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Professional chefs know the value of space in a drawer or on acountertopbetter than anyone. Stroll through the swinging doors of any restaurant kitchen worth its salt, and you won't find an excess of single-function gadgets collecting dust. Every instrument and piece of cookwareserves a purpose, earning the real estate — however small — it occupies.

That's what makes career chefs the perfect people to ask about all the kitchen tools thatdon'tbelong in your kitchen, especially when space is at a premium.

To compile this list, I asked five professional chefs about the most useless and overrated kitchen tools and what they recommend using instead. Some on the list get knocked for simply taking up too much space to justify buying, while others get a failing grade for being downright gimmicky.

Masaharu Morimoto shared his pick for the most overrated kitchen tool.

Chef Morimoto encourages beefing up your knife skills to make thin and uniform vegetable slices.

Why:"While it brings good slices, mastering proper knife skills gives you more control, precision and safety in the long run. Mandolins can be bulky, hard to clean and risky if you're not extremely careful. Relying too much on a mandolin, or tools like a two-in-one apple cutter or a tomato corer can hold you back from developing real technique. Taking the time to learn how to handle a sharp chef's knife or Japanese blade will help you in almost every recipe."

What to try instead:Mac 8-inch Japanese chef knife.

Lead chef-instructorInstitute of Culinary Education, Los Angeles

Culinary instructor Eric Rowse knows a gimmicky kitchen tool when he sees one.

Why: "These look like a weapon for Wolverine wannabes; it's meant to help you hold a whole onion and "chop" it. Instead, cut the onion in half to create a flat surface so it won't roll away. If you're trying to cut rings, save the $14 and stick a fork in the root and hold the fork."

What to try instead:Learn toproperly slice an onionthe old-fashioned way.

Save your money — and some dignity — and skip the onion goggles.

Why:"A waste of money, as they don't form a great seal around the eyes to prevent the sulfur compounds from getting to your eyes and making you cry. Keep your knife sharp and open a window or turn on afaninstead."

What to try instead:CNET's Peter Butler sharestips for cutting onions without crying.

Glass, stone and metal boards are OK for serving but when it comes to slicing and dicing, wood is the way to go.

Why:"Cutting on hard surfaces isbad for your knives; instead, go for wood or poly."

What to try instead:Our list ofthe best cutting boardsfeatures plenty of knife-safe options.

Why:"I can't think of anyone needing a tool devoted to shredding chicken outside a restaurant, and even restaurants don't use it. This item only has one purpose, so I'd skip it."

Why:"I love thyme but hate stripping it. When I was young, I got suckered into believing this tool would help me… It's been sitting in my cupboard, laughing at me for almost a decade now."

What to try instead:For heartierherbslike rosemary and thyme, just use your fingers to slide down the stem, opposite to how the leaves grow.

Instant read meat probes work fast and don't require fussy Bluetooth connection.

Why: "These are a great tool, but can be very expensive. I can see myself losing, breaking, dropping, accidentally throwing away or dropping it in the coals."

What to try instead:ThermoPro's Lightning Instant Read Thermometer

Cookbook author and lifestyle expert

Cookbook author Peter Som didn't hold back when asked about his least favorite kitchen tools.

A manual can opener is cheaper, works great and is less likely to break.

Why:"Most of us grew up with an electric can opener permanently stationed on the kitchen counter, like it was a vital appliance. But truthfully, they're more nostalgia than necessity. They take up space, can be a hassle to clean, and often struggle with irregularly sized cans. A good manual opener is compact, reliable and gets the job done without needing an outlet or a user manual."

What to try instead:Oxo's soft-handled can opener.

Personal chef to Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union and author ofLove: My Love Expressed Through Food

Richard Ingraham avoids certain kitchen tools when cooking for celebs like Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union.

Why:"A knife and spoon do the job just as easily, and the specialized tool rarely fits all avocado sizes properly. It's a one-trick pony that clutters drawers."

What to try instead: A good paring knife likethis $35 Wusthof.

Separating an egg by hand isn't so that difficult that it requires hardware.

Why:"A tool just for separating yolks is unnecessary for most home cooks." The only exception may bethis one, and even that is just for yolks. Err, I meanyucks.

What to try instead: Cracking an egg and using the shell halves or your fingers works just as well.

