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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, May 31 (game #1223).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

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

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

Quordle today (game #1224) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1224) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1224) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1224) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1224) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• M

• W

• A

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

Quordle today (game #1224) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1224, are…

• POINT
• MERIT
• WHOOP
• APHID

On the surface WHOOP may look like a tricky word to get, but there are two reasons behind why I saw it immediately.

Firstly, with an H, O, and P all with limited places to go, a word ending  H-O-O-P seemed the most likely possibility. Secondly, when you play Quordle and its many variants for a while, a few words recur more than others and WHOOP is one of them. 

It still feels like magic when you get strange words like “whoop” correct, though. Worthy of a small “whoop!” at least.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1224) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1224, are…

• GLOAT
• LADLE
• ALIKE
• VOUCH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
• Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
• Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
• Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP
• Quordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEAN
• Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLAR
• Quordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPER
• Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
• Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
• Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
• Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE
• Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNY
• Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE
• Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK
• Quordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKE
• Quordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKER
• Quordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARN
• Quordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READY

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, May 31 (game #454).

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #455) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… All rise

NYT Strands today (game #455) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• RATION
• THIN
• YOUR
• ATOM
• COIN
• BROOM

NYT Strands today (game #455) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #455) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #455) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #455, are…

• BAIL
• COURTROOM
• ALIBI
• MOTION
• OBJECTION
• SPANGRAM: YOUR HONOR

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

The theme “All rise” immediately had me thinking we were searching for terms connected to judges, juries and trials. I couldn’t see any search words, so I used a hint to begin the hunt. BAIL didn’t exactly open up the board – but seeing COURTROOM did.

After a few easy editions, this Strands was much more of a challenge – OBJECTION was my final word, but it took a while to unpick the anagram and then connect the letters.

Today’s spangram – YOUR HONOR – is also the title of a TV show that has an excellent opening episode about a crime, a compromised judge, and the manufacture of an ALIBI. The jury is out on the rest of the series.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 31, game #454)

• SCRUNCHIE
• CLAW
• CLIP
• BARRETTE
• HEADBAND
• SPANGRAM: HAIR ACCESSORIES

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

• Haptic buttons are predicted for Apple devices
• They're more durable and more customizable
• It's unlikely we'll see them on the iPhone 17

Haptic buttons (also known as solid-state buttons) don't physically move – they just give your fingers feedback in the form of vibrations to simulate a click. Apple uses them for its MacBook trackpads, and it seems they'll be coming to many other devices soon.

As per well-known tipster Instant Digital (via MacRumors), Apple is exploring the idea of using haptic buttons for the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple Watch – though the indications are that this isn't something we'll be seeing in this year's refreshes.

This isn't the first time this rumor has appeared – we thought we might get haptic buttons back with the iPhone 15 series, if you remember – but it appears that they're back on the agenda for Apple, and this time not just for the iPhone.

We don't get much more information than that, but the benefits of these haptic buttons are that they last longer (because they're not actually moving), and offer more customization options (because the force of the feedback can be adjusted as needed).

Buttoned down

We might see haptic buttons on the Apple Watch too (Image credit: Apple)

Based on this rumor at least, it seems unlikely that haptic buttons are going to be ready for the iPhone 17, or indeed the Apple Watch Series 11. Both of those devices will now be in the latter stages of their development ahead of an expected September launch.

Looking further down the line though, some of this technology might appear in Apple's 2026 devices (by which time, Apple's launch schedule could be more staggered). It could show up slowly too, on some buttons but not on others.

The iPhone 16 handsets do feature a Camera Control button that's partially haptic, but it uses tech that's actually a solid-state and physical mechanism hybrid. It possibly shows Apple experimenting ahead of going all in on haptics.

Other leaks have suggested that Apple is working towards an all-screen iPhone in the coming years (without any notches or islands), while rumors of a portless iPhone have been swirling for years. Haptic buttons could be another part of that grand plan.

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The BenQ RD280U is the 28-inch variant without the cool ergo arm of the BenQ RD320UA.

With this RD line-up, BenQ has clearly focused on the engineering front, delivering some of the best monitors for programming I've seen, and effectively perfect for those who spend most, if not their entire days, coding software.

