Category: Technologies

Have you ever clicked the little “X” on a Chrome browser tab when you didn’t mean to? Of course you have! I do it on a daily basis. Maybe even an hourly basis. Could it be that I’m a little too click-happy in this multitasking world? Maybe. But if I’m not particularly prudent about my cursor positioning, it’s because I have a secret weapon up my sleeve: I know that my favorite keyboard shortcut, Ctrl+Shift+T (or Cmd+Shift+T for Mac users),has my back.

I love keyboard shortcuts in general. These handy little combinations of keys may improve your productivity at work, sure, but the real benefit is the preservation of your equanimity. And Ctrl+Shift+T in particular is, I’d argue, one of the most important and useful keyboard shortcuts there is, right up there with Ctrl+Z. In fact, it performs a similar function: undoing a mistake. Specifically, the mistake of accidentally closing a browser tab or window. Ctrl+Shift+T is the easiest way to restore a browser tab that you didn’t mean to X out.

Let’s walk through how to use it, plus all the other ways to restore lost tabs in any browser. And don’t miss our list of the best Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts, the essential Mac keyboard shortcuts, a secret power hiding in your mouse scroll wheel, and a Google Chrome trick that organizes all your tabs for you.

Four ways to reopen closed tabs in Google Chrome

Google Chrome gives you a few options for restoring tabs and windows after you’ve closed them, and depending on your needs, it’s good to know how they all work. Note, however, that restoring closed tabs isn’t an option when browsing in incognito mode.

1. Keyboard shortcut method

The quickest way to restore a single tab you closed by accident is with a keyboard shortcut. On a PC, use Ctrl+Shift+T. On a Mac, use Cmd+Shift+T. If you want to restore multiple tabs, or if you need a tab you closed a while ago, just keep pressing Ctrl+Shift+T and your tabs will reappear in the order in which they were closed. Bonus: If you accidentally close your entire browser window altogether, just open a new Chrome window and the keyboard shortcut will reopen everything at once. This is a great trick for the times when a system update forces you to close your browser or restart your computer altogether.

2. Browser history method

Your Chrome browser history also keeps track of recently closed tabs. It’s not as lightning-fast as a keyboard shortcut, but this method is useful if you closed the tab a long time ago and need to refer back to it.

There are a few ways to access your browser history in Chrome. One way is to use another shortcut: Ctrl+H. Another is to click the hamburger menu in the top right corner of your browser, then select History. And a third option is to type “chrome://history” into your address bar, then press enter.

However you arrive at your browser history, once there you’ll have access to all the websites and tabs you’ve viewed, in reverse chronological order. Clicking on a result will reopen it for you. Going through the hamburger menu also has a built-in list of Recently Closed tabs, which you can select to reopen.

3. Tab search method

Ever noticed the little downward-pointing arrow in your Chrome tab bar? In Windows, it’s right next to the icons for minimizing, maximizing and closing your window. (On Mac it’s at the top right.) This icon is Chrome’s built-in tab search feature, which itself can be accessed with a simple keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+A. Tab search shows you a list of all the tabs you currently have open, and another list of your recently closed tabs. You can scroll through the lists to reopen or switch to the desired tab, or use the search bar to find it with a keyword. This comes in handy for those who keep dozens of tabs open at all times.

4. Taskbar method

If you’ve got a Chrome window opened — or if the app is pinned in your taskbar — right-click the icon from the taskbar and you’ll see a short list of links: Most visited and Recently closed. From there, you can restore a tab just by clicking on it. (Note these options do not appear on Mac.)

Bonus: ‘Continue where I left off’ method

There’s a Chrome setting that essentially makes Ctrl+Shift+T the default. By toggling this feature on, every time you open Chrome, the browser will automatically reopen the tabs you had open in your previous session. To turn it on, go to your Chrome settings (also through the hamburger menu), then On startup. Select the Continue where you left off option.

What about other browsers, like Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Opera?

The Ctrl+Shift+T keyboard shortcut will work in other browsers, too (as well as right-clicking the tab bar and selecting Reopen closed tab). Most of the other methods of reopening a tab work across browsers too, though the menu labels and options may differ. The experience is largely the same on a Mac, with the exception of the taskbar method.

For both Firefox and Microsoft Edge, you can also go through your browser history to find and reopen a tab you accidentally closed. Firefox has a dedicated sub-menu under History called Recently closed tabs. Microsoft Edge has a tabbed History menu for All, Recently closed and Tabs from other devices. In Opera, if you have the sidebar enabled — and if History is one of the elements you’ve elected to include in the sidebar — clicking the History icon from the sidebar will also pull up a list of recently closed tabs.

The other browsers also offer a setting to reopen the previous session’s tabs automatically upon startup. In Firefox, go to Settings > General and check the box under Startup labeled Open previous windows and tabs. In Microsoft Edge, go to Settings > Start, home, and new tabs and under When Edge starts, select open tabs from the previous session. And in Opera: Settings > On startup, then check the box for retain tabs from previous session.

For more, check out Google Chrome’s best features, including how to mute a noisy browser tab. Plus, browser settings to change for better privacy and browser extensions that’ll save you money when shopping online.

If you’re looking for a great family gaming console, the Nintendo Switch is a great option. While there are a ton of great single-player games, there are also a lot of family-friendly games that you can play together. Games like Switch Sports and the newest Kirby are perfect for co-op. More competitive games, like Mario Strikers, are also good for creating some friendly contests between you and your mom, dad or siblings.

Assuming you only have one Switch, here are the best multiplayer games that are worth playing with your family, which we keep updated as new titles appear. Remember, this is just a list specifically focused on games that have some sort of family-friendly same-Switch multiplayer mode — for other picks, check out our list of the best Nintendo Switch games. If any strike your fancy, Nintendo sometimes even offers demos through its online storefront.

If you’re looking to do same-room multiplayer gaming, just make sure your Switch is TV dockable. The most recent OLED-screened Switch, like the original TV-connected Switch, are both better family picks than the smaller Switch Lite, which only works in handheld mode, and doesn’t have those useful sharable Joy-Con controllers. (Switch Lite owners could do multiplayer, but you’d need to buy extra controllers and huddle around the tiny screen.)

Note: Most of the links below are for the physical copies of the games, sold via Amazon, Walmart, GameStop and other retailers. You can alternately buy and download all of these directly from the Nintendo eShop, straight from the Switch. Just make sure you have a microSD memory card with ample capacity to store game data.

Read more: Find Your Nintendo Switch Friend Code, Share Screenshots and More Tips

Screenshot by Scott Stein/CNET

Super Mario Strikers: Battle League

Best 8-player sports game

Mario plays soccer (or football) in this update to a Wii classic. The four-on-four matches support up to eight players on a single Switch, making this one of the best options besides Super Smash Bros. for large groups. The fast-paced, chaotic matches can be a little tough to keep track of which player you’re controlling, though. Online leagues give it life beyond same-room multiplayer, too.

Read our Super Mario Strikers review.

$60 at Amazon

Nintendo

Switch Sports

Best active party game

Remember Wii Sports? It’s back, and the six kinetic motion-controlled games on Switch Sports are a lot of fun for same-room two- to four-player gaming, connected to a TV. You should definitely aim for using a TV-docked Switch with this one, and keep in mind that Switch Sports isn’t a game made for handheld playing on the go (although you could play while huddled around the Switch screen with Joy-Con controllers held in-hand, in a pinch). There’s a $40 digital version or a $50 physical version that includes a leg strap you can use with the Soccer game.

