

You want the fastest clicks
While the clicks have great feedback, they’re a little heavier than most, which may impede spams.

SteelSeries Sensei Pro review: Also consider

Razer Naga V3 Pro
The Naga may be even more expensive than the Sensei Pro (though only slightly), but it does offer more useful features, such as plenty of programmable side buttons and additional Bluetooth support. You can get the same ‘unlimited’ battery life too if you pair it with Razer’s powered mouse mat, but this adds yet more expense. Read our full Razer Naga V3 Pro review.

AngryMiao AM Infinity.97
If the idea of swappable batteries appeals to you, then the AM Infinity.97 is another candidate worth considering. It’s almost as dear as the Sensei Pro, but it’s slightly lighter and has a more unique — if more divisive — design. Read our full AngryMiao AM Infinity.97 review.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the SteelSeries Sensei Pro

Tested for several days
Used for gaming, working, general browsing
Drew on extensive gaming mouse experience

I tested the SteelSeries Sensei Pro for several days, during which time I used it not just for gaming, but also for working and general browsing.

I played games such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl and Counter-Strike 2, the latter of which is a stern test for peripherals given the demands it places on quick and accurate movements and clicks.

I’ve been PC gaming for a long time, and have used and reviewed a large variety of gaming mice in that time, from modest budget offerings to expensive feature-packed, pro-level pointers.

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: October 2026

Stranger Than Heaven director says Makoto Daito's life story is 'not just entertainment' and hopes it will break the barriers of racism — 'I hope that Makoto’s life journey really speaks to people around the globe who have had similar experiences'

Demi Williams — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe says the game's narrative is very unique
Abe hopes that Makoto Daito, the main character, and his background resonate with players of mixed heritage and that players will engage with the narrative
Abe says, "We put a lot of focus on telling this narrative about a man's life who starts by facing a lot of racism"

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe hopes the game's multi-era narrative and its mixed-heritage protagonist will resonate with players and those who have experienced discrimination.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Abe explained how Stranger Than Heaven's story, which spans 50 years across five distinct eras and cities in Japan, is not a concept he's ever experienced in a video game before, and believes it's "not just entertainment."

"I would say experiencing one man's life as a narrative and as a gameplay experience is something that I have personally never played before as a video game medium. I think that aspect of the game could be something that’s not just entertainment," Abe said.

The director continued to discuss the main character, Makoto Daito, who is of Japanese-American descent, and how his mixed heritage background and the racism he experiences when he first arrives in Japan are aspects of the story that he hopes players engage with.

Abe also said that while RGG Studios was developing the narrative for Makoto, it "felt it was really natural that music would be a big part of this character," and was one of the things that would help break the barriers of the racism he experiences.

"Once he comes to Japan, he faces a lot of discrimination, and people won't even talk to him just because of his race and language," he said. "So, music was the only thing for him that would break those barriers and help him communicate with people. That was really natural for us to put into the narrative.

"Of course, Captain Orpheus is the one who's going to teach him how to make money off of music. And for Daito, because he has that experience, it was really natural for him to start making money, and you know, start showbiz as his life's work. So that's why we always wanted the concept of music in this game to tell the narrative of Makoto’s life. That was the starting point of why we wanted music."

Abe continues, saying that he and Daito's actor, Yu Shirota, have both experienced discrimination and wants players to immerse themselves in the story, even if they're only playing Stranger Than Heaven for entertainment.

"Because of the way Makoto Daito’s story is written, where he starts from a mixed-heritage background, comes to Japan, and gets discriminated against, I hope that Makoto’s life journey really speaks to people around the globe who have had similar experiences," Abe said.

"I myself have had one before, and our lead actor also had a similar experience before, so we put a lot of focus on telling this narrative about a man's life who starts by facing a lot of racism. I hope it really encourages people, as well as the player who just wants to entertain themselves while playing the game can also get immersed in this narrative."

The director concluded, "So the concept of a man's life is, I think, one of the biggest things that I would love the player to experience, and I can’t wait for them to experience."

Stranger Than Heaven launches on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

“The ultimate destination for Pokémon fans”: The first permanent Pokémon store outside Asia is coming — and I'm already praying for my bank account

harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:34:00 +0000

A permanent, physical Pokémon store is set to open in the UK
The Pokémon Company says the London store will open its doors “by 2029”
It's set to be the first permanent physical retail space for the brand outside of Asia

The Pokémon Company has announced that a permanent, physical Pokémon store will open in London, United Kingdom, by 2029.

