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As a mom of two, I've spent many hours playing with my kids. I pay close attention to which toys and books bring them joy — and which get tossed into a corner. So when compiling this list of the best gifts for toddlers, I went right to the source. Part of our bigger series dedicated to finding the Best Gifts For Everyone, what follows is a list of the best toddler gifts, according to my 4-year-old and 1-year-old. What you won't see here is any distinction between genders: All toys are for all kids. Every single thing here is something that my kids play with often. And while the best gifts for big kids and teen girls can be heavily influenced by trends, the best gifts for toddlers are more timeless, encouraging open-ended play and learning. Every item here would make an excellent gift, whether it's Christmas, Hannukkah, a birthday, or otherwise.

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 23, get the iRobot Roomba 104 robot vacuum and mop for $249.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $449.99. That's a discount of 44%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon iRobot Roomba 104 robot vacuum and mop $249.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $200   Get Deal

Tired of spending all your time manually running a vacuum to clean up your place? Think a mop bucket may be one of the grossest things you have in your home? What if you never had to deal with either again and could count on a robot to handle all of that? Well, you can. And you can save some serious cash on a robot vacuum and mop combo that can do it all with gusto right now by shopping at Amazon.

As of Oct. 23, get the iRobot Roomba 104 robot vacuum and mop for $249.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $449.99. That's $200 off and a discount of 44%.

SEE ALSO: The top 5 robot vacuums for carpet all passed the cat hair test

This model uses 70x more suction than previous releases from Roomba, with a multi-surface brush, better edge and corner cleaning, an edge-sweeping brush, and a microfiber mop pad used to help tidy your hard floors. It can set up its own cleaning pathway thanks to LiDAR as well, so you don't have to be caught teaching it where to go and what to avoid since it can do all that on its own.

This combo robot vacuum and mop can even empty its own dustbin, with up to 75 days of hands-free cleaning for you. It will empty eveything into its dock with a bag that can trap up to 99% of allergens and pet dander, so when it handles its business at its dock, you're less likely to sneeze. And you can take the old bag and drop a new one in without having to see all the detritus.

With easy cleaning schedules, custom mop and vacuum modes, and other ways to change up the way this robovac works, it's a great option for getting your home tidy. And since you can save $200 on it right now, it's a no-brainer.

Luxury SUVs these days are all about bigger screens, more gadgets, and flashy eco-claims. The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus doesn’t need to shout—it shows confidence through smart design and smooth craftsmanship.

Have you noticed a certain clown dressed in black and white with nasty teeth this Halloween season? You might’ve seen him grace a few shelves of your local Halloween store. You might’ve seen a poster for one of his movies at your local cinema. Who is this clown, and why has he become so prevalent as a horror star?

The Stranger Things series finale will be getting a theatrical release, Netflix revealed today.

Season 5's feature-length final episode will play in over 350 theaters in the US and Canada on Dec. 31, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026. Screenings start at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, timed to the episode's global premiere on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: The 'Stranger Things' cast rewatching Season 3 will get you pumped for Season 5

"We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to [Netflix CEO] Ted [Sarandos], [Netflix Chief Content Officer] Bela [Bajaria], and everyone at Netflix for making it happen," Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer said in a statement. "Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure."

These theatrical screenings are a reversal from Netflix's original plans to keep the finale solely on Netflix. In a Variety piece about Stranger Things Season 5, Bajaria rejected the idea of a theatrical release, saying, "A lot of people — a lot, a lot, a lot of people — have watched Stranger Things on Netflix. It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom. I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want."

However, Netflix has recently seen success with theatrical releases of titles that already blew up on streaming. Case in point: KPop Demon Hunters, whose summertime singalong event was so popular, it's coming back to theaters in time for Halloween.

Netflix will release more information about how to attend these fan events and what theaters they will be playing in at a later date. Mashable will report with more news on this story as it develops.

Volume 1 of Stranger Things 5 premieres Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 26, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31.

Netbooks were at their peak popularity in the early 2010s, as cheap and compact laptops designed primarily for web browsing and light productivity work. I wanted to try setting up my Toshiba netbook as a modern computer for productivity work, and the results probably won't surprise you.

Verizon Home Internet is rolling out a brand new and affordable Lite plan to more communities across the country. If you've been stuck with older, less reliable options like DSL or satellite, the Home Internet Lite plan is likely going to be a good idea for you.

Google's Gboard is one of the most popular keyboard apps for Android, which is why the company often delivers new updates and improvements. While we've received several new features this year, the latest Google Keyboard update added some weird customizations, like removing the ever-important period key.

In my home, we've never spoken to Alexa or Siri, and I've never trusted Google enough to say "okay" out loud (don't get me started on Gemini). But I've welcomed in Nabu, a voice assistant who now waits in most rooms of my home.

