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Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

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

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Baseball nicknames

• Green: Heard at the gym

• Blue: Popular in women's sports

• Purple: The first half of these words is the same

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: MLB teams, familiarly

• Green: Weightlifting terms

• Blue: U.S. women's soccer players

• Purple: Score___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #224 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• MLB teams, familiarly - D-BACKS, JAYS, SOX, YANKS

• Weightlifting terms - BARBELL, CLEAN, JERK, SNATCH

• U.S. women's soccer players - COFFEY, FOX, RODMAN, SONNETT

• Score___ - BOARD, BUG, CARD, KEEPER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The Last of Us Season 2 is moving from Jackson to Seattle, and with that move come several new characters.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 4: Who is Isaac?

We've already met Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her crew, but Season 2, episode 4 introduces other major players in Seattle, including Washington Liberation Front (WLF) leader Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright, reprising his role from The Last of Us Part II).

Gamers already know Isaac, but episode 4 also introduces a character who will be new to gamers and show-only fans alike: Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach).

Who does Alanna Ubach play in The Last of Us Season 2? Jeffrey Wright, Ben Ahlers, and Alanna Ubach in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

Hanrahan is a character created solely for The Last of Us show, meaning we don't have any in-game lore to guide us on her role. However, based on her brief appearance in episode 4, we have enough context clues to piece together key aspects of her character.

Episode 4 opens with a flashback to Seattle in 2018. Back then, the city was still under FEDRA rule, and the WLF were an underground resistance group, as opposed to the militia they are in The Last of Us' present-day.

The flashback (which features an appearance from Josh Peck as a FEDRA soldier) primarily serves as an introduction to Isaac, then a FEDRA Sergeant. The truck he and his soldiers are riding in stops in front of a school bus blocking the road, at which point a group of WLF members begins walking to the bus. Dressed in civilian clothes and without a weapon in sight, they're a far cry from the military force we see by the end of episode 4.

Leading the pack is Ubach's Hanrahan. When Isaac gets out of the truck to speak to her, all she says is: "You Isaac?"

He nods and replies, "You Hanrahan?"

When she nods back, Isaac throws a grenade into his truck, killing all his men and officially defecting to the WLF.

"Welcome to the fight," Hanrahan tells him.

That's the extent of Hanrahan we get in this episode, but even that small interaction gives us a lot of insight into her relationship with Isaac. Clearly, Hanrahan was a leader of the WLF in its early days, and while Isaac occupies that role now, she may still hold a position of power in the current WLF.

Hanrahan also likely served as one of Isaac's point people within the WLF as he was planning to leave FEDRA. They may not have seen each other's faces, but the fact that they know each other's names suggests prior communication. Perhaps the two of them collaborated on the plan for Isaac to kill his men, or maybe Hanrahan arranged it as one last test for Isaac to prove his loyalty to the WLF.

Either way, The Last of Us presents both Hanrahan and Isaac as faces of the WLF, so you can bet we haven't seen the last of them this season.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

As a TV adaptation of Naughty Dog's games, The Last of Us includes more than a few hidden references and overt re-creations of the gameplay and cutscenes from The Last of Us Parts I and II.

Music references, in particular, are threaded through both seasons, from the Hank Williams connection to Season 1, episode 4; Crooked Still playing at the dance in Season 2, episode 1; to Ashley Johnson's cover of "Through the Valley" to end that brutal second episode.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

In the fourth episode of Season 2, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) plays a tune right out of the game, in what's sure to be a moving moment for fans familiar with the TV show's source material. But what song does she play, and how is it connected to the game?

Which song does Ellie play in The Last of Us? Suffice to say, Dina (Isabela Merced) loves the song. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, episode 4, Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) are en route to Seattle when they need shelter. They find the one place they can fit their horse Shimmer through the door, Valiant Music Shop, an abandoned record store that's still fully stocked with Bob Marley and Tears for Fears vinyl and requisite Pearl Jam posters.

Ellie heads upstairs and finds the guitar section, where many an instrument has been eroded by the elements. But fortune smiles on an unopened case, and Ellie finds a pristine acoustic guitar within. She picks it up, takes a seat, and plays a truly beautiful, quietly romantic version of A-ha's 1985 track "Take On Me."

Why does Ellie play "Take On Me"?

Music is a crucial link between Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) in The Last of Us, in life and after his death. Joel gave Ellie the butterfly-necked guitar and was restringing it for her before he died, despite their rocky relationship.

Featured Video For You Bella Ramsey and 'The Last of Us' team talks Season 2's new characters and Joel in therapy

The song Ellie picks to play is the same one as in The Last of Us Part II, when you play the chords yourself (this feature of the second game is a polarising one). Ramsey performs the song in the show in much the same style as Johnson does in the game, with both scenes showing Dina listening with shining eyes to Ellie's rendition.