This space will be the first permanent physical retail space for the brand outside of Asia. The Pokémon Company has described the upcoming retail space as “the ultimate destination for Pokémon fans,” with a bunch of exclusive merchandise and “one-of-a-kind experiences” to be offered.

In a statement, The Pokémon Company International’s chief product and experience officer, Gaku Susai, said: “We are always exploring new opportunities that help us create unique and memorable experiences for our fans. This new London store will give visitors the chance to step into the world of Pokémon, whether they’re discovering the brand for the first time or have been Trainers for years”.

In addition, The Pokémon Company said that the London store will be “the first of several permanent Pokémon stores” it’s planning to launch outside of Asia, so it’s safe to assume that we can expect more locations to be revealed in the near future.

We’ve seen a number of pop-up stores appear in the UK recently, and these have proven to be very popular. For example, at the beginning of 2026, a pop-up opened in The Natural History Museum, London, with apparel, stationery, and even a brand-new exclusive plush put on sale that saw fans arrive in droves.

I have no doubt that a permanent residence for the highest-grossing media franchise in history will see its fair share of success too.

As a huge Pokémon fan, I’m very excited about this news, and I’m looking forward to tracking down merch of my favorite pocket monsters… I’m especially hoping there’ll be a Maractus plush.

Are you excited to explore the new Pokémon store when it opens? What are you hoping to see in stock? Let us know in the comments!

Stranger Than Heaven director says RGG 'intentionally' forgot about Yakuza to create 'something new' — 'Every single aspect of it, we started thinking about it from scratch, just to suit the style of Stranger Than Heaven'

Demi Williams — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe says the game was always going to be different from the Yakuza or Like A Dragon games
Abe says, "There was no conversation whatsoever about what Yakuza or Like A Dragon was like"
He adds that RGG Studios "never compared" Stranger Than Heaven to its past titles, so it became "something new"

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe has explained why the upcoming role-playing action game was developed as a completely new experience from RGG Studio's Yakuza franchise.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Abe said approaching Stranger Than Heaven was "a big task" and a "huge challenge for us," but knew "from the very beginning that we wanted to make this experience different from the previous games."

Unlike the Like a Dragon games, which typically take place in one location and timeframe, Stranger Than Heaven shifts to a historical timeline by telling a story across five distinct eras and cities spanning 50 years.

It's an ambitious decision for RGG, but Abe said the team intentionally forgot everything it knew from making the Yakuza series to create something new.

"While we were developing Stranger Than Heaven, there was no conversation whatsoever about what Yakuza or Like A Dragon was like," Abe said. "We intentionally forgot what it was like in our previous games and started from scratch. We were doubting every single pixel of what we had in Yakuza."

This included everything from the game's map, the UI, and how RGG wanted to approach the world; Abe said it even applied to the narrative and cutscenes, and the team "never compared" Stranger Than Heaven to its past titles.

"Every single aspect of it, we started thinking about it from scratch, just to suit the style of Stranger Than Heaven," he added. "We were never trying to make this different because we never compared it with our previous games, so in the end, it became something new."

Stranger Than Heaven launches on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

Stranger Than Heaven preview: all the makings of a unique off-beat adventure from RGG Studio

james.pickard@futurenet.com (James Pickard) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Stranger Than Heaven is exactly the sort of game I want to champion. It’s rare to see a team of young developers given a significant budget and seemingly generous freedom to create a half-century-spanning epic that tackles heavy themes while taking bold risks with both the combat and music-influenced management game at its core.

My four-hour whistlestop tour across several of the game’s time periods between 1915 and 1965 in this latest fantastical tale from the Japanese criminal underworld did make it hard to see just how well all of this ambition from RGG Studio will come together in the end. But I haven’t really stopped thinking about it since.

And when you’ve played and previewed dozens (maybe hundreds) of games, it’s harder to find ones that leave a mark like that — ones that genuinely leave you wanting to play and see more.

What I admire most about Stranger Than Heaven is that it knows what it wants to be and fully commits to that idea to create its own unique vibe.

(Image credit: Future / Sega)

Music is the throughline. On one side, it's the way the protagonist, Makoto Daito, finds his place in a hostile world, as a way for him to break down barriers and overcome prejudice he faces as a Japanese-American immigrant.