Read our Switch Sports review.

$50 at Nintendo

Nintendo

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Best Kirby game on Switch

Kirby, a power-absorbing puffball who’s brightened Nintendo’s multiverse for decades, is one of the most upbeat game characters out there. Nintendo’s latest Kirby game drops the cute pink blob into a 3D platformer that’s full of secrets, fun powers, and a difficulty level that won’t scare off young kids. There are two great Kirby games on the Switch, but I’d put Forgotten Land at the top of your Kirby shopping list.

Read our Kirby and the Forgotten Land review.

$60 at Amazon

Nintendo

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain

Best quick-thinking competition

Years ago, Nintendo had the Brain Age series that was full of math and logic quick-reaction puzzles to “train your brain.” Big Brain Academy was another game in that same tradition. This Nintendo Switch version focuses on two- to four-player competitions over a handful of math, logic and analysis minigames, rewarding quick thinking. The game’s fun, and there’s a daily “test” of your speedy skills as well as chances to try to beat ghosts of others online. Though it feels too short, I’d love to have more games like it on the Switch. Controllers feel like a weird way to interact with some games, but there’s a touchscreen option for two-player head-to-head games too. There’s a free demo on the Nintendo eShop to play before you buy. See if you like it.

$30 at Best Buy

Screenshot by Scott Stein/CNET

WarioWare: Get It Together

Best weird Nintendo party game

WarioWare games, if you’ve never played them, involve surviving rapid waves of strange arcade-like quick-reaction minigames. Get It Together is a collaborative and competitive game for two players (and more in some of the multiplayer modes), with a variety of game modes and arcade-like challenges. If it’s on sale, it’s well worth considering.

Read our WarioWare review.

$44 at Best Buy

$41 at Amazon

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Mario Party Superstars

Best Mario Party reboot

There are two great Mario Party games on the Switch: Super Mario Party was the first, and leans more on motion controls. But Nintendo’s recent remastering of a bunch of classic N64 and GameCube Mario Party game boards, called Mario Party Superstars, is also excellent. The minigames are more button- and controller-focused, which I prefer if I don’t have a lot of room to play. Also, this Mario Party can be played in handheld mode or on the Switch Lite, which you can’t do with Super Mario Party.

$60 at Best Buy

$50 at Amazon

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Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

The best multiplayer Mario platformer

There are plenty of Mario games on the Switch, and a lot of them are listed below. Super Mario 3D World originally was made for the long-gone Wii U, but its mix of local and online multiplayer (up to four players) offers a lot of fun chaos on the Switch. An extra (but short) game called Bowser’s Fury only uses the second player as a helper, but this bonus game’s a welcome extra. If you want even more multiplayer Mario, see New Super Mario Bros. U below. Or for creative Mario, try Super Mario Maker 2.

$60 at Amazon

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Clubhouse Games

Nintendo’s new collection of family board games and retro games bundles 51 surprisingly fun worldwide classics, with online play and local multiplayer. The game also supports local Switch-to-Switch play with a free bridging app. Many games do two-player; a few do three- to four-player. A few games like Bowling are almost like a return to Nintendo’s Wii Sports. It’s a great instructional tool for games like backgammon, chess or even shogi, mahjong and hanafuda, and there’s a lot of stuff to keep entertained over the summer. It’s also equally good on a TV, huddled over one Switch, or played between several Switches.

Read our Clubhouse Games review.

$40 at Best Buy

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has become an absolute phenomenon last year, and for a lot of people it’s now the game to buy a Switch for. The casual, calming, social community game just lasts forever, and a new multiplayer mode allows more than one player to wander around and play at the same time. This co-op game has a lot of ways to connect with other players and friends, too.

Also, Animal Crossing is an ideal multiplayer game for homes where any sort of group play becomes a battle royale. There’s no winning, just planting trees, catching fish and chatting with other players — an ideal video game scenario for the super-stressed. Just be forewarned that you can only make one island per Switch, so get used to sharing.

$60 at Best Buy

$55 at Amazon

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Nintendo

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Fans and newcomers to the Mario Kart series alike will never get tiredof Mario Kart 8. The game’s dozens of tracks are excellent, and local multiplayer with four players can get crowded on a smaller TV, but this Nintendo Switch game is fantastic. It’s one of the very first games that we’d recommend for Switch multiplayer. It also has an online multiplayer mode, so it’s a great game for your kiddos to play with fellow quarantined friends without actual interaction.

Read our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review.

$51 at Best Buy

$55 at Amazon

$42 at eBay

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Super Mario Party

Nintendo’s long-running Mario Party series is like a video board game with a bunch of wacky minigames thrown in. The Switch Nintendo console version also has a rhythm-dancing party game that’s a good little workout, too, and a collaborative game where players paddle down a river together. My family loves this one — it’s just overall an excellent game.

$60 at Amazon

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Overcooked 2 (or Overcooked)

You may get into some arguments, or you may find this builds teamwork. This party cooking game is madness, and it’s a perfect couch co-op game for a single player or for four players at once. Seriously, you’re going to get stressed. But it’s so fun.

$45 at Walmart

$33 at Amazon

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Super Mario Maker 2

Besides being a Mario construction kit and mini-course on game design, not to mention being full of user-made levels to download, four players can play levels together too. Super Mario Maker has an endless fountain of things to try. By the way: if you’re playing directly on the Switch, a basic stylus (seen here) is a great tool to use.

Read our Super Mario Maker 2 review.

$60 at Best Buy

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The Switch’s eight-player multiplayer game has a lot of fighting, but it’s of the cartoon kind. There are a growing number of characters to add to a roster that’s already at 75 and counting. This couch co-op fighting game is another game that allows for online play, or you can join everyone on one screen (it gets crowded).

Read our Smash Bros. Ultimate review.

$60 at Best Buy

$55 at Amazon

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Luigi’s Mansion 3

Nintendo’s version of Ghostbusters, but with Luigi — if you haven’t played, that’s the best way to think of this ridiculously charming, Disney-like haunted house game. A two-player co-op mode works through the whole game and might be the best way to play.

Read our Luigi’s Mansion 3 review.

$60 at Best Buy

$55 at Amazon

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Pikmin 3 Deluxe

Nintendo’s cute planet-exploring and treasure-hunting strategy game, which involves collecting, caring for and using populations of plant-like Pikmin, first came out on the Wii U console years ago. The Switch update adds two-player co-op through the whole game. The open maps encourage teamwork, and a handful of party modes and challenges levels are included too. It’s the best Nintendo franchise you’ve probably never played.

$60 at Amazon

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Yoshi’s Crafted World

Nintendo’s papercraft platformer slightly extends into the third dimension, with a two-player co-op mode. It joins a number of other fun games that are also platformers in Nintendo’s roster, but Yoshi’s challenges are a bit gentler, and more focused on discovering secrets and surprises.

$60 at Amazon

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Fast RMX

A cheaper Mario Kart, or perhaps WipEout for the Switch, this futuristic hover-racing game was an early Switch launch title, and it’s really underrated. It does multiplayer wonderfully.