Another area that is super helpful with this style monitor is that it is 3:2, meaning that you'll get more vertical space than you would on a typical 16:9 display, and for coding, that's usually fantastic news. It means you can fit more lines of code, helping you finish that script faster.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )BenQ RD280U: Pricing and Availability

The BenQ RD280U is priced at $659.99, making it a premium display for those looking for an engineering monitor. You can pick one up through BenQ's official website or one of their many distributors and online retailers.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )BenQ RD280U: Unboxing & first impressions

BenQ's packaging is pretty straightforward. In the box is the monitor itself, packaged neatly so that it won't be damaged in transit, the monitor arm, the base for the monitor, and any helpful cables you could want. Since this is the standard version and not the Ergo-Arm version, I decided to put the display on a VESA arm quickly, but to each their own.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

I am so used to 16:9 monitors that it took me a second to get used to looking at a 3:2 display. Not as long as it took me to adjust to the LG Dual Up, but it still took me a minute. It looks similar to the 16:9 aspect ratio monitors, but you immediately notice a difference once you start using it.

Outside of using the monitor itself, the display's physical casing is solid and durable, and the light ring in the back is a charming touch. I am one who semi-regularly writes late at night or early in the morning depending on the season and how busy I am - I'm writing this at 11:56pm on a Monday. So, with that being said I enjoy the light ring and using it to bounce light off the wall behind my display to alleviate some eye strain from a bright display and the dark wall behind it.

BenQ RD280U: Design & Build QualitySpecs

Screen: 28.2-inch
Panel: IPS
Resolution: 3840 x 2560.
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Response Time: 5ms
Brightness: 400 nits.
Color Coverage: 95% DCI-P3
Connectivity: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with 90W PD, and USB-A ports.

I've been a fan of BenQ monitors for a while now. They are hitting above their weight class if you ask me. The RD models are no exception to this rule either. I don't personally love the giant chin, but I understand what they were going for. Outside of that, though, I love this monitor.

The 3:2 aspect ratio is growing on me, and I notice myself missing the extra height when I am not using this monitor. The matte finish on the screen reduces glare, much like my Paperlike screen protector on my iPad, which I cannot live without now. It also helps enhance visibility if your office is in a room with a lot of natural light, a window, or a lamp behind you. If you had a non-matte screen in those environments, you'd get a crazy glare, but with that matte finish, you can still see the screen.

The stand with this display is super simple and good if you don't need anything fancy. I usually like to put my monitors on a monitor arm to give them a more ergonomic orientation. For this monitor, I have it on a Corsair desk with a built-in rack and monitor arm that's ideal for this display and desk setup.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )BenQ RD280U: In use

I've had this monitor on my team, and it's been rotating for a while now. So far, it has been an absolutely fantastic monitor for day to day use, while over-featured for basic users, for those who do any coding and want a coding mode, for those who would benefit from the halo light built into the back, or those who wish to that matte screen, this monitor is a great option.

As mentioned above, the 3:2 aspect ratio has been excellent for day-to-day productivity tasks and standard work. It seems like such a small change, but it makes a massive difference in the right contexts. I can fit a lot more vertical space on the screen, meaning I can see more on a webpage, more of my windows arranged during a work day, or more of a terminal, GitHub, Postman, and project management tools. It's been a great little productivity hack for the last few months. You notice it more if you are in a full-screen application, but the vertical space is super helpful even if you have multiple windows open.

The clarity of text on this display is outstanding, making long working hours comfortable for your eyes, whether you're working during the day or at night. This is especially true when paired with the soft light reflecting off the wall behind the display, which helps to reduce eye strain even further.

One thing that I have come to appreciate in the last year is monitors that have USB-C connectivity. Now, I still will put one of the best laptop docking stations on a few of my desk setups, but on a simple setup like this one, I love the ease of a single cable setup. Even for my more complex setups, like my main setup that is truly a beast of a setup, I utilize the USB-C connection to the display so I can run the USB ports on the monitor, control the monitor with Display Pilot 2, and so on. No matter which setup it is, I love how easy the USB-C cable setup is, reducing cable clutter, and making the whole setup feel seamless.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Technical, high quality

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Right for the right people

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Priced well for the product

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BenQ RD280U: Final verdict

The BenQ RD280U is a niche monitor, there is no doubt about that. Take one look at it and you can tell right away if this monitor is marketed to you or not.

I have some people on my team that do not like the look of this monitor and will quickly tell you this is not for them, yet I also have other people on my team who absolutely love the look, functionality, aspect ratio, and design of this display. So, to each their own.