There is a level of detail and adoration in the musical performances I saw in-game that made it easy to get swept up in the atmosphere — whether it was a professional big band showstopper full of belting brass, or an impromptu sing-a-long that draws in a large crowd on the streets of Kokura.

Play it, Daito

Music is also a fundamental part of several other aspects of the game. Mainly, it’s a key part of the main management mini-game in Stranger Than Heaven. Instead of running a hostess club or a confectionery shop as we've seen in Yakuza and Like a Dragon, Daito works as a promoter in the showbiz business. That involves creating tunes, hiring talent, scoping out venues, drawing in punters, and making sure performances run smoothly.

I dabbled with putting on a show or two, and can see how it has the potential to be another all-consuming distraction that RGG is known for, diverting you away from the main story for many hours. There’s a satisfaction to tinkering with all aspects of the performance to rake in the most cash, ensuring you’ve got the best singers and musicians performing the right sort of music in the right venue to suit the audience’s mood.

(Image credit: Future / Sega)

What also keeps that music throughline in other areas of the game is the way you draw inspiration for your next tracks and shows from the world around you. Those sparks also come from the combat, with small flashes or cues as kicks and punches fly that you can focus in on to unlock new sounds, instruments, or playing styles.

It’s a nice way to tie the game together, although I’m very aware that combat was a point of contention for some in earlier previews. I definitely struggled to grasp it fully in the beginning, but I was starting to get into the flow of it by the time I was wrapping up my time with the game. It has its own rhythm, swapping out flashy attacks and arcade-style simplicity from prior Yakuza games for more grounded and messy fistfights.

Mastering the art

It does require a bit of controller contortion to execute fully, with actions for your left and right hands and legs split across the left and right bumpers and triggers. Throw in directional blocking, perfect parries with spot-on timing, and the need to dodge some attacks, and it’s a lot to hold in your head and execute with ease.

(Image credit: Future / Sega)

Weapons add another dynamic, ranging from swords, knives, and batons to more improvised weaponry such as crowbars and a giant wooden mallet. These can be found or bought and switched between mid-combat to give you a bit more fighting power against multiple foes or tougher enemies.

Oh, and there’s ‘willpower’ too: a resource that you and opponents have that can be whittled down with repeated attacks, eventually causing you or them to fall to the floor when it’s emptied. You can then punish them with more severe finishers or find yourself fending off an assault while prone so you can get back on your feet.

It is a lot. And with pretty much all of these elements introduced from the first fight, I was getting beat up fairly regularly for a while. As I say, though, I eventually grew to like it with more practice, and I found myself taking down a few of the tougher enemies that are hiding around the game’s different locations in some extended but rewarding duels.

(Image credit: Future / Sega)

Those fights are just one of the many distractions that are dotted around the game’s towns, which include all sorts of games to play, items to find, and arenas to fight in. Even just exploring the spaces was fascinating, especially wandering through the entertainment capital of Sotenbori. It hits you with an overwhelming cacophony and a barrage of lights that RGG fans will be eager to experience in this different time period.

I think that’s what I appreciated most about Stranger Than Heaven: it does exist within that same universe of the existing RGG games, but is its own adventure in a new and confident direction.

Yes, it’s building off the Yakuza and Like A Dragon elements that are clearly in its DNA — in terms of the mix of brawling and business management, as well as its approach to story and presentation. But it feels like its own evolution. Or, to speak in the game’s terms, it’s several familiar melodies and motifs that have been remixed into a surprising new composition.

Stranger Than Heaven launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC on January 25, 2027.

Anomalith producer reveals that 'liminal spaces, including things like the Backrooms' inspired the upcoming third-person survival shooter

dash.wood@futurenet.com (Dashiell Wood) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:20:57 +0000

Anomalith might be one of the most interesting releases of 2026. A third-person survival shooter set in a twisted, retro vision of Japan, it’s a major departure from publisher FuRyu Corporation’s usual role-playing game (RPG) output.

It looks almost like the company’s take on Resident Evil, with 17-year-old protagonist Reona Minazuki venturing into deadly anomaly zones filled with grotesque creatures at the behest of a shadowy government organization.

Real-time gun combat, managing your small inventory, and keeping track of precious ammunition form a key part of every mission. Each run unfolds in an almost extraction-shooter-like format, and between missions you can use the resources you’ve scavenged to upgrade your gear.