In the game scene, Ellie actually starts to play Pearl Jam's "Future Days", a song Joel plays to Ellie at the beginning of The Last of Us Part II when he gives her a guitar, and a song that's become synonymous with the franchise for fans. But then Ellie stops when Dina enters, then moving into A-ha's "Take On Me."

Ellie plays the song for Dina in "The Last of Us Part II." Credit: Naughty Dog

The thing is, you could completely miss this cutscene in the game if you don't investigate the guitar room. It's not part of the main storyline, but instead it's more of a private side moment for Ellie, who is still grieving the loss of her guitar-teaching father Joel, and for Dina, who is becoming more aware of her feelings for Ellie — you try watching someone you might like playing music live and not falling head over heels.

But it's particularly poignant because of A-ha's lyrics, which match The Last of Us' glimmer of hope for our protagonist, with Ellie singing, "Needless to say / I'm odds and ends / But I'll be stumblin' away / Slowly learnin' that life is OK."

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

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

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

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

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

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

Brand new.

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

FRESH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

16 ounces.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POUND

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A young girl.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MISSY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A weird trait.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 5 Hurdle Word 4 answer

QUIRK

Final Hurdle hint

A belief.

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

TENET

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 5 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: To move smoothly

• Green: Related to a popular vampire

• Blue: To even out

• Purple: They have the same shape

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Glide

• Green: Associated with Count Dracula

• Blue: Stop changing

• Purple: Things that are long and cylindrical

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #694 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Glide: COAST, CRUISE, DRIFT, FLOAT

• Associated with Count Dracula: BAT, CAPE, CASTLE, FANG

• Stop changing: FLATTEN, LEVEL, PLATEAU, SETTLE

• Things that are long and cylindrical: BATON, CIGAR, HOAGIE, TORPEDO

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 5

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for May 5 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 5, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To quiet someone.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letters S and H appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SHUSH.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 5

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the side

The words are types of potato dishes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words styles of fried potatoes.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is U-shaped.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is French Fries

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 5

• Shoestring

• Steak

• Curly

• Home

• French Fries

• Waffle

• Crinkle

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Joel may have left us, but new faces are arriving in The Last of Us universe to take his place.

Episode 4 saw yet more new arrivals, one of which marks the first onscreen appearance for a character who is briefly mentioned right at the beginning of the season.

So who is Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), and what part is he going to play in the action going forward? Let's unpack it.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show? Who is Isaac in The Last of Us Season 2?

If the name sounds familiar, it's because Isaac first gets a mention in the opening scene of Season 2.

When Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her gang are standing at what remains of the Firefly base and trying to decide what to do next, Isaac's name is dropped by Owen (Spencer Lord).

"Ed has a brother who runs an outfit in Seattle," Owen says. "A guy named Isaac. Supposedly, he'd take us all in."

As we learn five years on, when Abby and her crew appear outside Jackson to kill Joel, they are part of a military outfit known as the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) — but we don't see Isaac, one of the outfit's leaders, until episode 4.

As the start of the episode reveals via a flashback to 2018, Isaac is a former FEDRA sergeant who joins the WLF because he's become disillusioned with how FEDRA is treating people in Seattle (so disillusioned that he casually murders his entire platoon, in fact).

The next time we see him is in present-day 2029, still in Seattle — and now clearly one of the WLF higher-ups, locked in an endless war with the forest-dwelling Seraphites.

Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO Isaac's character reenforces a depressing Last of Us message.

The cycle of violence is a theme that crops up a lot in The Last of Us, and is perfectly encapsulated in Isaac's character. When we first see him, he's marked out as different from his FEDRA colleagues by his apparent disgust at the way they think of people who aren't FEDRA.

"We took away their right to vote, and somebody started calling them 'voters' to mock them," mutters a younger Isaac in response to a story told by one of his soldiers about civilians being murdered by FEDRA.

"I didn't mean anything by it, Sarge," the soldier replies.

"'Course you didn't," comes Isaac's response. "You're thoughtless."

We don't know what exactly has happened to Isaac in the 11 years since that flashback and the present day, but it's clear that his experiences have hardened him. When we first meet modern-day Isaac, he's torturing a naked Seraphite in a kitchen by burning him repeatedly. When the man doesn't give him the answers he wants, he shoots him dead.

As a leading figure of the WLF, it seems likely that Isaac will play a larger role in the story ahead. But for now, his character is the embodiment of a depressing message: People in The Last of Us may start out with a certain set of ideals, but they ultimately turn into the monsters they're trying to leave behind.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

For over a year, Josh Peck has had to keep a major secret: He is in The Last of Us Season 2.

The Drake & Josh and Oppenheimer actor joins the ranks of notable Last of Us guest stars, which include Melanie Lynskey, Nick Offerman, and Murray Bartlett, as well as actors from the original Last of Us game like Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, and Jeffrey Pierce.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: Who is Hanrahan?