Why:"Rolling garlic cloves in a silicone tube may work but requires storing a single-purpose gadget."

What to try instead: Smashing garlic cloves with a chef knife is quicker and more reliable.

Chef Ingraham says skip the scissors on pizza night.

Why:"A pizza cutter or knife works better and faster. These scissors are gimmicky, awkward to clean and take up more space than they're worth."

What to try instead:KitchenAid's stainless-steel pizza wheel.

Why:"They're hard to clean and don't offer a huge advantage over a sharp chef's knife. Plus, they tend to crush delicate herbs more than slice them."

What to try instead:Made In's 8-inch Chef Knife.

Why:"Boiling eggs in a pot is straightforward and flexible. The electric version just adds clutter unless you boil eggs constantly and hate using a stove."

What to try instead:This1-minute hackfor making poached eggs in the microwave.

A good butter knife works just as well and requires less space and maintenance.

Why:"It slices sticks of butter into pats… but why? A knife works instantly, and you don't have to load and clean a plastic gadget for it."

What to try instead:Williams Sonoma breakfast butter blade.

Why:"It's a plastic disc with holes to tell you how much spaghetti to cook. Just eyeball it or learn the rough weight by experience. It's not worth the drawer space."

What to try instead:Akitchen scalefor precise measurements.

Why:"Often clogs, sprays unevenly and requires constant cleaning. A small spoon or brush does the job with less frustration."

What to try instead:World Market's olive oil cruet.

A sharp vegetable peeler is all you need to skin a batch of potatoes.

Why:"Takes up a surprising amount of space and peels slower than a regular peeler. Plus, it's overkill unless you're peeling dozens of potatoes at once."

What to try instead:Oxo's Swivel peeler.

Why:"Sold as a safer way to slice bagels, but takes up a ton of space and is awkward to clean. A serrated knife does the job just fine."

What to try instead:Opinel's 8-inch bread knife.

There's a reason pro chefs don't use oven mitts.

Why: "Oven mitts are the most useless item in a home kitchen! A sturdy kitchen towel does the same job, and odds are, it's more likely to be washed regularly. I don't know many people who wash their oven mitts frequently enough… it seems many have deemed it an item that doesn't warrant regular cleaning. It does."

What to try instead: Stock a plethora ofkitchen towels.

It depends on the person, but most health experts agree that the ideal temperature for sleep is around65 degreesFahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. In the summertime, it can be hard to maintain this chilly temperature in your bedroom, especially if you don't have an air conditioner or turn off your AC at night to save money on yourenergy bill. Here are some simplesleep hacksthat you can use during the hot summer months to keep cool and minimize sweat while you're trying to snooze.

An hour or two before you go to bed, toss your sheets and pillowcases in the freezer, and no, they won't come out stiff as a board. They will stay icy long enough to help you fall asleep without feeling overheated.

Along the same lines as freezing your linens, you can also freeze your socks forcooling relief. Extremities like your fingers, feet and toes aresensitive totemperature changes and play a role in regulating temperature. Keeping your feet cool can help cool down the rest of your body.

Fans are much more energy efficient and budget friendly than an air conditioner. They use about1% of the electricitythat AC does. So, take advantage of fans and strategically place them around your room. Try placing a fan next to your bedside with a bowl of ice water in front of it. The ice will create cold air that the fan will blow toward you. Next, face a window fan outwards to blow the hot air from your bedroom outside.

Lay a damp towel on your bed over your sheets to give your body some cooling relief while you fall asleep. I recommend that you lay a dry towel underneath the wet one to avoid soaking your mattress with water, which can damage the foam in your mattress. The towel won't stay cold for the entire night, but it should stay cool enough that you can drift off to sleep.

You may see advice on the internet suggesting that you should sleep in the nude to stay cool. That might work if you sleep cool, but it won't do much for you if you get sweaty. If you're hot, it's beneficial to wear lightweight pajamas (such as cotton) that can wick the moisture away. Otherwise, your body is free to sweat all over your sheets.

If anew mattressis out of your budget, you can opt for cooling sheets or pillows for relief. Search for sheets made with breathable fabric like organic cotton, linen, or bamboo. Bamboo absorbs sweat and helps you stay cool, and organic cotton does a great job of wicking away moisture.