There’s more to Minazuki than meets the eye, though, with the hero able to harness a mysterious set of mutant powers brought on by exposure to these supernatural environments. I spoke to producer Gai Kidokoro over email to learn a little more about how this project took shape and discover some of what’s in store for players.

Expanded arsenal

FuRyu

Anomalith is Kidokoro’s first original project, having joined FuRyu in the company’s anime division, which has helped produce hit titles like Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, before making the leap to its gaming business to direct some licensed titles. Working on games has “always been an area I was interested in,” he says, adding that his career has been “a little different from that of FuRyu’s other producers.”

It therefore seems only fitting that he is producing quite a unique project, with Anomalith standing apart as FuRyu’s first third-person shooter. Interestingly, Kidokoro says that the genre was chosen because both he and the director “love third-person shooters and guns” and set out to create something based on the things they enjoy.

“Rather than thinking, 'Let’s deliberately challenge ourselves with a completely different genre,' it was really more about wanting to make a game in a genre that we personally love,” he continues.

This fascination with firearms seems evident in the game’s weapon customization system, which lets players “swap out a fairly detailed range of parts,” including a variety of attachments such as “sights, grips, stocks, and more.” These help you personalize the appearance of each gun, but also provide statistical bonuses to help in the field.

(Image credit: FuRyu)

The producer is also keen to highlight the player’s ability to scavenge “pieces of equipment called Artifacts that enhance your character’s stats” and change your overall build.

“These include loot-based, hack-and-slash-style elements,” he teases, “and if you manage to equip an Artifact with extremely high values, some skills have the potential to become incredibly powerful.”

The team is well aware that not everyone is going to be interested in tweaking their guns or experimenting with the nitty-gritty of their character’s stats, which is why the game offers a wealth of cosmetic options for players to outfit themselves with – some already available to try in the recent free Steam demo.

“We realized that there are quite a lot of people who don’t necessarily get the same enjoyment we do from firing their favorite, carefully customized gun,” Kidokoro begins. “We thought, 'Maybe adding character outfits and customization would make it more fun for those players,' and that’s why we ended up including such detailed character customization options. Judging from the response to the demo, I’m really glad we added the outfit customization.”

Uncanny valley

(Image credit: FuRyu)

The world design is shaping up to be a treat, with plenty of intricate detail to pore over. In fact, Kidokoro highlights this as one part of the experience that he is most excited about. “The development team has put a tremendous amount of effort into designing the Otherworlds,” he explains. “There are many areas where something may initially look like nothing more than an ordinary ceiling, but if you stop and look up, you might find something that gives you a real sense of unease.”

He describes the fundamental concept behind it all as the “anxiety and fear lurking within familiar scenery” and reveals that it was inspired by popular ideas of “liminal spaces, including things like the Backrooms,” referring to the viral meme featuring endless wallpapered corridors that recently inspired a horror film adaptation.

“Within the development team, we often use phrases like ‘give it a liminal-space atmosphere’ when discussing the visual direction.”

(Image credit: FuRyu)

This extends to the soundtrack. Aside from the game’s title theme, the music of Anomalith doesn’t feature any vocal tracks. Nevertheless, the producer argues fans “can definitely look forward to the soundtrack” and warns “many of the tracks are quite dark and unsettling.” He jokes: “I recommend listening to them during the daytime.”

Although Anomalith seems very different, long-time FuRyu fans will recognize some common elements shared with the publisher’s past games, such as the focus on a teenage protagonist. Kidokoro thinks the reasons behind this particular motif “would vary” depending on the title, but personally reckons “that it is easier for audiences to emotionally root for younger characters.”

“Watching boys and girls confront unreasonable circumstances and ultimately overcome them can also feel more hopeful and moving than a story centered on adults,” he continues. “Of course, we have been influenced by other games. However, we try to keep those influences as references rather than simply copying them. Our main criterion is always whether a particular element is necessary for players to enjoy the world and experience of Anomalith.”

We will be able to find out whether this formula pays off when Anomalith launches for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PlayStation 5 on October 29, 2026.

I’ve been watching my Dawn of War 4 armies dominate enemies, completely cover maps, and take more resource points than you can shake a Gretchen at, and it’s reminded me why I fell in love with the first game all those years ago

rob.dwiar@futurenet.com (Rob Dwiar) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

It’s been a long time since I’ve poured so many hours into Warhammer 40,000, but playing a bunch of the Dawn of War 4 campaign has absolutely captivated me, and almost made it feel like I was playing from my living room floor 30 years ago all over again.