Before auditioning for The Last of Us, Peck had little familiarity with the show or its source material. "I knew how beloved the show was and how well done it was, but I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to intense shows like this," Peck told Mashable in a phone interview. "Honestly, my audition for the show made me give it a look so I could make sure I was honoring the tone and energy of it. Then of course, I watched the first episode and binged all of it in two days. I was like, 'Oh my God, this is excellent.'"

A particular stand-out for Peck? Season 1, episode 3, "Long Long Time," which focuses on the love story of Bill (Offerman) and Frank (Bartlett).

"That's a game-changing episode," Peck said. "I don't think I've seen a love story — a straight love story, a gay love story — that was that prolific and real and just honest in my life."

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' changed Bill and Frank's story, here's why

Peck's part in The Last of Us — which he described as a "pinch-me role" in the vein of Oppenheimer — looks very different from Bill and Frank's tender love story, though. Introduced in Season 2, episode 4, Peck plays a FEDRA soldier stationed in the Seattle Quarantine Zone in 2018. In the episode's opening moments, his character (who goes unnamed in the episode) spins a tale of FEDRA's oppressive brutality. But from his point of view, it's just another funny story — a chilling reminder of FEDRA's dehumanization of the QZ civilians.

For Peck, the key to getting in the soldier's mindset was thinking back to times when he and his friends shared stories of their own.

"Obviously, the subject matter is incredible intense and dark. I try not to judge the fact that this guy is getting a rise out of something pretty despicable. That doesn't serve me," Peck explained. "But what I can mine from my own life is telling a great story for me and my boys growing up, like something that tickles me still or a funny trip I can look back on. That's real, and the fact that this character is having that real moment about an experience that is totally unacceptable is not of my interest. I just need to make it personalized and connected to something that I genuinely get a kick out of."

Peck filmed the soldier's monologue for his audition tape. "It was a really great scene, and to [showrunner] Craig [Mazin's] credit, great writing," he said of the experience. "I had a great time making the tape, which is rare, because it's usually an agonizing time making an audition tape."

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

Peck also recalled worrying about how little the script changed from the audition to the shoot in Vancouver.

"I'll never forget, a day before filming my stomach dropped because I hadn't gotten any updates," Peck said. "In TV, over a month you can get six revisions, and on the day when you get there, they might say, 'We wrote all of this last night.'"

Not so for Peck's scene in The Last of Us. After double-checking with the assistant director that he hadn't missed any updates the night before shooting, Peck remembered meeting showrunner Craig Mazin on set. "He looked at me and was like, 'What if I had changed everything on you last night?'" Peck laughed.

Peck was in Vancouver for five days for the shoot, but learned nothing about the season beyond his own scene. Even the death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) came as a surprise to him when watching the show as it aired.

Another surprise for Peck? That he would be sharing the screen with Jeffrey Wright, who plays Washington Liberation Front (WLF) leader Isaac Dixon, something he learned when he saw Wright's headshot on set during a costume fitting.

"I was like, 'Oh damn,'" Peck recalled. "Jeffrey Wright is by far one of my favorite actors, from Broken Flowers to Basquiat, which is a movie that means so much to me. He's just one of our finest actors, and he couldn't have been a lovelier guy. Remember, we're spending like 10 hours doing this monologue over and over again, so eventually we would just start laughing about it, because it's an intense scene."

As Isaac, Wright ends up killing Peck's soldier — and the rest of his FEDRA squad — when he joins forces with the WLF. It's a brutal introduction not just to Isaac but to the world of Seattle, which Ellie (Bella Ramsey) enters in episode 4. And while the death of Peck's character means he won't be returning, he's very aware of the audience's love of the show.

"I want to stay away from the internet; I'm sure people are going to have opinions!" Peck laughed. "When you're entering into such a beloved thing, people are very protective of it, understandably. But I imagine it'll be a nice welcome."

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

While sticking to the main narrative and established character arcs of The Last of Us, Season 1 of HBO's Naughty Dog adaptation made a few notable changes. It's what made the show such an excellent adaptation, with creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann expanding the world of The Last of Us by pulling on specific threads from the game. 

So, how is The Last of Us Season 2 different from The Last of Us Part II?

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 2: Gamers knew it was coming. It still hurts like hell.

We're going to dig in every week, updating per episode, to analyse the changes we're seeing onscreen. There'll be a few spoilers from the game for analysis' sake, so if you'd rather the narrative remain a mystery, turn back now. For the rest of you, let's get into it.

Tommy and Maria have a son. Maria (Rutina Wesley) and her son, Benjamin (Ezra Agbonkhese). Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) are back living in the town of Jackson, Wyoming, and have reunited with family — namely Joel's brother, Tommy, (Gabriel Luna) and Tommy's wife, Maria (Rutina Wesley), two of Jackson's leaders. But with this pair comes a new character to The Last of Us, one who didn't appear in the Part II game: their son, Benjamin (Ezra Agbonkhese).