$20 at Best Buy

$20 at Amazon

Nintendo

Mario Tennis Aces

Mario Tennis is unforgiving. Mario Tennis has lots of characters and enemies. Mario Tennis has online modes, and it’s maybe one of the best Switch sports games. There you go. It’s Mario characters playing tennis with crazy power-ups.

$53 at Best Buy

$50 at Amazon

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Mario Golf: Super Rush

I still prefer Mario Tennis over Mario Golf, but this party-oriented golf game adds some twists that are better in groups. A speed mode (which is why it’s called Super Rush) has players golfing at the same time, even interfering with other people in the game. A battle mode gets even nuttier. The game does two-player split-screen on a single Switch, or four-player turn-based golfing (two players can also play online with others simultaneously on one Switch). There’s also a lengthy single-player adventure mode, too.

Read our Mario Golf: Super Rush hands-on.

$60 at Amazon

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Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

The sequel to an older console Marvel series of games, Ultimate Alliance 3 feels like Diablo or an arcade brawler, but with a roster of dozens of Marvel characters to play. It’s repetitive at times, but the joy of collecting characters is a lot of fun, and you can keep switching your heroes throughout.

Read our Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 review.

$53 at Best Buy

$55 at Amazon

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Snipperclips

Two paper-things solve puzzles together by snipping pieces of each other. Or battling each other with snips. It’s a puzzle game with a lot of different play modes, perfect for two at a time.

$44 at Walmart

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Sega

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2

Tetris 99 is a must-have Tetris battle-royale online game, but Sega’s Tetris game works with four-player battles, and includes Puyo Puyo, which is another puzzle game worth your time. There’s a long story mode, too.

$40 at Amazon

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EA

FIFA 23 (or NBA 2K)

Now that real sports leagues are on hold, either of these franchises are excellent stops to play out the season virtually and challenge your family. Depends on whether you prefer soccer or basketball (I’m picking FIFA here, just based on personal preference).

$20 at GameStop

Ubisoft

Just Dance

If it’s hard to get exercise indoors, Just Dance is an active alternative to Ring Fit Adventure and works with the Switch’s included Joy-Con controllers. You could buy any version of Just Dance and be happy.

$29 at Amazon

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Nintendo

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Super Mario Odyssey is a stellar Switch Mario game, but this remaster of a Wii U classic is the one for four-player action. It’s an old-school, platformer-style Mario game, with an extra Luigi mode that adds harder challenges.

$45 at Best Buy

$48 at Amazon

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Nintendo Labo

Nintendo’s cardboard experiment is still worth a try if you can find it online and have an original TV-docking Switch (the OLED and Lite won’t work with all its parts). The all-cardboard folding construction kit, which takes hours to put together, is like a craft kit and game rolled into one. Once built, the wild inventions in each Labo kit have a ton of extra games and things to tinker with and try. It’s crafting and gaming combined. (While there’s also a very cool Labo VR set that’s worth trying, the original Labo 1 variety kit may be the best package to go for with several kids.)

Read our Nintendo Labo review.

$60 at Amazon

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Minecraft Dungeons

Co-op dungeon-crawling, but with Minecraft. For kids who want a battle experience but aren’t ready for something as intense as, say, Diablo, Minecraft Dungeons is plenty of pixelated fun to play through. It’s a spin-off game, so don’t expect normal Minecraft. But it’s fun on its own terms.

Read our Minecraft Dungeons review.

$44 at Amazon

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NES and SNES classic games (and N64/Genesis, too)

Free with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, from $4 a month, the NES and Super NES games that live on the Switch are actually a great little repository of two-player gaming. Many of the games have two-player modes, which work well in a tabletop Switch mode with Joy-Cons detached, and there’s enough arcade, action and sports stuff to keep kids occupied for hours. Or do high-score battles. It’s not every NES and SNES game we wanted, but it’s a lot. Note: I’d mention the N64 and Sega Genesis games on the Switch as well, which are great, but those require an additional bump-up subscription price that probably isn’t worth it unless you’re a die-hard N64 fan.

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Taito

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends

This couch co-op is a lot of frantic fun for up to four players. The controls and gameplay are simple so that even younger kids can play and the level bosses are just challenging enough to keep things interesting but not impossible. It’s a good option if you’re looking for something to play in short bursts, but it does have 100 levels to get through and Taito will release additional content for download, including new stages and the character Baron von Blubba. The original 1986 version of the game is included, too.

$40 at Amazon

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More Nintendo Switch tips and guides

• If You Break Your Nintendo Switch Like I Did, Here’s How to Fix It
• Best Nintendo Gifts That Aren’t a Nintendo Switch

• Best Nintendo Switch Accessories for 2023
• Best Nintendo Switch Controllers
• 20 Best Animal Crossing: New Horizons Tips for Every Level of Player

The Best Games on Nintendo Switch

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After social distancing pushed a wave of big-budget movies straight to streaming, theatrical exclusives are the norm again. But for a while, it seemed like Disney and other big Hollywood movie studios might be falling into a new post-COVID rhythm for how long they kept flicks in theaters before streaming them, one that was much faster in getting films to a streaming service than before.

Now, though, streaming release dates are all over the map. And for the biggest films, like Marvel’s, the waits are stretching out longer. For Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, that could mean waiting until May.

When is Ant-Man: Quantumania’s streaming release date?

It’s anybody’s guess, but it probably won’t be quick.

Last year, Marvel released three films in theaters: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in May; Thor: Love and Thunder, in July; and Black Panter: Wakanda Forever, in mid-November. Doctor Strange took 47 days to reach Disney Plus. Thor hit Disney Plus 62 days after its theatrical release. But Wakanda Forever took 82 days to start streaming.

In other words, each movie took progressively longer to hit Disney Plus.

The Black Panther sequel marked the longest wait for a Marvel movie to start streaming since the company resumed theatrical exclusives in 2021. (That year, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was in theaters for 70 days and Eternals for 68 days.)

All this comes as big Hollywood companies like Disney aren’t prioritizing streaming-subscriber growth nearly as much as they did, depressing the incentive to bring big movies to a service quickly.

Paramount, for example, kept Top Gun: Maverick off its streaming service for 209 days, nearly seven months. The strategy paid dividends at the box office, with the Top Gun sequel grossing nearly $1.5 billion. While Disney has been much more aggressive than Paramount in putting its movies onto its streaming service quickly, Disney’s trend for Marvel movies has been to hold them back longer in theaters as well.

However, Wakanda Forever may have been held off Disney Plus so long because of a consideration that won’t apply to the next Marvel films coming out this year: With a Black director and predominantly Black cast, Wakanda Forever debuted on Disney Plus on the first day of Black History Month. Disney didn’t mention any connection in the timing, but it’s possible the film’s wait to start streaming was drawn out so its availability coincided with an opportunity to celebrate Black culture.

Still, with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania set to hit theaters next week, you could be waiting about three months to stream it if Disney sticks with Wakanda Forever’s pace. If Ant-Man matches the 82-day duration, it won’t start streaming until the second week of May.

After the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 8 and updated Apple Watch SE, along with the high-end Apple Watch Ultra last fall, you now have a wealth of new wearable options, with occasional Apple Watch deals to sweeten the pot.

The Series 8 starts at $399 in the US — the same as the previous Series 7 — while the new Watch SE starts at $249, which is $30 less than the 2020 model. The rugged Watch Ultra checks in at $799. The size and shape of the Series 8 and new Watch SE models remains largely the same as the models they replace, but they boast a couple of new health and safety features under the hood, with a temperature sensor and car-crash detection.