After seeing a glimpse of the game last summer, I knew it was on the right track, but after a couple of weeks with Dawn of War 4, it’s safe to say that the series’ rip-roaring, gritty action, and moreish strategic map play is back with a vengeance, and channels all that made the first game brilliant.

My time with the chunky preview build has shown that King Art Games are an incredibly safe set of hands for the next Dawn of War game.

Going back to Kronus

(Image credit: King Art Games/Warhammer/Games Workshop)

The planet of Kronus provides the setting for Dawn of War 4, and while a part of me wonders whether it might have been more exciting to go for a brand new setting and premise, the familiar planet is still superbly executed by the new developer.

Each map is extremely well detailed and feels alive with wind-blown sand and tumbleweeds across barren landscapes, blinking lights and crumbling epic architecture in urban maps, and wonderfully icy and snowy maps providing some of the best backdrops.

No matter where you are, though, you’re always cheered on by some mega, epic battle music, and the individual unit audio from ambient mechanical whirring, distinct machine clunking, and furious fighting are all absolute chef's kiss level.

Underneath the aesthetic excellence, there is a real meaty campaign here. My preview build dived in and out of a few armies’ storylines, and the branching narrative is interesting and genuinely compelling, with twists that you can make decisions to impact through mission selection and choices (from what I’ve seen), while the accompanying cutscenes are also fantastic.

Even the in-game story moments help to give me the feeling of those excellent battle write-ups in the old White Dwarf magazines that I remember poring over for hours at a time.

Unrivaled units and chaotic combat

(Image credit: King Art Games/Warhammer/Games Workshop)

Moving your forces around that campaign is the true highlight: this is a properly meaty and fabulous strategy experience, and a 40K experience.

Taking control of the Orks or Adeptus Mechanicus in my preview, it really does feel like the perfect real-time recreation of seeing your miniatures on a tabletop. The action can be slower and methodical; or you can embrace some chaos and have fights on multiple fronts as you aim to use speed to your advantage over the battlefield.

There were multiple times in both scenarios where managing large masses of a mix of units was a genuine thrill, with each resource point captured, the mowing down of enemy infantry, or the blowing up of tanks with grenade barrages more satisfying than the last.

The power fantasy is real in Dawn of War 4

If you remember the best thing about moving units across maps in the Dawn of War games of yesteryear, then you’re in for a treat. Orks feel as wild and chaotic as they should; and the Adeptus Mechanicus have wonderful machine-focused units as well as biomechanic infantry that can pack more of a punch than you think, especially from cover.

However, Dawn of War 4 simultaneously feels more modern, and there’s an effort to streamline some controls to make things more straightforward. You can drag over a whole heap of enemies, and your units will automatically attack the ones most vulnerable to their attack type; and you can right-click on any unit’s ability so it will automatically trigger during missions.

Engaging with the units — be you a more casual player, or a really experienced one — is superb, and starts with them being a treat for the eyes. Units really look the part, and every combat encounter does too. King Art Studio’s attention to detail, with bespoke combat animations for every combination (it seems) that look genuine, and plenty of blood splatter and rag doll physics on show. Even the armor and weaponry of all units look radiant and detailed, down to the lustre on metals.

The machine endures

(Image credit: King Art Games/Warhammer/Games Workshop)

There’s a good mix of missions that keep things interesting and elevate the branching campaign, too. That’s a really great thing in a particular way, as my one ‘gripe’, if you can really call it that, is that Dawn of War 4 continues the series’ trend of sometimes being purely a numbers game.

Especially in base-building missions; if you can pace your play a bit, secure your territory, and build an army that’s massive, you’ll rarely fail. This can offset the nuances and ‘other’ factors to think about too when managing Orks and the WAAGH! that fuels them in battle, and the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Nosphere links that strengthen buildings and open up more development options.

That’s why the mix of missions is welcome: while those base- and army-building ones are heavily present, there’s usually a gauntlet or defence mission around the corner to mix things up — and I’ve probably enjoyed the latter two more on the whole.