It might not rank among the best business monitors I've tried, but if you're in coding, engineering, or have the same style tastes, then this monitor will be a fantastic option.

In part one of our interview with Junya Ishizaki, the director of the Elden Ring spinoff answered our burning questions about the game.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – key information

- Set to be released in June 2026
- Filming wrapped in early May
- No trailer revealed yet
- Milly Alcock will play the titular character
- Other cast members reportedly unveiled
- Based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely's comic book namesake
- Should directly adapt the story from the aforementioned graphic novel
- Unclear how it'll impact the wider DCU

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, due to fly into theaters in June 2026, will introduce the titular hero to a whole new audience.

Over 40 years have passed since Kara Zor-El's only big-screen adventure. And, while she's appeared in numerous TV shows, it's high time that Kal-El's jaded but similarly powerful cousin returned to the silver screen spotlight.

With Supergirl's long-overdue sophomore movie outing set to be the DC Universe's (DCU) second film release, you'll want to learn more about it. Below, I've rounded up the latest information on the superhero flick, including its confirmed release date and cast, story details, and more. Potential spoilers follow for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and the graphic novel it's based on.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow release date

Today we celebrate #Supergirl and all her various incarnations. Can’t wait for you to see the latest version, portrayed by the indomitable @millyalcock, in June 2026.Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh. pic.twitter.com/3sXwAFfxJbMarch 31, 2025

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will land in theaters worldwide on June 26, 2026. That means Supergirl will make her DCU debut almost one year after James Gunn's Superman movie officially kicks off the DCU. Well, if you discount Creature Commandos' first season.

But I digress. Although he's not directing it, Gunn, one of DC Studios' co-heads, confirmed (via Threads) that principal photography wrapped in early May. With over 12 months to complete its post-production phase, there's no reason why the DCU Chapter One movie won't make its current release date.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow trailer: is there one?

The first image from the Woman of Tomorrow set was shared by James Gunn in March (Image credit: James Gunn/Instagram)

Nope. A teaser could be shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 in late July, if DC Studios is in attendance and one has been edited in time. Right now, though, no footage is publicly available.

Once a trailer is released, I'll update this section.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow cast: confirmed and rumored

Kara Zor-El is the lead character in this DCU Chapter One film (Image credit: DC Comics)

Potential spoilers follow for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Here's who I expect to see in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow:

• Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl
• Jason Momoa as Lobo
• Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem
• Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll
• David Krumholtz as Zor-El
• Emily Beecham as Alura In-Ze

So far, Alcock and Momoa are the only actors who are officially confirmed to appear.

Alcock, who you might recognize from House of the Dragon and Sirens, was picked to play Supergirl in January 2024. Alcock made it to the final two alongside Meg Donnelly last January, and was then selected by Gunn and his studio co-chief Peter Safran to play a character previously portrayed by the likes of Helen Slater, Melissa Benoist, and Summer Glau in a live-action capacity.

Real name Kara Zor-El, she hails from Krypton, aka the destroyed planet that was also home to Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman. In fact, she's Superman's cousin, so you won't be surprised to learn that she possesses identical powers to the only other surviving Kryptonian. Expect to see her use her superhuman physical abilities, heat vision, X-ray vision, invulnerability, and flight-based skills in Woman of Tomorrow.

I wonder if Kara and company will try to enlist Lobo's help to track down Krem... (Image credit: DC Comics)

As for Momoa, who played Aquaman in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU), he'll cameo as Lobo.

The sole survivor of another alien race that lived on the utopian world known as Czarnia, Lobo travels the cosmos as a bounty hunter/mercenary. He's got the skillset for the job, too, with super strength, speed, and agility, plus immortality, self-healing powers, and expert marksmanship, ensuring that few foes can best him in short- and long-range combat.

Interestingly, Lobo doesn't appear in Woman of Tomorrow's comic book namesake (more on the story later), so I'm keen to learn why writer Ana Nogueira and director Craig Gillespie included him in the movie adaptation.

A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies)

A photo posted by on

Where the rest of the cast is concerned, Ridley, who appeared in 3 Body Problem on Netflix, will play Ruthye (per Deadline). A young and noble warrior who enlists the eponymous hero's help to track down the individual who murdered her dad, Ruthye will play an integral role in the story.