If you've posted a Story on Instagram lately, you may have noticed Restyle — a new AI feature that lets users edit photos directly within Stories.

With Restyle, you can remove unwanted background elements (say, a photobomber or a stray thumb), add new ones, or customize parts of your image — like changing someone's hair color or swapping in a different sky.

Instagram is testing Restyle Text and rolling out a new batch of Restyle tools, and Mashable has the first look. The lineup includes Restyle Text, Restyle Video, and improved effect discovery, giving users even more ways to edit their Stories.

Restyle on Instagram Credit: Instagram

You can find all of the new Restyle tools by taking a photo or video in Stories and tapping the paintbrush icon. You'll then see options to add, remove, change, or apply themes.

Restyle on Instagram Credit: Instagram

There are also limited-edition seasonal themes and effects, including Halloween options like "ghost face" and "haunted mirror"; Diwali presets such as "fireworks" and "diyas"; and year-round effects favorites like "anime" and "sketch." You can browse or search these in the new effects browser.

Restyle on Instagram Credit: Instagram

Restyle Text, another new tool rolling out Thursday, uses AI to generate custom fonts for Stories. You can pick from presets like "chrome" and "balloon," or write your own prompt — for example, "Give all of my letters little hats."

Restyle on Instagram Credit: Instagram

Finally, Restyle Video adds AI-driven filters to motion clips, with preset effects like "snow," "underwater," "porcelain," and "golden hour."

Restyle Text is currently testing with a small group of users and will expand globally soon. The other new Restyle features are rolling out across the U.S., India, Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Australia, Ghana, Uganda, Singapore, Zambia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Malawi, and Canada.

Gamers are only as good as their equipment, which is especially true for those who play on a PC. And while the computer itself (boasting a powerful processor, tons of RAM, and a top-of-the-line graphics card) is at the center of a PC gamer’s setup, the proper peripherals ensure it performs as well as possible. Hardware shouldn’t make anyone rage-quit, and Redragon’s 95-key GALATIN PRO K719 mechanical keyboard is a taskmaster.

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Oct. 23. The Cozy Mystery eBook Blast offers you the chance to download 150+ free ebooks for your e-reader.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cozy Mystery eBook Blast Cozy Mystery eBook Blast (Oct. 23)   Learn More

We did warn you that the Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule is wild towards the end of October. We've only just recovered from Stuff Your Kindle Day: Crime Edition and now the Cozy Mystery eBook Blast has arrived to deliver a fresh batch of material for bookworms to enjoy.

The Cozy Mystery eBook Blast is live on Oct. 23, and does exactly what the name suggests by offering 150+ free cozy mystery reads from your preferred retailer. And better yet, the books that you download are yours to keep forever. You don't get much for free these days, so these special events always cause a stir.

SEE ALSO: The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Cozy Mystery eBook Blast takes place on Oct. 23. There has been a shift away from one-day events in 2025, but this latest book blast is going old school by only lasting through the day. You don't have the luxury of perusing all your options over a number of days. You need to act fast and download tactically, because the next Stuff Your Kindle Day is coming on Oct 24.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

There are so many beautiful things about Stuff Your Kindle Day. Free books, obviously. But there's also a community of like-minded individuals who come together to celebrate lesser-known authors. And that's the truly great thing about these events: anyone can participate. Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them directly from your phone.

Which e-books are free?

The Cozy Mystery Book Club is hosting the Cozy Mystery eBook Blast, and is making it easy for participants to find exactly what they need by organizing everything into three sub-genres on the hub page:

• Contemporary Cozies

• Historical Cozies

• Paranormal Cozies

The Cozy Mystery Book Club also includes links for alternative retailers, if you're looking to avoid the Kindle Store.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time. There's no reason to hold back.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite + Kindle Unlimited (3-Month Plan)   Get Deal Why we like it

These popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle Paperwhite. Prices start at $159.99, but you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase.

VPNs help gamers escape ISP throttling and can boost privacy when gaming. However, data travels via an intermediary server when using a VPN, which results in slower connection speeds and increased latency.

Microsoft developer Obsidian Entertainment has had quite the year. In February, the studio launched Avowed, its fantasy RPG, followed by the co-op sequel Grounded 2 going into early access in July. Now, it’s rounding out the year with The Outer Worlds 2, a sequel to its highly acclaimed 2019 sci-fi RPG.

Obsidian’s games are known for their deep writing and worldbuilding, with an emphasis on player choice. In Avowed and The Outer Worlds, players are encouraged to pick their own paths when it comes to tackling story missions, solving side quests, and carrying out conversations. While The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t do anything drastically different from its predecessor, it sticks with what worked the first time and does it well again. On the other hand, it has the same flaws, namely its heavy-handed writing.