Many mattresses retain heat, especially beds made with standard memory foam. A mattress with cooling technology can actually make a big difference in how comfortable you sleep. It can either provide extra airflow and breathability or offer an actively cool-to-the-touch sensation that draws heat away from you, likeBrooklyn Bedding Aurora.

Watch CNET sleep expert Owen Poole review the best cooling mattresses of 2025.

Blackout curtains can prevent your bedroom from getting too hot during the daytime, especially in the summer. Not only do they keep your bedroom dark, but they also reflect heat, stopping it from entering through the windows, which can also help cut down yourelectricity bill.

The bad news for people in two-story homes or an upper-level apartment is thathot air rises, so the top story of your house will be warmer than the bottom floor. But you can beat the heat a little by sleeping on the bottom story of your home when you need relief.

Drink a significant amount of water before bed to try and counteract the night sweats. Also, avoid alcohol before bedtime as it canpromote dehydration, making it more difficult for your body to regulate temperature and keep you cooler.

For more, check out our guide tonatural sleep aids, the best way totake a power napand howto train yourselfto be a back sleeper (and why you should). If all else fails, these are our picks for the nestportable AC units.

Though recent social media trends have focused heavily on promoting ahigh-protein diet, people are now finding thatfiber is just as important. That's where chia seed water can help, as it provides fiber,hydration, skin and digestion benefits, and more. Essentially, this beverage offers both the benefits of chia seeds with the added bonus of hydration. But is chia seed water all it's hyped up to be?

We reached out to various experts to learn more about chia seed water's potential benefits, risks and alternatives. Before you pour yourself a glass, this is what you should know.

Chia seedsare a member of the mint family and come from the Salvia hispanica plant.They originated in Central Americabut are now available around the world and are often promoted as a good source offiber and omega-3 fatty acids. To make chia water, combine a few tablespoons of chia seeds with water.

Many people add lemon juice or honey for flavor. But just the combination of chia seeds and water can yield benefits.Dr. Ralph Waldo, a physician in Carmel, Indiana, says he often recommends chia seeds and chia seed water. "Chia seeds are high in fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which can aid digestion, reduce inflammation and support heart health," he says.

More research is needed to better understand the health benefits of chia seed water but the following are generally understood as positive outcomes of drinking it.

Drinking a combination of water and chia seeds may help keep you hydrated.Amie Alexander, a registered dietitian at Nutri Peak, says that "Chia seeds can absorb as much as 12 times their weight in water so chia water acts very efficiently at hydrating the body."

Chia seed water is also great for your skin. TheMaryland Institute of Plastic Surgerysays that drinking water helps improve skin elasticity, increase blood flow and moisturize your skin.

Chia seeds also help your body flush waste and salt. As Alexander puts it, "The fiber content in chia seeds is high and helps in digestion for the promotion of waste products in the body and encouraging proper bowel movement."

Chia water may also be good for controlling your weight. Waldo says when you make chia water there is "gel that forms around the seeds as they absorb water. This gel creates a feeling of fullness that can support weight management and appetite control."

ADecember 2023 paperby Oregon State University researchers published by Frontiers in Plant Science sequenced the chia genome. The study identified lower blood pressure as one potential benefit of eating or drinking chia seeds. Alexander also says that by lowering blood pressure, chia seed water could contribute to heart health.

The Oregon State University study also named lower cholesterol as a benefit of chia seeds. Waldo says he has seen patients use chia seeds as part of a plan to lower their cholesterol.

The fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and protein in chia seed water all aid in better digestion when eaten in moderation. Eating too much could lead to bloating or gas.

The antioxidants in chia seed water could also help you mitigate inflammation.

For most people, chia seed benefits will outweigh the risks. There are some minor risks, mostly related to overconsumption. Alexander says drinking too much chia seed water could cause issues including bloating, gas or constipation, especially if taken without enough water. Waldo recommends starting with 1-2 tablespoons in 8 ounces of water.

There is also a small risk of allergic reactions. Alexander warns that "people with seed or nut allergies should be cautious and might want to consult a health professional before taking chia seeds for the very first time."

It's easy to make chia water but before you mix your first glass remember that chia seeds begin to swell and create a gel pretty quickly. Many people let their seeds steep in water for a few minutes before they drink it but waiting too long will make your drink pretty gelatinous.