Meanwhile, Krumholtz and Beecham are on board (per The Hollywood Reporter) as Kara's parents, Zor-El and Alura, so expect to see some flashbacks to Kara's childhood and, potentially, Krypton's demise. According to the aforementioned Deadline article, Schoenaerts is tackling the role of Krem, aka the primary villain of the piece, who's responsible for killing Ruthye's father.

Lastly, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will feature everyone's favorite boisterous pooch, Krypto. Inspired by Gunn's own rescue dog Ouzo, Krypto will make his DCU debut in Gunn's Superman movie before he traverses the galaxy with Kara and Ruthye.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow story speculation

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow takes its title from its comic book namesake (Image credit: DC Comics/Warner Bros. Discovery)

Possible spoilers follow for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow doesn't have a story synopsis yet. However, it's already possible to draw some conclusions about its plot because it'll draw heavily from its graphic novel series namesake.

Indeed, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is the same title bestowed upon an eight-issue series written by Tom King and drawn by Bilquis Eveley, which ran from June 2021 to February 2022.

In it, Kara Zor-El crosses paths with Ruthye and is asked to help the latter find the man (i.e. Krem) responsible for killing her dad. A reluctant Supergirl agrees to help, thus kicking off the literary work's events.

I won't spoil much else because, well, spoilers. However, Woman of Tomorrow is a unique comic book series in that it doesn't tell the story from the perspective of the titular hero. Indeed, we witness events play out through Ruthye's eyes, so I'm curious to see if this'll be the case in its movie adaptation, or if Kara will be our eyes and ears instead.

Regardless, it seems like Supergirl's first solo DCU outing will be incredibly faithful to its graphic novel counterpart. In January, Gunn revealed Woman of Tomorrow's first behind-the-scenes image, and it showed Alcock's Kara in a place that'll be very familiar to DC fans. Sure, this is just a single picture, but I'd be amazed if the forthcoming flick isn't a near-identical retelling of the plot that plays out in DC Comics literature.

Of equal intrigue will be the movie's age rating.

By all accounts, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a pretty dark story from a thematic standpoint, so its live-action interpretation could push the boundaries of what's considered to be a PG-13 movie in the US and a 12-plus film in the UK. I suspect these are the age ratings it'll eventually earn, as Gunn, Safran, and company won't want to make a 16-plus or even R-rated film that fewer people will be able to see.

How will Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow impact the DCU?

Woman of Tomorrow will be the second DCU movie after Superman, which arrives this July (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

The short answer is: I don't know. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be the fourth DCU project released after Creature Commandos season 1, Superman, and Lanterns. The last of that trio is the next HBO TV Original that'll also air on Max (US and Australia) and Sky/Now TV (UK). It's expected to launch in early 2026.

Post-Woman of Tomorrow, the only other DCU production confirmed to be in active development, is Clayface. A small-budget horror flick from Mike Flanagan, it's currently penciled in to arrive in September 2026 and, based on what's been publicly revealed, it's highly unlikely to have ties to Woman of Tomorrow.

Until the Daughter of Krypton's next standalone adventure is out, then, nobody can say what the future holds for Kara Zor-El or how her first DCU solo movie will impact Gunn and Safran's cinematic universe.

What we do know is Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is positioning Supergirl as the fourth superhero that the DCU will be built around. In May, WBD CEO David Zaslav told investors that Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, and Batman are the DCU's "big asset builders" (per Yahoo). So, this isn't the last we'll see of Kara in the DCU.

For more DCU based coverage, read our guides on Creature Commandos season 2, the best Batman movies, and how to watch the DC movies in order.

At an international forum in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is refocusing its strength and policies on deterring China, and coaxed China's neighbors and U.S. allies to help.

(Image credit: Mohd Rasfan)

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Capcom has been on a tear with its compilations recently, and now Capcom Fighting Collection 2 has arrived hot on the heels of the also-excellent Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.

Review information

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC
Release date: May 16, 2025

What makes Capcom Fighting Collection 2 extra special is its diversity. The first Capcom Fighting Collection was very Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior flavored. This latest compilation, however, manages to deliver something for everyone, with some games that fans have been pining to have re-released on modern platforms for years now.

The big draw in this collection is, of course, Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001. Fighting game legends and casuals alike largely consider it to be one of the greatest the genre has ever seen - owing to its large crossover roster, exceptional soundtrack, and the innovative Groove system.