Right now, you can save $30 on the latest Series 8 and $9 on Watch SE models. It’s getting harder to find the previous Series 7 models in stock — Amazon has some, but not at prices that would sway you from buying the latest Series 8 at its current discount, unless you’re looking for a used model.

Best Apple Watch deals

Apple

Apple Watch Series 8: From $369

Save $30 vs. Apple Store

Amazon has the best prices for the latest Apple Watch Series 8. You can save $30 on either the 41mm or 45mm models in select colors right now. If you’re interested in the latest and greatest, this is the best Apple Watch deal for you.

Read our Apple Watch Series 8 review.

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Apple Watch SE (2022): From $240

Save $9 vs. Apple Store

Apple’s affordable Watch SE is now more affordable. When not on sale, the new 40mm model starts at $249 and the 44mm model starts at $279 — each is $30 less than the equivalent 2020 model. With the new S8 processor, the updated Watch SE will run 20% faster than the previous SE, according to Apple. The new SE also gets the temperature sensor and car-crash detection features as the Series 8. You can save a meager $9 on either size of the Watch SE at Amazon right now, which is the only discount we see for it right now.

Read our Apple Watch SE (2022) review.

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Apple Watch Ultra: From $799

No discounts currently available

The Apple Watch Ultra is the biggest, priciest Apple Watch to date (aside from the precious-metal Edition models). It features a 49mm titanium case, a sapphire flat front crystal and a brighter display (2,000 nits). There’s a new dedicated second button, an improved speaker and a bigger battery. Apple promises the Ultra will run for 36 hours of full-power use, ramping up to 60-plus hours in reduced-function low power mode. Cellular is also the only model it comes in. The Ultra was $50 off last month at Amazon and Best Buy, but has returned to full price in the new year.

Read our Apple Watch Ultra review.

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Apple Watch Series 7: From $385

Save $15 compared to Series 8

The Series 7 is getting harder and harder to find in stock. Amazon has more used than new models for sale, and the discounts on the models in new condition aren’t enough to make sense choosing the Series 7 or the latest Series 8. While the Series 7 lacks the temperature sensor of the new Series 8, it does have a number of useful health features, including blood-oxygen saturation measurements and the ability to take electrocardiogram measurements. It also features an always-on display.

Read our Apple Watch Series 7 review.

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An Xbox Game Pass subscriptionis almost essential for Xbox owners. The service, which runs $10 to $15 a month, not only includes a large, ever-changing catalog of games to download and play, but also bundles access to online multiplayer services. Each month, Microsoft adds new games to the service, and in November, an indie hit is leading the pack.

Read more: Best Game Subscription Services

If you’re on the fence about Game Pass, or just looking for some suggestions about what to play, below are some recent and classic favorites on the service.

Madden NFL 23 might not be the best-reviewed Madden games, but it made its way to Game Pass for PC and Xbox consoles just days before Super Bowl LVII. Subscribers can find out for themselves if the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs will win the big game before this Sunday, although a simulation of the game predicts the Eagles will win 31-17.

New and noteworthy

• Madden NFL 23
• Monster Hunter Rise
• Persona 3 Portable
• Persona 4 Golden

Xbox Series X

$500 at Amazon

Recent hits

• Forza Horizon 5
• Pentiment
• As Dusk Falls
• Citizen Sleeper
• A Plague Tale: Requiem

• Death’s Door
• Farming Simulator 22 (no, really)
• Sea of Thieves
• Deathloop
• Halo Infinite
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Outer Wilds
• Psychonauts 2
• Vampire Survivors

• Tetris Effect: Connected

Read more: Best Cloud Gaming Services

Xbox Series S

$276 at Amazon

Must-play classics

• Assassin’s Creed Origins (and AC: Odyssey)
• Batman: Arkham Knight
• Dishonored 2
• Dead by Daylight
• Fallout 76
• Doughnut County
• Skyrim
• Grim Fandango

PC gaming picks

• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

• Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
• Solasta: Crown of the Magister
• Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
• Expeditions: Rome
• Wasteland 3

We’ll keep this list updated with new additions and new staff suggestions. You can also check out our picks for the best games on PlayStation Plus.

Dan Ackerman/CNET

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Best for multiplatform gaming

Game Pass has evolved far beyond its Xbox-bound origins to become a subscription that delivers something for everyone who plays games, and now encompasses console and PC game downloads, access to online multiplayer services, a deal with gaming giant EA and a cloud-based service that streams games to nearly any device.

Microsoft offers several versions, but because of how the features are sliced up between them, only the $15-per-month Ultimate plan, with all the benefits detailed above, really makes sense. Read our Xbox Game Pass review.

$15 at Microsoft

Love, Vikings and revenge are some of the most popular themes in anime this February. A limited screening of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War — The First Kiss That Never Ends hits theaters on Valentine’s Day, but you can indulge in plenty of adventure, action or lighthearted anime right at home.

Here’s a look at what to stream this month on Crunchyroll, Netflix and other streaming services.

Read more: Best Anime Streaming Services for 2023

Yasuhiro Nightow, Shonengahosha, Crunchyroll

Trigun Stampede

The Trigun Stampede reboot hit Crunchyroll on Jan. 7 and features Vash the Stampede, Millions Knives, Rem Saverem and a character called Roberto de Niro on a new set of adventures. The 12 episodes air on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. PT (11:30 a.m. ET).

See at Crunchyroll

Aggretsuko Season 5

Nothing says love like heavy metal and red pandas. Retsuko is back to complete her journey in this final installment of Aggretsuko. Who will she wind up with in the love department? Is she going to go into politics? Stream the last season on Netflix, and make sure to turn up the volume to catch the death metal vibes.

My Hero Academia Season 6

Shigaraki seems unstoppable on his latest rage-filled mayhem mission, and the stakes are high for our beloved Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, U.A. High and the pro superheroes. New quirks, new challenges and a new war will keep you glued to My Hero Academia. This season is a must-see, and the show airs on Hulu or Crunchyroll on Saturdays at 2:30 a.m. PT (5:30 a.m. ET) with the dubbed version dropping at 12 p.m. PT (3 p.m. ET). Watch the latest installment into March 2023.

NieR: Automata Ver1.1a

An adaptation based on the video game NieR: Automata, the new anime series takes viewers to the year 5012, when aliens nearly wiped out humans. Androids help mankind in their fight to reclaim the planet, which is full of curious and unusual phenomena. The series launched Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. PT (12:30 p.m. ET) on Crunchyroll and is made up of two parts that are 12 episodes each.

Vinland Saga Season 2

After leaving viewers with a cliff-hanger in season 1, Vinland Saga returned on Jan. 9. Follow Thorfinn on a new quest, where he seeks salvation and peace after Askeladd’s death. Praised for its dynamic characters and Viking-themed storytelling, the series streams new episodes on Netflix and Crunchyroll each Monday.

Ken Wakui, Kodansha, Toman via Twitter

Tokyo Revengers Season 2

The popular anime series returned to TV on Jan. 7 with the Christmas Showdown arc. The story dives into the beef between the Tokyo Manji Gang and the Black Dragons. Watch Takemichi, Hakkai and Taiju maneuver and fight when Tokyo Revengers streams on Hulu.