Put your water, lemon juice and chia seeds into a drinking glass. Let your seeds steep for as long as you'd like. If you prefer a thicker drink, try allowing them to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir and enjoy.

If you don't like lemon juice, you can add honey, fruit slices or water flavor drops.

The consistency or taste of chia seed water may not be for everyone. If that's you, consider these alternative ways to get the same benefits. Alexander has two recommendations for anyone who doesn't like chia seed water.

She says "Both options are very similar to chia water because they do a great job of carrying a wide variety of beneficial fiber, omega-3s and antioxidants within them, making them great options for incorporating the chia seed into one's diet in different forms."

This will vary by individual, but it's safe to drink it daily as long as you're staying properly hydrated. If you're on certain medications or have specific health conditions, confirm with your medical practitioner first before adding chia seed water to your diet.

Chia seeds provide fiber, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, so you'll have better digestion and heart health, among other health benefits.

Yes, drinking water with chia seeds is good for you. It improves digestion, keeps you hydrated and more.

At this point, buying anair fryeris practically a rite of passage, and if you're still only using it for frozen fries and buffalo wings, you're seriously underestimating what it can do. One of the best air fryer hacks I've stumbled across? Grilled cheese that's crispier, cleaner and somehow even better than the stovetop version.

I used to swear by the skillet method, but once I tried making grilled cheese in the air fryer, there was no going back. It delivers that golden, crunchy exterior without drowning your bread in butter, and it keeps your kitchen cooler-perfect for those hot summer days when firing up the stove sounds like a bad idea.

If you haven't made this switch yet, here's why your next grilled cheese should start in the air fryer.

If you're a purist, I salute you, too. The old school method for making grilled cheese is just fine but it's not without flaws. Pan-fried grilled cheeses also tend to fall apart or stick to the pan if they're not cooked and flipped properly and if you don't have the heat up high enough, you'll never get that coveted crunch.

If you don't own an air fryer, I recommend Ninja's newglass-bowl model. It's the best we've tested and makes a mean grilled cheese. Below you'll find tips for making the best air fryer grilled cheese of your life.

As you can plainly see, the air fryer grilled cheese leaves little mess to contend with after preparing.

Anair fryeris basically a small convection oven with nonstick surfaces, circulating hot air around whatever you put in its basket. Unlike your saute pan or skillet, it cooks from all directions at once and typically in less time. Unlike your oven, it is compact and efficient, heats up quickly and may not even requirepreheating.

Your toaster oven could never do this. Whiletoastedcheese is a possibility (andreheated toaster oven pizzais a revelation),grilledcheese is not. Your toaster oven is not designed to support fat on the underside of whatever you're cooking, and you'll end upwith a messtoo complicated to clean.

For your grilled cheese, the air fryer is working on both of the bread surfaces and the cheese all at once, resulting in a quicker melt, which adheres the cheese to the bread slices together making for a much easier flip. (Flipping is still recommended but with far less drama.)

The air circulation provides deep crunchiness, not only to the surfaces that received the butter or mayo treatment but to the entire crust. Any inclusions beyond cheese in the interior of the sandwich are also transforming because of the ambient heat. Simply placing a lid on your saute pan or skillet can't achieve the same results, as the components will become steamed and potentially soggy.

Humble ingredients are transformed into something great inside an air fryer.

For a basic grilled cheese, you can assemble the sandwich in the basket of your air fryer: bread with buttered side down, followed by sliced or shredded cheese, then topped with the final slice with buttered side up.

Be it a simple sandwich or a fancier combination of cheese, bread and fixings, the air fryer makes a crispy, gooey grilled cheese in minutes.

Set the heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 to 6 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through. The already melted cheese will keep your sandwich nicely together during the flip. You can get a lightly golden grilled cheese in less time but I recommend hanging on for 5 to 6 minutes for a deeply crunchy sandwich.

Another perk of the air fryer is that you can more easily peek to see where you're at without adversely affecting the outcome.

Add a fruit element and cured meats for a fancier air fryer sammy.