The Outer Worlds 2 takes place in a new setting: a space colony called Arcadia. Here, the player works as an Earth Directorate agent, whose job it is to maintain the relationship between Earth and its other colonies. Rifts in spacetime have started appearing, and the player is sent to investigate it. After doing so, an astronomically destructive incident causes you to float around in space for the next decade before eventually being woken up. It’s a real attention-grabbing opener of a first mission.

Credit: George Yang / Mashable

Since then, Arcadia has been in a chokehold between two powerful entities: The Protectorate and Auntie’s Choice. The former has a monopoly over space travel technology, while the latter is a megacorp made up of two companies, the pharmaceutical firm Auntie Cleo and the manufacturer Spacer’s Choice. 

Throughout the game, these two forces are constantly at each other’s throats about how to use technology to control the rifts and use them for their own nefarious means. It’s an enticing setup, but it’s sometimes weighed down by the writing.

Laying it on thick

The criticisms of capitalism are too on the nose in The Outer Worlds 2. While the writing and dialogue choices are varied and entertaining, they often lack subtlety. During a side quest, I was tasked by Annie’s Choice to break a strike, and its vice president was disgusted that the workers had demands. My dialogue choices included snarky comments about collective bargaining and workers’ rights. While these themes can be explored well, such as in games like Bioshock, the holier-than-thou tone in The Outer Worlds 2 can come across as off-putting in many cases.

Credit: George Yang / Mashable

It’s also not lost on me how deeply ironic this tone is, given that the game is published by Microsoft and Xbox Studios, which has continually been laying off workers and simultaneously trying to go all in on AI. After Nintendo listed Mario Kart World at $80, instead of the standard $60 or $70 price point in the games industry, Microsoft seemed to follow the trend and raised the price of The Outer Worlds 2 to $80 before reversing the decision due to fan backlash. So the repetitive anti-capitalist quips in the game tend to lose their impact.

What really helps counteract and balance this tone is the game’s likable companions. There are six that you can recruit throughout, and they come with vibrant personalities. My personal favorites were Valerie and Aza. Valerie is a support drone that specializes in healing and damage reduction, and her personality is that of a typical dry robot who interprets what everyone says too literally. In one interaction, I asked Valerie how much she weighed to see if she could carry heavy items, but she took it as me trying to ride her like a transport vehicle. It's a different kind of sarcastic quip that’s actually a welcome change of pace to the game’s tone.

I asked Valerie how much she weighed to see if she could carry heavy items, but she took it as me trying to ride her like a transport vehicle. Credit: George Yang / Mashable

Aza is different from the other companions as she’s not affiliated with the Earth Directorate, Auntie’s Choice, or the Protectorate. Instead, she’s part of the Glorious Dawn, a cult that worships the rifts. She’s also wonderfully violent and bloodthirsty, which adds a real mean streak that reminds me of the aggressive humor found in Borderlands games.

You can also embark on companion quests, which provide deeper character development than what you'd typically experience by just sticking with the story missions. They’re always worth doing, as you’ll not only learn to appreciate the companions more, but also gain experience to level up and become stronger, and earn other valuable rewards.

Roleplaying goodness

The Outer Worlds 2’s other strong suit is its robust role-playing elements. The character creator has extensive cosmetic options, including changing your hairstyle, adjusting your head shape, and more. It’s easy to lose time trying to create your ideal character. But what makes it stand out more than other games is its trait and skill system.

You can pick up to two positive traits, such as Brawny, which gives you the ability to use brute force to open malfunctioning doors, and Lucky, which can sometimes allow you to solve sticky situations easily. For example, Lucky came in handy when I had to solve a math equation, and my character managed to get “lucky” and solve it on the first go. 

Depending on what traits you have, certain obstacles in the game can become easier or harder to clear. This simple choice made in the beginning can drastically change the trajectory of your playthrough, making each one different and increasing the game’s replayability. You’ll also have to pick. If you decide to go with two positive traits instead of just one, you also have to pick up a negative trait, like being constantly sick or dumb. The former decreases your maximum HP, while the latter permanently locks the number of skills you can learn. It’s an excellent trade-off that forces you to adapt.

The skill screen in Outer Worlds 2. Credit: George Yang / Mashable

You can also pick two skills to specialize in, which help gear your character to your specific playstyle. I like avoiding conflict and talking my way out of situations, so I chose Speech as one of my preferred skills. This lets me influence others in conversations and potentially convince them to give me store discounts. I can even skip boss fights entirely by persuading them to stand down if my Speech skill is high enough and I’ve collected specific information around the environment. Fortunately, you’re not locked to a specific playstyle, so you’re able to shift and invest in the other skills in case you discover a new approach that you enjoy more.