But that’s not to say the rest of the collection is a dud. You absolutely shouldn’t sleep on the original Capcom vs. SNK and its glorious presentation, nor 3D curiosities like Project Justice and Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein. Both Power Stone games are here, too, and those are among the best party platforming fighters of all time.

The only real stinker in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is Capcom Fighting Evolution. It’s a bizarre inclusion given its infamous reputation, confusing systems, and roughshod presentation. On the other hand, it’s an interesting one from a curiosity standpoint, and it is still worthy of preservation.

You can also expect the usual smattering of extras, including concept art galleries, achievements, and sound test options. Some games also have fully remixed soundtracks courtesy of the CAP-JAMs team, and there’s plenty of bangers here, especially for Capcom vs. SNK 2.

Go for broke

(Image credit: Capcom)

Before diving into the review proper, here’s a quick rundown of the eight games you can expect to play in Capcom Fighting Collection 2.

• Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro
• Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001
• Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper
• Project Justice
• Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
• Power Stone
• Power Stone 2
• Capcom Fighting Evolution

I won’t be giving a full review of each game individually, as to be quite honest, I’d need around 5,000 words to do so. But what you should know is that - aside from Capcom Fighting Evolution - each game in this collection is absolutely worth playing, whether you’ve done the rounds with fighting games before or not.

For most players, the first port of call will almost certainly be Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001. What seems like a simple crossover fighter on its surface quickly reveals itself as perhaps one of the deepest fighting games ever made. And it’s all thanks to the Ratio and Groove systems.

First of all, Ratio determines the power scaling of the character(s) you select. You have four Ratio points with which to build your team, with higher numbers granting your characters more health and attack strength. For example, you can pick a single Ratio 4 character, or one Ratio 2 and two Ratio 1 fighters.

The Groove system is vastly more complex and will fundamentally change how your team operates. There are six grooves: C, A, P, S, N, and K. Each can apply different properties and abilities, but there are unique quirks within each. C-Groove, for example, is the only Groove that grants you access to Level 2 Super moves. P-Groove gives you a Street Fighter 3: Third Strike-style parry, while K-Groove lets you enter a powered-up rage state. You can only select one Groove, and learning which you like best (not to mention which works best with your chosen characters) is an incredibly rewarding process for those willing to put the time in.

The original Capcom vs. SNK may not be as fondly remembered, but skip on it at your peril. It arguably has the stronger presentation of the two, with charming stage intro animations and one of the slickest attract screens to ever grace the arcades. There are some limitations here compared to its sequel, though. Characters have a preset Ratio, for one, and there are just two Grooves to choose from (either Capcom or SNK). It’s still well worth checking out, though, if only for its mesmerizing Y2K-style presentation.

Party on

(Image credit: Capcom)

If you prefer more casual-friendly 3D fighters, this collection has you covered there, too, in the forms of Project Justice and Plasma Sword. The former is a team-based fighter that pits characters from rivaling high schools against each other, making use of powerful team synergy attacks to quickly turn the tables.

The latter is an interesting one; Plasma Sword (and its predecessor, Star Gladiator) was, allegedly, originally envisioned as a Star Wars fighting game. You’ll be able to see that influence in many of its character designs, too. A four-button fighter not dissimilar to the Soul Calibur games, it’s not the most complex game out there, but it is well worth experiencing for its lighthearted sci-fi charm and bonkers special moves.

Best bit

(Image credit: Capcom)

The crown jewel of the package is undoubtedly Capcom vs. SNK 2. It’s a highly technical fighting game, but certainly one of the most rewarding to this day. Fine-tuning your team and matching them with one of six Groove styles is incredibly satisfying, if only to see what kinds of crazy synergies you can come up with. It truly feels like a game of limitless possibilities, and I can only hope Capcom and SNK revisit the concept in the future.

Then you have Power Stone and Power Stone 2, both of which are a real treat and - for those who prefer less technical fighters that flourish in casual multiplayer environments - perhaps the best games in this collection. The Power Stone games combine melee fighting with a range of fun items, including gatling guns, lasers, and hammers. Both are an unbelievably fun time despite their age, with a cast of charming characters, a lovely art style, and stages that evolve over time. Power Stone 2 does bump things up from two players to four and features all-new stages. But you can’t go wrong with either title, really.