See at Hulu

Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre

This anime anthology is adapted from Junji Ito’s popular horror manga, and landed on Netflix in January. Watch stories like Hanging Balloon come to life on the small screen, along with more than 15 other tales. If you missed it last month, stream all 18 episodes in season 1 now.

Tomo-chan Is a Girl!

If you want to check out a rom-com this month, get into Tomo-chan Is a Girl! on Crunchyroll. The story follows Tomo, a tomboy who’s crushing on her childhood friend Junichiro. He looks at her only like one of his bros, and she has trouble revealing her feelings. The series airs each Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on Crunchyroll.

To Your Eternity Season 2

To Your Eternity comes back with more melancholy and compelling storytelling about Fushi’s struggles as a shape-shifting immortal. This time, he can’t keep his commitment to solitude when he faces the Nokkers and needs help to do it. To Your Eternity season 2 features 20 episodes and began streaming on Crunchyroll on Oct. 23 at 5:30 a.m. PT (8:30 a.m. ET). The series will wrap on March 5.

Tōzai/Nexus screenshot via YouTube

The Eminence in Shadow

Don’t be fooled by the dark imagery in the trailer for The Eminence in Shadow, because the series falls in the lighthearted lane. Follow the coolest kid on the block, Cid Kagenou, on his quest to protect the world with his imaginary shadow organization against imaginary bad guys, the Cult of Diabolos. He’s not completely off-base, though, and that works to his advantage as he recruits others to his cause. Adapted fromDaisuke Aizawa’s manga, the new series is available to stream on Hidive on Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. PT (10:30 a.m. ET). Season 1 began Oct. 5 and will feature 20 episodes that wrap on Feb. 15.

See at Hidive

Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series Part 2

Ash and Pikachu head to the world championships while Goh gears up for the final stages of Project Mew. To see the beloved characters, stream part 2 when it drops on Netflix on Feb. 24.

Spy Classroom

One of the newest anime series to be adapted from its manga, Spy Classroom follows up-and-coming spy Lily, who’s motivated to show she has what it takes. It won’t be easy to be on Team Tomoshibi, and even harder to take down Impossible Mission. You can start streaming the show on Hidive on Jan. 5 and watch it each Thursday at 6:30 a.m. PT (9:30 a.m. ET).

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague

Continuing with the rom-com theme this February, you can check out this budding-workplace-romance anime about Himuro and Fuyutsuki. Himuro is descended from a snow spirit and has supernatural powers that can create icy weather around him. He falls for his co-worker, Fuyutsuki, who has a natural ability to keep him calm. Their colleagues’ love lives are just as interesting. Stream the new series on Crunchyroll.

P.A. Works, Crunchyroll

Buddy Daddies

If you enjoyed Spy x Family, you’ll probably want to check out the new original anime series Buddy Daddies. Animated by PA Works, the story follows two hitmen who happen to be roommates and wind up caring for the young daughter of a kingpin. Start streaming it on Crunchyroll on Jan. 6.

See at Crunchyroll

The world’s largest online retailer in January released its latest feature for Amazon Prime members — a monthly prescription drug service called RxPass that provides generic medications for more than 80 ailments, all for $5 a month. The new perk is the latest in a long line of lesser known Amazon Prime benefits.

For example, Amazon Prime members can actually get deliveries much faster than two days, sometimes in a few hours. You can also schedule delivery dates for convenience or to avoid times when you’ll be away from home. And you even get exclusive deals simply by using Alexa on an Amazon Echo.

If you’re not a member yet and you’re thinking about signing up for an Amazon Prime account or don’t know much about all of the included features, read on for some ways you can get the most out of the membership. Plus, these are the best movies to watch on Prime Video, and the best TV shows included in your Prime membership, too.

All your prescriptions for $5 a month

Announced in early 2023, Amazon’s RxPass could be a sweet deal for those with monthly prescriptions. For just $5 a month (which is on top of your existing Prime membership fee), you can get all your qualified medications covered — and they’ll be delivered to your door. That means if you’re currently paying more than $5 a month for your combined medications, this add-on subscription could save you money. If you’re already a Prime member, sign up for RxPass under the Amazon Pharmacy section.

You can get free same-day delivery on qualifying items

If there’s a product you want immediately, you can see if it’s available for delivery the same day you order. To check a product’s eligibility, look for delivery that’s marked as “Prime FREE Same-Day” while shopping. Note that your order will need to contain over $35 of qualifying items. If not, you’ll have to pay a small fee.

Amazon will deliver from morning until evening, so you won’t have to worry about receiving your order at 3 a.m. However, same-day delivery isn’t available in all locations, so enter your ZIP code on the Amazon Same-Day Delivery page to see if you’re eligible.

Alexa offers extra discounts when you shop with an Echo

You can use your Amazon Echo to ask “Alexa, what are my deals?” anytime. Alexa will then share Prime-exclusive deals and you’ll have the option to add the item to your cart, buy it now or move on to the next deal.

Schedule convenient shipping dates for packages

Everyone knows about Amazon’s free two-day shipping, but another option is to choose a delivery date during checkout. It’s called Amazon Day and it’s helpful if there’s a specific day you know someone will be at home to answer for packages — especially if it’s something pricey that you don’t want to risk leaving unattended.

If you order multiple items on different days, you can have them delivered on the same day as long as they’re eligible for this offer.

Use your Amazon Echo to track packages

If you have an Amazon Echo of any kind, you can use it to track your orders.

Just say “Alexa, where’s my package?” and your Echo will let you know where it is, who it’s for and when it’ll arrive. Once your order has been delivered, the Echo’s ring light will pulse yellow and if you have the Echo Show, the delivery notification will appear on the screen.

Shop Early Access deals before non-Prime members

If something you’ve been eyeing says “Prime Early Access,” as a Prime member you can shop that sale 30 minutes before non-Prime members. However, you’ll still have to compete with other Prime members who are interested in the product before it sells out.

Have Amazon deliver your package inside your house

When you know you’re not going to be home for a while and you’ve got a shipment on the way, it’s much safer to have an Amazon employee leave your items inside your house to avoid theft.

For in-home delivery, you’ll need a Key-compatible smart lock and an (optional) Amazon Cloud Cam. The Amazon driver will send you a notification when they’ve arrived at your house and will request to unlock your door. Amazon will verify the package is at the right address and the driver is near the door, then will turn on Amazon Cloud Cam and unlock your door.

If you’re wary of letting a complete stranger into your home, keep in mind that you’ll also receive notifications during the entire process. Note that you can opt to block delivery access to your home — for example, if you know you’ll be home during that time.

You can also get Amazon packages delivered to your garage

“Porch pirates” — thieves who steal packages left in front of homes — are no joke. Security site SafeWise told CNET that about 260 million packages were stolen from home exteriors in 2022. The Amazon Key in-garage delivery service can stop porch theft completely and is free for all Amazon Prime members.

When you use Amazon In-Garage Delivery, select Key Delivery at checkout. The garage kit is $29 right now and turns your garage into a smart garage. It works the same as in-home delivery so Amazon will do all the verifying for you.

Send gifts to other Prime members, even without addresses

An Amazon Prime feature lets you send someone a gift, even if you don’t have their address. For instance, if you’d like to send a coworker something for the holidays or their birthday but don’t know what their address is, you can still send a gift. But there’s a catch — that person must also have a Prime account and you need either their phone number or email address associated with the account.