Joel goes to therapy. Good job, Joel. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, episode 1, Joel attends one of his therapy sessions with a whisky-drinking, weed-smoking psychotherapist named Gail (Catherine O'Hara) — a fabulous character written for the TV show. A man who truly would benefit from such treatment, Joel does not have the opportunity to process his trauma in this post-apocalyptic nightmare in the game. Instead, we do get a scene at the very beginning of the game in which Joel confesses his actions in Salt Lake City to Tommy (the show has decided to omit this scene from episode 1, instead having Tommy tell Ellie not to talk about her immunity).

In the show, Joel's therapist admits she hates him for killing her husband Eugene, a character who's mentioned in the game as a Jackson resident, electronics whiz, and weed-loving mentor to Dina who left his family to join the Fireflies and died at 73 of a stroke (a rarity in this world). In the show, he died younger than that and at Joel's hands, probably because he was Infected.

We're glad the show included Eugene's secret weed basement in episode 2, but in a change, Ellie takes shelter here with Jesse (Young Mazino); in the game she's with Dina and more than weed-smoking occurs — the show has moved this moment for Ellie and Dina to episode 4 in the cinema.

There's Cordyceps in the pipes and an attack on Jackson. Ruuuuuuun! We don't have a precedent for this! Credit: Courtesy of HBO

Uhhhh, you see that Cordyceps growing in the pipes near Jackson? That's not in the game. Druckmann and Mazin included this fungal infiltration in the series in episode 1, setting up one of the most stressful episodes of the series to date.

The Last of Us Season 2, episode 2 blowtorches the candle at both ends. At the same time as Joel's final moments in the mountain lodge, Jackson finds itself under attack by not only waves of Infected, but smart Infected who change tactics during the siege. It's an entire sequence written for the TV show and it's a true nail-biter.

We learn Abby's motive very early in the season. Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) has a reason for revenge. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

By the second episode of Season 2, we know exactly why Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) has plans of revenge for Joel. We first meet Abby and her crew in episode 1 at the site of the Fireflies' massacre in Salt Lake City, a scene that makes it clear why they're hunting Joel. In episode 2, the series clearly shows us Abby's motive: Her father was the surgeon who was about to operate on Ellie before Joel killed him.

Why does this matter? Abby's association with the Fireflies and the site of Joel's massacre isn't revealed until later in the game — and it's a crucial plot point and motivation behind her character. To reveal this so early in the series is an interesting move by Mazin and Druckmann, one that gives Abby's actions more context right from the start.

Joel's death itself has changes. We're still recovering from the first time. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

Unfortunately this traumatic narrative turn happens in both the game and the show, but there are a few differences. The events leading up to Joel's death are almost exactly the same between The Last of Us Part II and the HBO series, but there are changes — including Abby's pivot from bludgeoning to a final stab and the fact that Dina is present in the show (Tommy is there instead in the game). Through this switch, the show has Dina later give Ellie the full list of names she'll need to hunt down Joel's killer in episode 3; in the game Tommy, Ellie, and Dina piece together the crew during their journey.

Mashable's Belen Edwards has an entire explainer on the differences between the game and the show's treatment of Joel's death.

Seth does slightly better than "bigot sandwiches." Seth (Robert John Burke) has a lot of work to do. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

It's not entirely a redemption arc, but it's damn better than a few breakfast rolls. Jackson's resident homophobe Seth (Robert John Burke) is given more opportunity to make it up to Ellie and Dina in the show, after he throws a slur at them in episode 1 for kissing at the New Year's Eve dance. We've got a breakdown of how Seth improves on his "bigot sandwiches" in the show — but just know it's actually Maria who helps Ellie and Dina leave Jackson in the game.

It's Tommy who goes after Abby first in the game, then Ellie. Tommy's the first one out the Jackson gate in the game. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In the game, it's Tommy who leaves Jackson first to go after his brother's killers (remember, he was there when Joel died), with Ellie and Dina following in his footsteps knowing he's on the way to Seattle. He leaves a note for Maria reading, "I wish I could let it go but I can't. I have to bring these people to justice. Ellie's going to try and come after me but stop her. Take her guns. Lock up the horses. Maybe lock her up. Buy me some time so I can end this."

As Ellie and Dina search Seattle for the group, they find several WLF members, some of whom have been brutally killed by Tommy in his hunt for Abby — it's a merciless side of the character we don't see in the show.

In the show, it's Ellie and Dina who leave first, with Seth's help instead of Maria's, following the failed Jackson vote. And speaking of...