This is where the air fryer really shines in the grilled cheese realm. Every element of an upgraded grilled cheese adds a degree of difficulty when trying to cook in a skillet, much of which is mitigated in the safe confines of an air fryer. Thicker bread. Thicker cheese, like hunks of camembert or brie.

And think of all the great grilled cheese ingredients that can be slippery: apple slices, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, pickles, etc. Any grilled cheese with more than two components can be challenging to flip gracefully in a skillet, even for trained cooks.

Bag a loaf of good bread and stuff your sandwich with upmarket cheese.

To prove a point, I assembled a fancy grilled cheese with camembert, prosciutto and apple slices. (Plus mayonnaise on the exterior, because I was being fancy, and mayo gives your sandwich a little extra tang.) Because of its height, I assembled it fully outside of the air fryer and then carefully placed it in the drawer.

After 6 minutes of air fryer cooking, the flip was seamless and the sophisticated outcome belies the fact that you spent all of one minute assembling the masterpiece. The exterior of the ham even got a little bonus crisping. So the air fryer invites you to go to town with whatever you can dream up for your grilled cheese: cured or cooked ground meats, grilled veggies, various sauces and relishes — you name it. An epic grilled cheese variation is limited only by the confines of your imagination.

A grilled cheese is a quick-cooking sandwich no matter how you do it so you don't want to add on minutes of additional time for something that only takes minutes to accomplish. That said, while preheating your air fryer may be a waste of time for certain preparations, I think putting it on for just a minute to heat up the nonstick surface that the sandwich sits on is worthwhile to get that golden crust working right away.

Depending on your model and size of air fryer, and the shape of bread you choose, it can be tricky to make more than two sandwiches at once, so it might not be the most family-friendly method for making grilled cheese. But for a solo meal or date night, your air fryer is the grilled cheese hack you didn't know you needed.

Budget and speed are important factors in your search for a new internet service provider but availability can be just as crucial. Thankfully, Charlotte has plentiful coverage from a variety of providers, from fiber to cable to wireless.AT&T Fiberis CNET's pick for the best internet provider in Charlotte, North Carolina.You get a decent variety of plans that start at just $55 a month and go up to $245 per month for the 5-gig plan.

However, AT&T isn't your only solid option.Spectrumhascheaper plansstarting at $50 a month and its high-speed cable coverage throughout Charlotte is much more extensive, making it attractive for those who want to bundle internet with TV services — or those outside the 62% of the city with fiber access.

If you're looking for an internet connection with blazing-fast speeds? You should take a look atGoogle Fiber. Its fastest plan offers 8 gigabits per second for $150 a month, at least for the 14% of the city it covers. For those looking for budget-friendly home broadband,Kineticby Windstream's $25 a month plan is a great option, which offers speeds up to 100Mbps.

Living in the greater Charlotte area my whole life — fromConcordto Fort Mill and spending time in University City, Oakhurst and Pineville — I've become quite familiar with the local internet providers. I can guide you toward the cheapest plans and fastest speeds to help you easily compare your options.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

The average starting price for internet service in Charlotte is around $50 per month. Kinetic by Windstream has the lowest starting price in the area at $25 per month with speeds up to 100Mbps.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

The best internet deals and top promotions in Charlotte depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Charlotte internet providers, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T and Google, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on thebest internet deals.

According toOokla's speed test index, speeds in the Queen City are faster than the state's average, with a median download speed of around 363Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Keep in mind that many factors go into speed test data, such as equipment, Wi-Fi versus Ethernet connections and the internet plan itself.

Faster speeds than the area's average are certainly available. Google Fiber offers speeds up to 8Gbps to Charlotte residents, and AT&T's fastest plan hits speeds up to 5,000Mbps. Numerous providers — including Google Fiber and Spectrum — also offer single gigabit plans.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

See all results for internet providers in North Carolina.

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications,according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide onhow much internet speed you really need.

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latestsmartphone,laptop,routerorkitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources likeOoklaandFCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit ourhow we test ISPspage.

As we always say, fiber connectivity will be your best bet for home internet. For Charlotteans, many fiber providers offer blazing speeds at an affordable monthly cost. Using a high-speed internet connection makes consuming lots of data each month easy, which can be problematic if you have a data cap. However, you won't have to worry about that in Charlotte, as all major ISPs have unlimited data. Contracts aren't an issue, either, because AT&T, Google Fiber, Kinetic, Spectrum and T-Mobile's 5G home internet service don't require one when signing up.