Just note that not every item on Amazon is eligible.

Share Amazon Prime perks with your family

If you’ve got another adult living in your household, like a significant other or friend, you can share your Prime membership with them. You’ll still be able to keep your personal accounts separate, but you’ll both have access to all the same Prime benefits.

You can also share your account with up to four teens and up to four children in your household. While they’ll have their own logins, you can still manage their profiles.

For more shopping tips, here’s how to send your Amazon packages back the fast, easy and free way.

Microsoft Bing faces a big problem: Google utterly eclipses search engine. But Bing has a chance to grab more attention for itself with the OpenAI‘s language technology, the artificial intelligence foundation that’s made the ChatGPT service a huge hit.

For the brainier Bing to work, though, Microsoft has to get the details right. ChatGPT can be useful, but it can be flaky, too, and nobody wants a search engine they can’t trust.

Microsoft has put a lot of thought and its own programming resources into the challenge. It’s wrestled with issues like how AI-powered Bing shows ads, reveals its data sources, and grounds the AI technology in reality so you get trustworthy results, not the digital hallucinations that can be hard to spot in machine-generated information.

I spoke to Jordi Ribas, leader of Bing search and AI, to dig more deeply into the overhauled Bing search engine. He’s a big enough fan that he used the technology to help him write his boss a memo about it. “It probably saved me two to three hours,” he said, and it improved the Spanish executive’s English, too.

When the technology expands beyond today’s very small test group, it’ll let millions of us dig for much more complicated information, like whether an Ikea loveseat will fit into your car. And we’ll all be able to see whether it truly gives Google a run for its money. But for now, are seven aspects of Bing AI that I learned.

Bing AI isn’t just a repackaged version of ChatGPT

Microsoft blends its Bing search engine with the large language model technology from OpenAI, the AI lab that built the ChatGPT tool that’s fired up excitement about AI and that Microsoft invested in. You can get ChatGPT-like results using Bing’s “chat” option — for example, “Write a short essay on the importance of Taoism.” But for other queries, Bing and OpenAI technology are blended through an orchestration system Microsoft calls Prometheus.

For instance, you can Bing, “I like the band Led Zeppelin. What other musicians should I listen to?” OpenAI first paraphrases that prompt to “bands similar to Led Zeppelin,” then repackages Bing search results in a bulleted list. Each suggestion, like Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones, comes with a two-sentence description.

Bing AI cites its sources — sometimes

When you give ChatGPT a prompt, it’ll respond with text it generates, but it won’t tell you where it got that information. The AI system is trained on vast amounts of the information on the internet, but it’s hard to draw a direct line between that training data and ChatGPT’s output.

On Bing, though, factual information is often annotated, because Bing knows the source from its indexing of the web. For example, in the Led Zeppelin prompt above, Bing includes a link at the top of its answer to a Musicaroo post, 13 Bands That Sound Like Led Zeppelin, and includes that link and others from MusicalMum and Producer Hive.

That sourcing transparency helps address a big criticism of AI, making it easier to evaluate whether the response is accurate or a mere AI hallucination. But it doesn’t always appear. In the essay on Taoism above, for example, there aren’t any sources, footnotes or links at all.

Some source links are ads that make Microsoft money

The Bing AI’s elaborate answers provide a new way for Microsoft to generate money from ads. In traditional Bing searches, the “organic” search results that Bing judges to be most relevant are separate from items placed by advertisers. But with Bing AI searches, the two types of information can be blended.

For example, in its response to the query “plan me a one-week trip to Iceland without a rental car,” AI-powered Bing suggests several destinations. In one of them, several words are underlined: “You can visit places like Vík, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon by joining a multi-day tour or taking a bus.” Hovering over that link shows three sources for that information and an ad from a tour company. The advertisement is the top item of the three and is labeled “ad.”

“When you look at those citations, sometimes they are ads,” Ribas said. “When it’s more of a purchasing intent query, you hover over it and you’ll see the list of the references and sometimes it’s an ad. Then sometimes in the conversation itself, you’re going to see product ads, like if you do a hotel query.”

Ad revenue is a big deal, since it takes weeks of work on an enormous cluster of computers for OpenAI to build a single update to its language model, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman estimates it costs a few cents to process each ChatGPT prompt. Bing, even though it’s a distant second to Google in the search engine market, still handles millions of queries a day.

Google plans to open access to its Bard AI chatbot soon, but it won’t be including ads to begin with.

OpenAI-boosted results are more relevant than plain old Bing

The fundamental measure of a search engine’s usefulness is whether its results are relevant, and the OpenAI technology brings a huge boost in the measurement that Microsoft uses to score its search engine results’ relevance.

“My team, working super, super hard in a given year, might move that metric by one point,” Ribas said, but OpenAI’s technology boosted it three points in one fell swoop. “It’s just never happened before in the history of Bing,” Ribas said.

That relevance boost is just for ordinary search results, Ribas added. OpenAI’s technology can further improve Bing with its chat interface that offers more elaborate answers and a follow-up exchange.

OpenAI makes Bing better with languages besides English

One particular area where Bing has been weak is searches that aren’t in English, and Ribas said OpenAI helps there. A lot of Bing’s three-point gain in relevance scoring “came from international markets,” Ribas said.

OpenAI’s large language model, or LLM, is trained with text from 100 languages. “Catalan is my first language. I can have a dialogue in Catalan. It works really, really well,” Ribas said

Bing brings OpenAI’s results up to date

Large language models like OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, the foundation for ChatGPT, are slow to build and improve, which means they don’t move at the speed of the web or of conventional search engines. GPT-3.5, for example, was trained in 2021, so it doesn’t have any idea about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the effects of recent inflation on consumers, or Xi Jinping securing his third term as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Bing often does know this more recent information, though. “When you bring in the Bing results, then you will get fresh results on that complete answer,” Ribas said.

Bing ‘grounds’ OpenAI’s flights of fancy

Microsoft uses its Bing data to try to avoid situations where OpenAI’s more creative technology could lead people astray. The more factual a query and answer are, the more Bing’s technology is used in the answer, Ribas said. This “grounding” significantly reduces AI’s problems with making stuff up: “It will reduce hallucination, which is … an ongoing battle,” Ribas said.

But Microsoft doesn’t want its grounding system to squash all the magic out of the AI. There’s a reason ChatGPT has been so captivating. The Prometheus system decides on the priorities for each query.

“We had to find the sweet spot between over-grounding the model and keeping it interesting,” Ribas said. “We have a measurement of the interestingness of the results, and we have a measurement for the groundedness of the results. The more the query is looking for something very factual, the more we weight the grounded. The more the query is supposed to be creative, the less we weight the grounded. I kept telling my team, I want my cake and eat it too.”

Playing Hogwarts Legacy instantly reminds me few fictional worlds are as bewitching as Harry Potter’s. In 1998, my mum handed me a copy of Philosopher’s Stone — published under the lesser name Sorcerer’s Stone in the US — and the mystery of that opening chapter awakened a sense of wonder. I was hooked for life.

Or so I thought. After the core book series wrapped up and there were no more movie adaptations coming, my emotional connection diminished. The overstuffed spinoffs, along with author J.K. Rowling’s inflammatory comments about transgender people, sucked the remaining fun out of the franchise, and I figured it was time to move on.