There's no Jackson vote in the game. Ellie actually tries to do things by the book in the show. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, episode 3, Jackson takes a town hall meeting and a vote over Ellie's proposal to send a squad to track down and execute Joel's killers. It's a whole storyline over the episode, in which Ellie asks for Tommy and Jesse's support, then delivers one hell of an inspiring speech to plead with her neighbours to agree to the pitch. The vote falls against the motion, though Ellie decides to leave the town to hunt Abby and her crew anyway. But the addition of the scene allows the town of Jackson one more moment to debate what the right thing to do in such a situation is — and to give Ellie more fuel to hit the road.

Ellie doesn't put coffee on Joel's grave in the game A moving throwback to Season 1. Credit: Courtesy of HBO

This deeply moving moment in the HBO series is entirely written for the show. When Ellie visits Joel's grave in the show, she leaves a handful of coffee beans — Mashable's Sam Haysom explains why she does this.

Dina and Ellie's romance is more slow-burn in the TV show These two 💘 Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

While the HBO series perfectly replicates Ellie and Dina's kiss at the dance, there's a few differences in how their romance unfolds between the game and the show. It's basically about TV pacing and new characterisation for Dina.

In the game, Ellie and Dina kiss at the dance after Dina and Jesse break up, but this moment is quickly followed up with Ellie and Dina getting high in Eugene's secret weed basement and having sex (the show moves this moment to the cinema in episode 4). From this event in the game, including throughout Ellie's grieving of Joel, Ellie and Dina are pretty clearly into each other, reflecting on other moments when they should have kissed and calling each other babe on the road to Seattle.

In the show, it's a slower burn for Ellie and Dina. The first three episodes make it unclear whether Dina is actually into Ellie beyond a drunken kiss, especially as the weed basement scene features Jesse and Ellie instead. "You're gay, I'm not," Dina says to Ellie in the tent in episode 3 when they're rating their kiss. However, episode 4 gives Dina the chance to explain her fears around being openly bisexual (her mother wouldn't hear of it) and gives Ellie and Dina their moment of intimacy.

The series also gives Dina more of a connection to Joel than the games, with the first two episodes demonstrating their bond, then putting Dina in the room when Joel is killed. These changes give Dina a deeper reason to hit the road to revenge with Ellie beyond her loyalty to her crush, but the show thankfully doesn't erase the romantic storyline altogether.

Still no spores?

In The Last of Us games, characters constantly have to don masks to avoid inhaling infectious spores produced by the Cordyceps infestation. But in the show, Druckmann and Mazin decided to omit the airborne threat, instead opting for realism. "If we wanted to treat it realistically, and there are spores near, characters would wear gas masks all the time," Druckmann told Polygon of Season 1. "Then we lose so much, which is maybe the most important part of the journey, is what’s going on inside behind their eyes, in their soul, in their beings. For that logistical reason, we were like, Let’s find a different vector."

Spores play a major role in The Last of Us Part II, mainly for how Dina finds out Ellie is immune; in the show Ellie gets bitten defending Dina, while in the game Ellie's gas mask gets broken in the spore-filled subway tunnel.

However, we spied spores in the trailer for Season 2, so perhaps we're in for some atmospheric danger? 

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

We're off and away with The Last of Us Season 2, with geared-up new factions and mysterious hooded nomads roaming post-apocalyptic America and threatening the lives of our beloved protagonists.

In Season 1 of Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann's Naughty Dog game adaptation, it was all about FEDRA and the Fireflies. But now, with the majority of Fireflies sent into oblivion by Joel (Pedro Pascal) in the Season 1 finale — was that a good idea, Joel? — and FEDRA seemingly nowhere to be seen, there are new players on the board.

And that includes the bow-armed, hooded travelling group known as the Seraphites or "Scars."

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

Now, I'm not going to tell you everything about this group — if you've played the games, you'll know what happens with them in The Last of Us Part II. But here's what I can tell viewers of the HBO series about the Seraphites as it happens in Season 2 (with no spoilers beyond what happens in the latest episode on Max).

When do we meet the Seraphites in The Last of Us? The Seraphites (Michael Abbott Jr. and Makena Whitlock) in episode 3. Credit: Courtesy of HBO

The first we see of the Seraphites beyond the trailer comes in Season 2, episode 3. We meet a group of people on a forest trail to Seattle (the same road Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Mercred) take later in the episode), with each member clad in hooded garments branded with the same strange symbol.

They're all also marked by the same self-inflicted facial scarring on either cheek (hence their nickname, the "Scars"). It looks like these marks are given early in life for members of this group, as even Constance (Makena Whitlock), the very young girl in their party, has them. They're mentioned in episode 4 as the "holy mortification" to join the faction.

The Seraphites also prefer melee weapons like their signature hammer or stealth weapons like bows and arrows, and they communicate in a sophisticated whistling language.