Does Charlotte have fiber internet?

A little over 62% of Charlotte is serviceable for fiber-optic internet service. AT&T is Charlotte's largest fiber internet provider, but Google Fiber also contributes to the area's fiber coverage.

Can you get free internet in Charlotte?

Aside from the Access from AT&T, your best bet to get free Wi-Fi in Charlotte is at your localMecklenburg County Librarybranch. Other county facilities, such as the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, may offer a free Wi-Fi connection. You can also look at other public buildings, such as restaurants and coffee shops. When using apublic Wi-Ficonnection, remember that your data may not be secure, so try to avoid accessing or entering private information on your computer or mobile device when using a public Wi-Fi network. AVPN servicecan help protect your data as well.

How much is Wi-Fi in Charlotte?

Wi-Fi is a way of connecting to your internet service, not a separate one on its own, so you'll need a standard internet connection and a Wi-Fi router to get Wi-Fi in your home. Starting prices for internet service in Charlotte range from $30 to $70 per month, but the added fee for ISP-provided Wi-Fi router will vary by provider. AT&T, Google Fiber and T-Mobile 5G are some providers that include Wi-Fi equipment at no extra cost, meaning your Wi-Fi is essentially "free." Spectrum charges $10 per month for Wi-Fi equipment rental, but you can skip that fee by using your ownrouteror enrolling in the 1,000Mbps plan (which includes a free router).

Does Charlotte have Optimum or Xfinity?

No. Spectrum is Charlotte's primary cable internet service provider, though Comporium may be an option for those south of the city. Optimum and Xfinity are not available in Charlotte.

Reached the end of a binge and ready for something new?Prime Videomay offer your next small-screen fixation.

Amazon'sstreaming serviceis the place to visit for can't-miss originals likeThe Boysand The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. With new shows premiering frequently, such as the postapocalyptic drama Fallout, you can choose a fresh release or start a series you've had on the back burner.

Note that Prime Videois now ad-supportedand charges an extra fee to remove commercials. Read on for this month's new releases and a collection of the best shows on the streamer.

Note:These descriptions are taken from Prime Video press releases and lightly edited for style.

This list focuses on shows that have premiered a new season since 2020.

If the news of Max's Sex Lives of College Girls getting canceled left you aching for a new collegiate comedy to obsess over, don't skip Overcompensating. The series' first episode follows university freshmen Benny and Carmen, who feel the pressure to do the deed on night one, lest their social statuses plummet. However, former high school football star Benny is attracted to guys and closeted. Genuinely funny and authentic, this series from comedian Benito Skinner is one of Prime's best new shows.

Seven strangers are assigned to the same community payback sentence in this appealing comedy thriller set in Bristol, England. The six-episode show is fun, dark and touching, offering an engaging look at its rule-breakers backgrounds and the relationships that form between them. The plot thickens when some members of the group come across a bag of cash. If you need another draw, the show is co-created by Stephen Merchant, who co-created the UK version of The Office.

This unique series uses theRotoscoping animation techniqueto tell the story of a young woman who, after suffering a near-fatal car accident, discovers she can manipulate time. Intriguing, right? It gets better: Bob Odenkirk plays Alma's dead father, who enlists her help in investigating his murder. Bending both time and space, Undone is surreal and beautifully existential for those looking for deep material.

Prime Video has resurrected The Kids in the Hall, the Emmy-nominated Canadian sketch comedy show that originally ran from 1988 to 1995. (By "resurrects," I mean the show literally exhumes members of the comedy troupe from a grave they were buried in at the end of the original show. That's just the beginning of the fun.)  Follow the comedians as they freak out over mislabeled desserts, fight over imaginary love interests and write Earth's last fax. Be warned: Some of these sketches arehighlyNSFW.

Prime Video's TV series A League of Their Own is inspired by the 1992 film of the same name and introduces new characters portrayed by Abbi Jacobson, D'Arcy Carden and others. In the comedy-drama's first episode, women try out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the '40s. The show explores themes of race and sexuality and offers a satisfying period setting and compelling characters.