Hogwarts Legacy

$70 at Best Buy

All that baggage fell away as soon as I started Hogwarts Legacy, which hit PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S and PC on Friday (it arrives on other consoles in the coming months). This open-world action RPG game, developed by Avalanche Software, is designed to let us live out our fantasies of enrolling at the iconic School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a new student.

Having played the PS5 version for 12 hours, it captures the wonder of the early books, with an intriguing original narrative, engagingly varied gameplay and intricately designed world to explore.

Back to basics

The game sidesteps the narrative restrictions of Harry’s story by jumping way back in the timeline, to the 1890s. After creating your character, you’re whisked off on a brief opening adventure before reaching the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Even though you’re a new student, you’re starting your magical career a little late and enroll as a fifth year. That’s presumably because having a wide-eyed first year, just 11 years old, explore dangerous caves, learn dangerous spells and battle dark wizards would feel kinda weird.

The customization options are a key element in living out your wizarding world fantasy, and they’re a joy. You can choose your character’s gender and appearance. Then you’ll pick and alter your wand (don’t worry, the one you start the game with is a loaner) and broom.

You also get sorted into a Hogwarts house (Slytherin FTW), based on a series of questions you’ll answer shortly after arriving at the school, but you can have a do-over if the initial selection isn’t to your liking.

The house you end up in doesn’t seem to change much beyond the common room, your uniform and some throwaway lines. Though teachers mention house points in some classes, you won’t actually be competing for them in the game.

Your education is occasionally interrupted by the main story, which focuses on your connection to mysterious ancient magic and a sinister dark wizard in league with the intense leader of a goblin rebellion — these baddies sport the excellent names of Victor Rookwood and Ranrok, respectively. It’s an absorbing narrative that expands this universe’s lore nicely, especially when it hints at events further back in the timeline, but sometimes fades into the background amidst all the game’s other distractions.

Living in a wizarding world

The development team’s love for Harry Potter is apparent in every aspect of Hogwarts Legacy, but shines most brightly in the world and its characters. Every teacher, student and location feels distinct and real, with a peppering of familiar names like Weasley and Black to make fans feel comfortable.

Each character is richly written, cleverly voiced — Simon Pegg plays the unpleasant headmaster — and visually diverse, so talking to them and learning about their backgrounds is fascinating. (It’s frustrating that you can’t pause during cutscenes though.) This characterisation is woven through the main story and its side quests, which range from investigating one of the castle’s mysteries and sneakily grabbing potion ingredients to wandering into a dangerous cave.

These are varied and fun in terms of gameplay, exploration and puzzle-solving, but feel even more worthwhile since they present opportunities to learn more about the quest-givers and world. And teenage tomfoolery, like sneaking into the library in the dead of night with the help of an invisibility charm, just feels like vintage Harry Potter.

Your customized avatar’s voice acting is solid, but occasionally a bit flat — like you’re overly polite or reserved. That’s preferable to listening to a realistic teenager, though. The character models are convincing enough, but the eyes sometimes move unnaturally and feel unnerving.

The world is sumptuously designed too, particularly in the beautifully gothic Hogwarts, with its moving paintings, chatty gargoyles and fascinating student banter. Every inch is begging to be explored, with heaps of collectibles and Easter eggs to discover — you hear a satisfying hint of the John Williams theme when you pick up certain items. The nearby village of Hogsmeade isn’t quite as big, but it’s still full of fun diversions.

The colorful rolling hills, plains and hamlets that make up the rest of the world can feel a little bland by comparison, despite their Elder Scrolls vibes.

The game’s technical limitations are occasionally evident as you dash around the environment too; sometimes assets will pop up at the edge of your screen and doors will appear to be stuck as the area beyond loads. It never felt game-breaking, but might briefly shake your sense of immersion. I fell through the scenery and died while wandering outside the castle once too — luckily the game had autosaved seconds beforehand and the glitch didn’t repeat.

Tricks of the magical trade

The multifaceted nature of your wizarding unfolds gradually through Hogwarts Legacy’s early hours. Your character starts out with the most basic dueling skills and spells, but the way you flick out spells with your wand gives combat a unique, kinetic flow.

You block incoming attacks with a magical shield and dodge bigger ones. The combat is similar to that seen in the Batman: Arkham and Spider-Man games, but with a sorcery aesthetic. It’s immediately gratifying, to the point where you’ll be hankering for magical battles.

Once you get to Hogwarts, you’ll learn new spells and skills in classes like Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions and Herbology. Crucially, the flow of quests gives you time to get comfortable with each new ability before introducing another — you’ll attend a class and then use what you’ve learnt in a few story missions or side quests.

The game encourages you to use every tool in your arsenal, instead getting comfortable with a few basic combos and relying on them to get through every battle. You’ll be playing for a few hours before the skill trees are unlocked, but you’ll likely have a sense of your preferred combat style by then. Pretty much everything you do gives you experience points too, so you’ll level up at a steady clip.

There’s also a constant flow of new gear that’ll enhance your attack and defense, in addition to changing your character’s look. You can also apply the appearance of any previous clothing to new ones, so you aren’t stuck looking ridiculous just because a certain item has higher stats.

Annoyingly, inventory limits add needless friction to exploration — you can find new gear but be unable to pick it up. It’s irritating to have to fast travel to Hogsmeade to sell off excess items while wandering around the castle. You can increase your inventory with certain side quests, at least.

A joyous school reunion

Thankfully, Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t lean too hard into its school setting — you won’t have to adhere to a rigid schedule. Instead, you attend class to advance the narrative and add new gameplay elements rather than going because you have to.

The world opens up in a big way once you finish your first flying lesson and get your own broom. There’s a bit of a learning curve to soaring above it all, but it’s exhilarating and highlights the scope of the playing area.

Hogwarts Legacy evokes the same magic as the first book’s opening chapter and simpler time for the franchise, letting you explore a beautifully realized world, meet a fascinating cast of characters and embark on your own wizarding career. It’s the Harry Potter game fans have been dreaming of for decades.

Harry Potter NYC in photos: A slice of Hogwarts tucked away in Manhattan

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Netflix, for years, was notoriously tight-lipped about its viewership. But after a few years of dropping stats for some of its programming, Netflix launched a website in mid-November posting charts of its most popular shows and movies from the past week, as well as a global ranking of its all-time most watched titles.

The charts, which are updated every week and ranked by the total number of hours that subscribers spent watching them, represent an unprecedented trove of data about what’s popular on Netflix. The site details the most popular titles in the last week not only globally but also for more than 90 countries. And it’s meant to help subscribers like you get a better sense of the biggest hits on the world’s largest subscription streaming service, in the hopes you’ll discover something new to watch.

The company updates its weekly “Top 10 on Netflix” every Tuesday, based on hours viewed from Monday through Sunday the previous week for original and licensed titles. Netflix’s rankings are broken down into top 10 charts for films in English, TV in English, films in non-English languages and TV in non-English languages.

A ranking of all-time most watched titles also lives on the site, detailing shows that have the most viewing hours in their first 28 days of release. Netflix also has these split into films in English, TV in English, films in non-English languages and TV in non-English languages — but for our charts below, we don’t differentiate between language.

If a new season releases its episodes in two parts on different dates, Netflix counts the watch time of the first volume’s episodes for their first 28 days, then it counts the watch time of the second volume’s episodes for their first 28 days. These all-time rankings are also updated every Tuesday, whenever any programs make it into the charts during the week prior.