Featured Video For You Bella Ramsey and 'The Last of Us' team talks Season 2's new characters and Joel in therapy What do the Seraphites believe? "She watches over me, she fills my soul." Credit: Courtesy of HBO

We don't know much about the Seraphites' spiritual beliefs at this point in the TV series, but we do know a few things. First, we know they follow a leader known as "The Prophet."

"The Prophet isn't magic, they're just people that see truths hidden from others and share their truth no matter what the cost," the Seraphite leader (Michael Abbott Jr.) explains to Constance in episode 3. "So it was with our Prophet. That's how we keep her spirit alive, we follow her words, we obey her teaching, but we keep ourselves safe."

In episode 4, during Washington Liberation Front (WLF) leader Isaac Dixon's (Jeffrey Wright) brutal torture and interrogation of a Seraphite (Ryan Masson), the captive calls Wolves "heretics" and repeats the phrase, "She watches over me, she fills my soul."

However, in episode 3, the Seraphite in the woods also mentions that The Prophet has been dead for 10 years, and that he "wouldn't count on her to help" their situation. In the following episode, Isaac also dismisses the Prophet, telling his captive, "You know there are even Scars who don’t believe she’s some magic fairy in the sky, yeah? Some of you actually understand she was just a person."

So, who is this Prophet and what do they preach? We'll find out soon enough.

What's the deal between the Seraphites and the WLF? Uhh... this looks bad. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

The relationship between the WLF and the Seraphites is direct rivalry. When we meet the Seraphites in episode 3, the leader of their group calls for the group to take cover when it appears "Wolves" are on their path. We know this as the nickname for the WLF, who have a snarling wolf on a yellow triangle for their logo — one of their members, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), killed Joel.

Judging by the Seraphite leader's reaction to "Wolves" over what his daughter calls "Demons" as a threat, we think they're more scared of the WLF than they are of Infected. And they should be, with Ellie and Dina finding the entire group slain at the end of episode 4 — it's not clear who committed the massacre, but it's strongly suggested to be the WLF.

In episode 4's interrogation scene, both Isaac and his captive accuse the WLF and the Seraphites of "breaking the truce" (we don't know what that is yet), and Isaac looks amused when he's told his side will lose. "We have automatic weapons and hospitals, you lunatics have bolt action rifles, bows and arrows, and superstition," he says. "So tell me how are we going to lose?”

Isaac (Jeffrey Wright) tortures a Seraphite for information on attacks. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

With both parties existing in Seattle, the rivalry seems territorial — but from the looks of the WLF's tanks, guns, and foot soldiers in episodes 3 and 4, the odds seem somewhat against the Seraphites. But the Seraphite captive indicates that their ranks are building. "Every day a Wolf leaves you to take the holy mortification and become a Seraphite," they say. "And none of us leaves to become a Wolf." And remember, fear is also a weapon.

In episode 4, Ellie and Dina find a WLF man riddled with arrows in a Seattle building and later find a whole group of Wolves hanged and disembowelled, lit from beneath, with a Seraphite symbol and message written in their blood on the wall reading "Feel her love." It's pretty gruesome and meant to be found as a terrifying message, referring to the Seraphites' spiritual leader, the Prophet.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

We're back with The Last of Us Season 2, with mysterious new characters and geared-up new factions to avoid like the plague or join, depending on your priorities in the apocalypse. 

In Season 1 of Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann's Naughty Dog game adaptation, it was all about FEDRA and the Fireflies. But now, with the majority of Fireflies sent into oblivion by Joel (Pedro Pascal) in the Season 1 finale, the faction has evolved elsewhere.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

In Season 2, episode 1, we meet Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her crew of Fireflies. But in subsequent episodes they've become members of a group with a wolf logo on their gear. But who is this new faction? Are they good or bad?

Now, it'll be unfeasible for me to tell you everything about this group — if you've played the games, you'll know what happens with this group in The Last of Us Part II. But here's what I can tell viewers of the HBO series about the WLF as it happens in Season 2 (with no spoilers beyond what happens in the latest episode on Max).

Wait, who are the Fireflies again? One of the last conversations between Marlene (Merle Dandridge) and Joel (Pedro Pascal). Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

They were a highly skilled, revolutionary militia group whose aim was to liberate quarantine zones (QZs) from the U.S. government's military arm, FEDRA, who in turn branded them terrorists. You might remember Joel and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) found their graffiti on walls all through Season 1 — their motto was "When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light." You might also remember Ellie was a FEDRA cadet with her best friend and first love, Riley (Storm Reid), whose plans to join the Fireflies were fatally derailed.

The Fireflies' leader, Marlene (Merle Dandridge), was the one who sent Tess (Anna Torv) and Joel on the mission to retrieve Ellie in the first place, taking her from the Fireflies' Boston QZ hideout to a Salt Lake City base camp where doctors were working on a cure for the Cordyceps pandemic (remember, Ellie's immune to Infected bites). Marlene would also be the last Firefly killed by Joel at the hospital, after he learned Ellie would be sacrificed for such research — it's the big point of contention between them.