Dawn of War 4 successfully takes me back to early 2000s LAN parties

Not that dominating a map is unenjoyable, of course. The power fantasy is real in Dawn of War 4 and can feel fantastic, but the game is also wonderfully successful at creating those ‘If I can just make it to that resource point’ or ‘if I can just hold off this enemy encounter’ or ‘if I can just create a couple of units quickly ot turn the tide here’ kind of moments, which are a thrill.

I could talk about more of the individual features in the game that make it shine, but the most important thing about my time with the game for preview is that everything adds up to an authentic Dawn of War experience and really captures the feeling and the essence of the series — as well as translating the turn-based tabletop game into a real-time action setting once again.

Dawn of War 4 successfully takes me back to early 2000s LAN parties, devouring campaigns over and over again, and building massive armies to crush my foes as I did in the first game over two decades ago — and now I just want more.

NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, October 21 (game #962)

Johnny Dee — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, October 20 (game #961).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #962) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… On a higher level

NYT Strands today (game #962) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

STORK
YURT
ACORN
THUG
BONE
BOOTS

NYT Strands today (game #962) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #962) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 3rd row

• Last side: right, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #962) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #962, are…

BOXES
LUGGAGE
TRUNKS
YEARBOOKS
DECORATIONS
SPANGRAM: INTHEATTIC

My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect

After yesterday’s duck, duck… goose pictogram theme, normal service was resumed with “on a higher level” — a pun that could have meant any number of things but was actually about the multiple things found INTHEATTIC.

Unfortunately, I spotted the spangram about 0.01 seconds after connecting BOXES, as I can’t help myself from being drawn to rare letters whenever I start a game. A shame, as this was an easily spottable yellow snake.

I have most of today’s game words in my attic, with the exception of YEARBOOKS — I do, though, have plenty of books.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, October 20, game #961)

WALK
GAME
SELECT
CHASE
PLAYGROUND
CIRCLE
SPANGRAM: DUCKDUCKGOOSE

What is NYT Strands?

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, October 21 (game #1228)

Johnny Dee — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, October 20 (game #1227).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1228) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

ENGLISH HORN
LEAPFROG
ALPHA DOG
SWEETBREAD
HOT POTATO
MANTIS SHRIMP
SUNFLOWERS
BIG CHEESE
AMERICAN
GOTHIC
GRAPE-NUTS
CAMPBELL'S
SOUP CAN
DUCK DUCK
GOOSE
TOP BANANA
THE SCREAM
MUSICAL CHAIRS
HEAVYWEIGHT

NYT Connections today (game #1228) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: Playground contests
GREEN: Main character energy
BLUE: Iconic artworks
PURPLE: Very misleading names

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1228) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMES
GREEN: IMPORTANT PERSON
BLUE: FAMOUS PAINTINGS
PURPLE: DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION)

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1228) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1228, are…

YELLOW: CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMES: DUCK DUCK GOOSE, HOT POTATO, LEAPFROG, MUSICAL CHAIRS
GREEN: IMPORTANT PERSON: ALPHA DOG, BIG CHEESE, HEAVYWEIGHT, TOP BANANA
BLUE: FAMOUS PAINTINGS: AMERICAN GOTHIC, CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN, SUNFLOWERS, THE SCREAM
PURPLE: DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION): ENGLISH HORN, GRAPE-NUTS, MANTIS SHRIMP, SWEETBREAD

My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect

It’s been a while since I’ve completed a game in yellow-green-blue-purple difficulty order, something I never do deliberately but which I always find oddly satisfying when it happens.

Yesterday’s Strands featured DUCK DUCK GOOSE, so I was immediately drawn to begin with that and the other CLASSIC CHILDREN’S GAMES — my favorite when I was a mischievous eight-year-old was a game called Knock Down Ginger which involved ringing people’s doorbells and running away. A bit mean, in hindsight, and now something that Ring Doorbells have possibly seen the end of.

DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION) is an excellent group, but my ignorance of three of the four tiles prevented me from making the connection; the only one I was familiar with was GRAPE NUTS, a cereal whose absence of grapes and nuts has always puzzled me.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, October 20, 2026, game #1227)

YELLOW: FINISH: CLOSE, END, STOP, WRAP
GREEN: LACKEY: MINION, POODLE, PUPPET, STOOGE
BLUE: MUSTACHES: CHEVRON, HORSESHOE, PENCIL, WALRUS
PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS: ARIAL, BELL, DOCK, MINI

What is NYT Connections?

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.