Rounding out the package is Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, a fantastic arcade version of Alpha 3 with balance changes and extra characters. Then there’s Capcom Fighting Evolution, which - to be polite - is the black sheep of the collection. It’s one you can safely skip due to its frankly horrible presentation, with muddy low-resolution backgrounds and a grossly unbalanced roster.

It’s a curiosity for sure, as a game that chucks in characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Red Earth, and more, but also one that simply isn’t as fun or rewarding as the other titles in Capcom Fighting Collection 2.

Should I buy Capcom Fighting Collection 2?

(Image credit: Capcom)Buy it if...

You want to play classic Capcom fighters online
Online play works fantastically in Capcom Fighting Collection 2. In my online sessions, I found the connection to be very stable, and ranked play provides incentive to keep on pushing and improving, as it does in all the best fighting games.

You love browsing development material
Capcom Fighting Collection 2’s Museum is chock full of interesting concept art, marquee cards, and promotional material - some of which has never been publicly released before. You can also experience the full soundtracks of all games, with some receiving superb remixes from the CAP-JAMs music team.

You’re looking for a new couch staple
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 fully supports local play with friends across all titles. The Power Stone games are, of course, excellent for this, but the rest all provide offline multiplayer fun in addition to their online suites.

Don't buy it if...

You’ve no interest in older games
Cynical as it might be to say, there’s nothing objectively ‘new’ in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 when it comes to the games. If you prefer more modern fighters or simply have no interest in turn-of-the-century titles, you can give this a miss. Though missing out, you certainly would be, in my opinion.

Accessibility

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 does have a couple of noteworthy accessibility options. One-button supers apply to most games here, letting you input your favorite characters’ flashiest and most damaging moves with little effort - perfect for casual and beginner play. You can also access various CRT filters or disable them entirely based on your preferences.

How I reviewed Capcom Fighting Collection 2

I played Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for 15 hours on a gaming PC, via Steam. I primarily played with my Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller, but also switched to the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha for a bit to confirm the game’s compatibility with the best fight sticks.

First reviewed May 2025

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.

(Image credit: Alexander Nemenov)

• Kopernica AI platform tracks over 790 body points
• Combines vision, voice, and psychology to “understand” complex human emotions
• Continuously learns users' emotional patterns to personalize its responses with empathy

In recent years, artificial intelligence has rapidly advanced in understanding human language and behavior, yet the challenge of truly grasping human emotions remains a frontier.

However Neurologyca says its new AI system can “understand” human emotions, sense stress and anxiety, and adapt accordingly.

Kopernica integrates multiple sensory inputs and, unlike traditional AI which relies primarily on text or speech, uses a combination of computer vision, natural language processing, and personality modeling.

Multi-Modal Sensing

The system monitors over 790 points of reference on the human body, seven times more than comparable market solutions.

By using 3D pattern recognition, it can record subtle body language and facial expressions.

In order to find emotional clues that go beyond words, it also examines vocal tone and rhythmic patterns.

Furthermore, Kopernica continuously learns an individual’s emotional trends and interaction preferences.

This enables the system to personalize and be more empathetic in engagement over time.

Such multi-modal signal fusion is touted as the first technology to combine visual, auditory, and psychological signals to infer complex states like motivation, cognitive load, stress, and attention.

"Today’s AI systems understand what we say, but they can’t understand how we feel," said Juan Graña, Co-founder and CEO of Neurologyca.

"With Kopernica, we’ve created the human context layer that will empower these systems to not only capture nuanced human emotions but respond with empathy, adapt their behavior, and genuinely enhance the human-machine relationship.”

The promise of an emotionally smart AI is attractive, but the huge question remains: Can AI really understand human emotions in any meaningful sense?

The human capacity is very complex. It is shaped by history, context, individual nuance and cultural dimensions that even the most advanced AI system will overlook.

It goes beyond simply detecting anxiety or stress markers from micro-expressions and vocal patterns. The interpretation of what caused these expressions and the appropriate response is an issue that most likely requires human judgment.

There is also the issue of privacy. Neurologyca claims Kopernica performs real-time processing locally on devices, anonymizing data and ensuring no identifiable information is stored or shared without explicit consent.

Yet, any system that claims to consistently monitor human physiological and psychological signals, especially in public settings, will always have privacy issues to deal with.

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