The Fireflies said they needed to kill Ellie for a cure. Joel said nah. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

And it's at this very medical facility we meet Abby's group of soon-to-be WLF members for the first time in Season 2, episode 1, reeling from what they've found.

What is the Washington Liberation Front in The Last of Us? Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) is a member of the WLF. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

A militia group hailing from Seattle, the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) are identifiable by their logo featuring a snarling wolf on a yellow triangle — the first time we see this is in episode 2 on one of their backpacks, and Ellie and Dina continue to find their logo in subsequent episodes. Made up of former Fireflies and new members, the WLF are still a bit of a mystery at this point, but members of the group have already done major damage.

In Season 2, episode 1, we meet former Firefly and future WLF member Abby and her friends, Manny (Danny Ramirez), Nora (Tati Gabrielle), Mel (Ariela Barer), and Owen (Spencer Lord), who have discovered the remnants of Joel's massacre of the Fireflies in Salt Lake City. To say they look pissed is an understatement, but Abby is the one who decides they should prioritise tracking down the killer.

Featured Video For You 'The Last of Us' Season One recap in 60 seconds

We find the Abby and her friends again hiding out in a mountain cabin in the second episode (The Terrible One We Won't Get Over Anytime Soon), where Abby lures Joel and Dina (Isabela Merced) into a fatal trap. Before murdering Joel, she reveals that her father was one of the Fireflies Joel killed in the season finale, the surgeon who was about to operate on Ellie.

But what's Abby's actual involvement with the WLF? Before bludgeoning him to death, Abby tells Joel she's been a militia member for five years and that she's been taught to only attack those who can fight back. "Our commander trained us to follow a code. We don't kill those that can't defend themselves," she says. "And right now, that's you. But I am going to kill you. Because it doesn't matter if you have a code, like me, or you're a lawless piece of shit, like you. There are just some things everyone agrees are just fucking wrong."

We're not sure what Abby's commander will have to say about how she's gone about her vengeance — more on him below.

Where is the WLF base? Manny (Danny Ramirez) keeps watch from the Space Needle. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

As we learn over the first three episodes of The Last of Us Season 2, the WLF is based in Seattle. But it's not until episodes 3 and 4 we actually get to see the scale of the group.

While Ellie and Dina assume the Wolves are a small faction, in the final moments of episode 3 we see Manny back in Seattle in the crumbling Space Needle overseeing multiple city checkpoints. Then, we see giant tanks rolling through the streets, the type FEDRA used in the first season. They're accompanied by at least 50 foot soldiers, armed to the teeth. We meet plenty more of these armed soldiers in episode 4, with Ellie and Dina's path through Seattle riddled with them. Infiltrating the WLF to kill Abby won't be a walk in the park after all.

Who is the WLF leader, Isaac? Meet Isaac (Jeffrey Wright). Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In episode 1, Owen mentions the group's leader, Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright). But we don't meet him until episode 4, with the opening scene showing Isaac as a former FEDRA captain who defects and kills an entire unit of soldiers. Later in the episode, Isaac tortures a Seraphite man in a well-equipped kitchen, presumably in the WLF base, demanding to know where the group will attack next.

Mashable's Sam Haysom has a whole explainer on who Isaac is.

What's the deal between the WLF and the Seraphites? This looks...bad. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In episode 3, we meet another new group called the Seraphites or "Scars" on a forest trail near Seattle. Their leader calls for everyone to take cover when it appears "Wolves" are on their path. They look terrified. Judging by the Seraphite leader's reaction to "Wolves" over what his daughter calls "Demons" as a threat, we think they're more scared of the WLF than they are of Infected. And they should be, as as Ellie and Dina discover the entire Seraphite party slain at the end of the episode.

The relationship between the WLF and the Seraphites is direct opposition, as Isaac's interrogation in episode 4 proves. Both Isaac and his captive accuse the WLF and the Seraphites of "breaking the truce" (we don't know what that is yet), and Isaac looks amused when he's told his side will lose. "We have automatic weapons and hospitals, you lunatics have bolt action rifles, bows and arrows, and superstition," he says. "So tell me how are we going to lose?”

With both parties existing in Seattle, the rivalry seems territorial — but from the looks of the WLF's tanks, guns, and foot soldiers in episodes 3 and 4, the odds seem somewhat against the Seraphites.

In episode 4, Ellie and Dina find a WLF man riddled with arrows in a Seattle building and later find a whole group of Wolves hanged and disembowelled, lit from beneath, with a Seraphite symbol and message written in their blood on the wall reading "Feel her love." It's meant to be found as a message, referring to the Seraphites' spiritual leader, the Prophet.

As Dina says, "What the fuck is wrong with Seattle?"

