Technologies

PlayStation Plus’s Free January Games Spark Debate Among Subscribers

Core Keeper, Need for Speed and Epic Mickey are on PlayStation Plus now.

PlayStation Plus, which is Sony’s version of Xbox Game Pass, offers a large, constantly expanding library of games. Subscribers can choose from the Essential, Extra and Premium tiers, each with unique perks and benefits. Starting at $10 a month, the plans give subscribers access to monthly games and rewards, and each month, all subscribers can access a handful of games at no additional charge. But some people on Reddit feel the games Sony is offering throughout January are underwhelming.

«It’s not even a disappointment anymore when its [sic] expected,» one user wrote. Others shared similar feelings, with another user sharing a GIF of a man in front of trash bags. While others may not be excited for these games, some people online are looking forward to a Disney-related game that subscribers can try now.

If you are a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you have until Feb. 2 to try these games and see whether you actually like them or agree with others and think they’re trash.

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Need for Speed Unbound

The iconic street racing series is back with this latest entry in the franchise. You start at the bottom of the racing world with a junker car. But after earning enough cash, you can pack your garage with premium rides, like Ferraris and Lamborghinis. You’ll race against the clock, outsmart the cops and leave your mark on the racing world.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

This game tries to argue that Mickey Mouse can be «mouse-cheese-vious» and adventurous as well as cheerful. You control the world-renowned mouse as he tries to bring peace to the Wasteland, a realm full of forgotten Disney characters. Use your paint and thinner to restore beauty and alter the environment. But be careful: Every decision matters in this adventure.

Core Keeper

Craft, build and explore a dynamic underground world filled with adventure. This top-down sandbox game is reminiscent of titles like Minecraft and Terraria and can be played in single-player mode or with up to eight others in co-op mode. So get ready to dig through mines and caverns and uncover ancient secrets that haven’t seen the light of day in years.

For more on PlayStation Plus, here’s what to know about the service and a rundown of PS Plus Extra and Premium games added in December. You can also check out the latest and upcoming games on Xbox Game Pass.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 7, #941

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Jan. 7, #941

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is rather tricky. The purple category is especially mystifying. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Lookalikes.

Green group hint: Part of something.

Blue group hint: National symbol.

Purple group hint: Squish down.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Doppelgänger.

Green group: Portion.

Blue group: Common flag symbols.

Purple group: Pressed using a press.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is doppelgänger. The four answers are clone, double, mirror and ringer.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is portion. The four answers are concern, interest, share and stake.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is common flag symbols. The four answers are crescent, cross, star and stripe.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is pressed using a press. The four answers are cider, garlic, trousers and wine.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 7 #675

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Jan. 7, No. 675.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is easier than some have been. Once you learn the topic, the words come pretty easily. But if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Open wide.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Brace face.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

MIST, SOIL, RICE, LICE, RUDE, LUDE, BRUSH, TOOT, RIDE, RIDER

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

DRILL, FLOSS, MIRROR, FLUORIDE, TOOTHBRUSH

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is DENTISTSOFFICE. To find it, start with the D that’s five letters down on the far-left row, and wind up and then across.

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