As you level up, you’ll also be able to unlock perks based on how many skill points you’ve allocated to certain skills. For example, after investing in the Lockpick skill, I learned how to Pickpocket, which came in clutch because, in some instances, I needed to complete a side quest to progress the story. Instead of doing what the quest giver asked for, I simply went behind them and stole what I needed from their back pocket.

There’s lots of room for synergy between the skills and perks. I loved sneaking around and killing enemies from behind, and the Sleight of Hand perk I unlocked by getting my Lockpick skill to level 8 not only made pickpocketing faster, but granted me bonus damage when executing sneak attacks. 

In fact, I spent so much time crouching and minimizing the sound of my footsteps that the game noticed, and I picked up a Flaw, an optional permanent trait that has both positive and negative effects. This particular one was called Bad Knees, and it increased my crouch speed, but every time I crouched, I would emit a cracking sound that would alert hostiles to investigate me. I decided that the pros weren’t worth the cons, so I declined the trait. There’s so much experimentation within these deep gameplay systems that makes every playthrough feel unique.

Credit: George Yang / Mashable Fighting words

Combat and gunplay were some of the weaker aspects of the first game, and that’s unfortunately the same story here. That’s partly why I also went with the stealth and speech routes that I did. I would pick off regular enemies one by one from behind, and then during boss fights, I’d convince them to step down so I wouldn’t have to attack them at all.

In any case, there are some marginal improvements. Like its predecessor, you can equip mods to enhance your weapons, such as reducing the ammo cost on certain guns. However, many of these mods make a negligible difference in the grand scheme of things, and I hardly felt these improvements during the moment-to-moment gunfights.

It’s a stark contrast to Avowed, which really showed off Obsidian’s combat systems at its best. The gunslinging in The Outer Worlds 2 just doesn’t have the same impact and satisfaction that the responsive magic hurling and swordfighting mechanics in Avowed impressed me with. Even when I started a new playthrough and picked more combat-oriented skills and perks, the shooting still felt flat and clunky in my hands.

Is The Outer Worlds 2 worth it?

If you enjoyed the first game, there’s really no reason you wouldn’t enjoy the sequel. Thankfully, The Outer Worlds 2 has an entirely new story and cast of characters, so you can jump straight in if you haven’t played the first. It’s got good writing and humorous writing, even if the anti-capitalist schtick is a bit overdone. 

The companions in Outer Worlds 2. Credit: George Yang / Mashable

The companions are genuinely deep and make the space odyssey much more bearable. And while the combat hasn’t improved much, the deep role-playing elements and the synergies between the skills and perks make the game fun to play.

The Outer Worlds 2 will be available on all platforms, including PC and PS5. It can also be played via Xbox Game Pass. With games like Keeper and Ninja Gaiden 4, the subscription is well worth getting for Microsoft’s releases this month, despite its recent price hike.

Hybrid SUVs offer the best of both worlds, family-friendly space and fuel savings, and in 2025 you’ll find more budget-friendly options than ever. This surge in affordability is driven by newer hybrid powertrains, smarter packaging, and growing competition among automakers. There’s now a wave of hybrid crossovers starting under $30,000, making high-efficiency family mobility surprisingly accessible.

If the John Wick series, with its stylized action, layered world-building, stunning camera work, and revenge! revenge! revenge! left you wanting more, your search ends here.

Apple no longer throws a pair of EarPods in the box when you buy an iPhone, but the company still sells a set of wired earbuds for $19. Once associated with the must-have iPod, these white accessories have since been supplanted by the AirPods line.

This year, Richard Linklater directed not one but two biopics about larger-than-life artists. After Nouvelle Vague, which focussed on the production of Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless (1960), there is Blue Moon, which focusses on the friendship between Broadway legends Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) and Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott).

Mashable's Head of Video Mark Stetson sat down with Hawke, Scott, and Bobby Cannavale (playing an omniscient bartender Bobbie) to discuss their roles, and how they see the Hart-Rodgers relationship.

Blue Moon opens in limited release on Oct. 17, before going wide Oct. 24.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Big tech wants you to back up to the cloud, and while it's a good idea, there are risks. Here's a 100% free, open-source tool that lets you manage encrypted backups to multiple cloud and local locations to keep your data as safe as possible.

TL;DR: Live stream Chargers vs. Vikings in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL action kicks off this week with the Chargers taking on the Vikings at the SoFi Stadium. The Chargers are looking to protect their positive record this season. The Vikings are 3-3 going into this hotly-anticipated matchup.

If you want to watch Chargers vs. Vikings in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chargers vs. Vikings?

Chargers vs. Vikings in the NFL starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on Oct. 23. This game takes place at the SoFi Stadium.

How to watch Chargers vs. Vikings for free

Chargers vs. Vikings in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Chargers vs. Vikings for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like IPVanish)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Chargers vs. Vikings for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

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Live stream Chargers vs. Vikings in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.