Why the all-time rankings don’t include You or You People (yet)

Shows and movies need sustained popularity in many countries to crack into the all-time most watched charts. That means you can see titles with “Top 10” badges in Netflix’s app for days, but they still may not be generating enough hours of viewing to make the all-time rankings.

For example, the first half of You‘s fourth season came out Thursday. Netflix’s popular psychological thriller about a serial killer has gained viewing hours with each subsequent season, but season four’s viewership stats won’t show up until next week’s report.

You People, a romantic-comedy movie, has generated 121.3 million hours of watch time in just its first 10 days. But TV shows need to eclipse half a billion hours to make it onto the all-time list, and films need more than 200 million.

Even the most popular shows and movies need multiple weeks and enduring attention to accumulate enough.

Netflix’s most watched TV shows, ranked

The following are Netflix’s most watched series, based on Netflix’s own reporting of total hours viewed in the first 28 days of each titles’ release. Again, if a new season releases its episodes in two volumes on different dates, Netflix counts the watch time of the first volume’s episodes for their first 28 days, then it counts the watch time of the second volume’s episodes for their first 28 days.

Any changes in the rankings from the previous week are in bold text.

1. Squid Game (season 1), a Korean survival thriller — 1.65 billion hours.

2. Stranger Things (season 4), a retro sci-fi series — 1.35 billion hours.
3. Wednesday, a coming-of-age supernatural dark comedy — 1.24 billion hours
4. Dahmer, a true-crime serial killer series — 856.2 million hours.

5. Money Heist (part 5), a Spanish-language thriller — 792.2 million hours.
6. Bridgerton (season 2), a period romance — 656.3 million hours.
7. Bridgerton (season 1) — 625.5 million hours.
8. Money Heist (part 4) — 619 million hours.
9. Stranger Things (season 3), a retro sci-fi series — 582.1 million hours.
10. Lucifer (season 5), a fantasy police procedural — 569.5 million hours.
11. All of Us Are Dead, a Korean zombie thriller taking place in a high school — 560.8 million hours.
12. The Witcher (season 1), a fantasy show — 541 million hours.
13. Inventing Anna, a true-crime limited series about a fake socialite — 511.9 million hours
14. Ginny & Georgia (season 2), a mother-daughter dramedy — 504.8 million hours.

Former top-ranking shows that have been bumped out of Netflix’s official all-time charts:

• 13 Reasons Why (season 2), a controversial teen drama — 496.1 million hours.
• Ozark (season 4), a crime drama series — 491.1 million hours.
• The Witcher (season 2) — 484.3 million hours.
• 13 Reasons Why (season 1) — 475.6 million hours
• Maid, a limited series about a young mother fleeing abuse — 469.1 million hours.
• You (season 3), a psychological thriller — 467.8 million hours.
• You (season 2) — 457.4 million hours.
• Stranger Things (season 2) — 427.4 million hours.
• Money Heist (part 3) — 426.4 million hours.
• Sex Education (season 3), a British teen dramedy — 419 million hours.
• Ginny & Georgia (season 1), a dramedy about a young mom and kids — 381 million hours.
• Extraordinary Attorney Woo (season 1), a South Korean legal drama — 402.5 million hours.

• Café con Aroma de Mujer (season 1), a Colombian telenovela — 326.9 million hours.

• Lupin (part 1), a French heist show — 316.8 million hours.
• Elite (season 3), a Spanish teen drama — 275.3 million hours.

• Who Killed Sara? (season 1), a Mexican mystery thriller — 266.4 million hours.
• Elite (season 4) — 257.1 million hours.
• The Queen of Flow (season 2), a musical Colombian telenovela — 230.3 million hours.

• Lupin (part 2) — 214.1 million hours.
• Dark Desire (season 1), a Mexican dramatic thriller — 213 million hours.

Netflix’s most watched movies, ranked

The following are Netflix’s most watched movies, based on Netflix’s own reporting of total hours viewed in the first 28 days of each titles’ release. Any changes are in bold text.

1. Red Notice, an action movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds — 364 million hours.
2. Don’t Look Up, a dark comedy with a star-packed cast — 359.8 million hours.
3. Bird Box, a post-apocalyptic movie starring Sandra Bullock — 282 million hours.
4. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a whodunit sequel — 279.7 million hours.
5. The Gray Man, a CIA action thriller — 253.9 million hours.
6. The Adam Project, a sci-fi adventure comedy — 233.2 million hours.

7. Extraction, an action movie starring Chris Hemsworth — 231.3 million hours.
8. Purple Hearts, a romantic drama about a musician marrying a Marine — 228.7 million hours.
9. The Unforgivable, a drama about a woman rebuilding her life after prison — 214.7 million hours.
10. The Irishman, a period Mafia epic directed by Martin Scorsese — 214.6 million hours.

Former top-ranking movies that have been bumped out of Netflix’s official all-time charts:

• The Kissing Booth 2, a teen rom-com sequel — 209.3 million hours.
• 6 Underground, a Michael Bay explosion-fest starring Ryan Reynolds — 205.5 million hours.
• Spenser Confidential, an action-comedy starring Mark Wahlberg — 197.3 million hours.

• Enola Holmes, a period detective film — 189.9 million hours.
• Army of the Dead, a heist set in a zombie apocalypse — 187 million hours.

• The Old Guard, an action-thriller starring Charlize Theron — 186 million hours.
• Murder Mystery, a comedy starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston — 170 million hours.

Netflix appears to have never released a non-English-language film that generated enough viewing hours to make it into an overall top-watched ranking. But additional widely watched non-English language movies on Netflix have included:

• Troll, a Norwegian monster movie — 155.6 million hours.
• Blood Red Sky, a German/British action horror film set during a plane hijacking — 110.5 million hours.
• The Platform, a Spanish social commentary wrapped in a horror film — 108.1 million hours.
• All Quiet on the Western Front, a German war drama — 101.4 million hours.
• Black Crab, a Swedish apocalyptic war thriller starring Noomi Rapace — 94.1 million hours.
• Through My Window, a Spanish teen romance — 92.4 million hours.
• The Takedown, a French cop comedy — 78.6 million hours.
• Below Zero, a Spanish action thriller about a breakout from a prison transport vehicle — 78.3 million hours.
• My Name is Vendetta, an Italian crime/action film — 68.7 million hours.
• Loving Adults, a Danish thriller about an extramarital affair — 67.3 million hours.

Former top-ranking non-English movies that have been bumped out of the non-English top 10 include:

• Rogue City, a French action thriller about an unorthodox team of cops — 66.6 million hours.
• Carter, a South Korean action thriller about a man who wakes up with no memories and a voice in his ear — 65.4 million hours

• The Forgotten Battle, a Dutch World War II film — 60.9 million hours.
• Restless, a French action thriller — 59.1 million hours.
• Lost Bullet, like a Fast & Furious movie but French — 58.3 million hours
• Spoiled Brats, a French comedy about rich siblings tricked into earning their own living — 56.9 million hours.
• #Alive, a South Korean movie about a gamer’s bid to survive the zombie apocalypse — 54.6 million hours.
• Space Sweepers, a South Korean space western with a weaponized child-android — 53.3 million hours
• The Last Mercenary, a French action movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme — 52.1 million hours.
• Just Another Christmas, a Brazilian Christmas comedy — 48 million hours.