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

Google Meet offers several features to make your online meetings convenient and productive. If this tool happens to be your favorite meeting tool, I have some tips to share with you.

Ever wondered how your online data and conversations stay secure from hackers and intruders? That’s the work of cryptography, a technology we rely on daily, often without even realizing it. Here’s how it all works behind the scenes.

It's been almost four years since Windows 11 came out, and it still feels like it's in beta. Now that Microsoft has thoroughly botched the release of Windows 11, I miss some old features of Windows 7 and XP more than ever. I bet you'll relate to at least one.

Our passwords are the primary way we log in to all the services we use day in and day out. Unfortunately, passwords are becoming increasingly complex as pressure from hackers push us towards more secure choices. But what if there were a better way that didn't involve memorizing an incomprehensible string of characters?

In some huge gaming news, rumors suggest that Valve Software’s long-dormant Half-Life 3 not only exists — it’s playable from start to finish. And if the leaks are to be believed, the company could be gearing up to announce it later this year.

SEE ALSO: 'Half-Life: Alyx' trailer reveals a VR story before the events of 'Half-Life 2'

As always with Half-Life 3 rumors, skepticism is warranted. The latest report comes via Valve insider and longtime leaker Tyler McVicker, who teased a series of pointed hints during a recent livestream. According to McVicker, the information surfaced because the game is now in such wide playtesting that some testers have started talking.

The claims track with previous speculation from last summer, including McVicker’s own datamining of recent Valve code drops. Additionally, in February, datamining sleuths uncovered code references to “HLX” buried in update files for Valve’s upcoming MOBA-style game Deadlock, adding further speculation that something Half-Life-related is in active development.

"This is the furthest [HLX] has ever been. Period," McVicker said during the stream. "The game is playable—end to end. Period. Other HL3 or Episode 3 projects never got that far. They’re optimizing, polishing. It’s probably content-locked, or at the very least mechanic-locked."

Still, until Valve breaks its silence, treat this like every other Half-Life 3 whisper over the past 15 years: with cautious optimism. Based on the details provided by McVicker on stream, this Half-Life 3 is not to be confused with Half-Life 2: Episode Three, an announced sequel to Episode Two way back in 2007.

Development on Half-Life 3 reportedly began around 2013 or 2014, with a 2020 leak suggesting the game would have featured procedurally generated level design — an approach McVicker reaffirmed during his recent Q&A session.

Either way, something’s moving inside Valve. If it does launch, it would mark the first mainline Half-Life entry since Episode Two dropped in 2007, and the first release in the franchise since the 2020 VR-exclusive Half-Life: Alyx.

PC gamers benefit from having multiple game storefronts and Android gamers are starting to do the same. There are already several games on the Epic Games Store that are currently not available via Google's official Play Store.

Ever gotten a random text that starts with a name that’s not yours, in a scenario you’ve never been in? Maybe someone thinks you’re "Emily from the gym" or "Daniel from the yacht club." You reply with the classic "wrong number," but instead of backing off, the stranger suddenly wants to chat. Friendly. Curious. Weirdly persistent.

Congratulations: you’ve just been targeted by a scam — and no, you’re not the only one. According to cybersecurity firm McAfee, as cited by CNBC, a staggering 25 percent of Americans have received these mystery messages. The scam isn’t new. In fact, it first started gaining traction back in 2022. What is new is how it’s evolving.

SEE ALSO: E-ZPass toll scams are back. What to do if you're targeted.

These are called pig-butchering scams — a grotesque name with grotesque intent. Borrowed from the farming world, the term describes how scammers "fatten up" victims emotionally and psychologically before the financial slaughter. They operate like long-con romance scams: someone pretending to be rich and important, who just so happens to find you fascinating. Over time, they build trust, often steering the conversation toward crypto investments or too-good-to-be-true opportunities.

Experts told CNBC that the rise of generative AI is supercharging these operations. It's letting scammers craft messages that feel more personal and making it easier to change up the script to sound more like a real person. And the numbers show it's working.

In 2024 alone, text message scams cost Americans $470 million, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That’s five times what it was in 2020.

The bleaker reality behind these scams is that many are fueled by forced labor. Large-scale operations based in Southeast Asia are often behind the messages, with workers trafficked from across the region under false promises of legitimate employment. Once there, they’re coerced into running scams under constant surveillance and threats — essentially trapped in digital sweatshops.

Not all participants are victims, though. Some of these operations are run by shady online gambling groups, staffed by people who know exactly what they’re doing.

The simplest and most effective way to protect yourself? Don’t respond. If a text pops up from "Emily from the gym" or "Daniel from the yacht club" and you have no idea who that is, ignore it. If the number’s from an unfamiliar area code or a region you’ve never set foot in — ignore it. That’s it. No need to engage, correct them, or play along. Just block the number and move on.