A '50s housewife who becomes a standup comic? This brilliant series from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino is filled with sparkling performances from Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein, with dialogue to match. Set in a vibrant and changing New York, our delightful heroine moonlights as a comedian, while doing her duties as an upper-class Jewish American housewife. With impressive visuals, warmth and zingers, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the full package.

Prime Video's Mr. & Ms. Smith cast Donald Glover and Maya Erskine in a story about strangers turned married spies. The eight-episode series reimagines the 2005 action film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, following the unconventional spy couple as they encounter risky missions and, inevitably, a change in their feelings for each other.

If a coming-of-age tale with a peak summer setting, a teenage love triangle and a soundtrack stocked with Taylor Swift songs sounds appealing to you, keep reading. The show centers on Belly (breakout actor Lola Tung), who makes a much-anticipated annual commute to a beach house with her mom and brother. She looks a bit different than she did the last time she set foot on Cousin's Beach and spent time with her mom's best friend's sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Young-adult author Jenny Han wrote the book on which the TV series is based and serves as one of the showrunners.

Looking for love? With Love might be the perfect feel-good rom-com. The charming premise sees the Diaz siblings, Lily and Jorge, navigate major holidays across the year, from Halloween to Christmas — major holidays that put pressure on singletons in search of romantic relationships. Follow the Diazes on their journey, along with their delightful and sometimes delightfully awkward extended family. An earnest, enjoyable breeze.

You're either going to fall madly in love with or arch an unimpressed eyebrow at this romance based on the 1945 Nancy Mitford novel of the same name. The Pursuit of Love follows two cousins who represent different ways of life. Lily James is Linda Radlett, whose exuberant romantic adventures see her travel from London to Paris. Emily Beecham, meanwhile, is Fanny Logan, navigating the confinements of married life. If you're in the mood, this three-episode miniseries will sweep you up into a story of happiness and sadness, laughter and pain.

Adapted from Lee Child's best-selling Jack Reacher book series, Reacher's eight-episode first season packs a muscular punch. Reacher, a brawny former US Army military policeman played by Alan Ritchson, arrives in a small town and is promptly arrested for a murder he didn't commit. Armed with killer strength and some solid detective skills, the protagonist eventually fends off an array of enemies while uncovering a criminal conspiracy. A treat for crime thriller fans and lovers of Child's novels.

This seven-season police procedural, inspired by Michael Connelly novels, gets everything right for old-fashioned detective drama. We follow Los Angeles police detective Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver, who's haunted by the death of his mother. While catching serial killers and keeping his family safe, he investigates her murder. Functional and no-nonsense, Bosch provides steady mystery with an equally steady lead.

Prime Video's video game adaptation is an entertaining postapocalyptic adventure you shouldn't leave sitting in a vault. The series follows three characters occupying the same wasteland. One is Lucy (Ella Purnell), who wanders in search of her kidnapped father and feels the need to invoke the Golden Rule to a cruel post-human Ghoul (Walton Goggins). Meanwhile, an eager Maximus (Aaron Moten) gets his big break as a squire in the Brotherhood of Steel. It's an unpredictable series with humor and gore. Don't let long episode runtimes deter you from exploring Fallout.

A wacky, stellar adult animated comedy about exceptional alien surgeons, the Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy follows best friends Dr. Sleech and Dr. Klak (voiced by Stephanie Hsu and Keke Palmer) as they perform daily duties like treating a patient using an anxiety-eating parasite (that's just episode 1). The series' out-of-this-world voice cast also features Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne and all five Culkin brothers.

The first episode of Paper Girls, a sci-fi TV series based on popular comics by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, brings together four kids riding bikes on their paper delivery routes in 1988. While that may sound like a sci-fi-er you've binged already, (yep, Netflix's hit Stranger Things), Prime Video's show stands on its own. Follow along as the girls travel through time, navigate powerful adversaries and learn more about themselves. Another reason to watch? Comedian Ali Wong is also part of the cast.

Amazon rescued The Expanse from the realm of canceled TV, bringing us up to six seasons. Thank goodness it did, because The Expanse is smart sci-fi with realistic characters, high production values and a dash of detective noir. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System, a conspiracy threatens to start a cold war between the largest powers. A band of antiheroes find themselves at the center. Look forward to more space western themes in the consistently excellent later seasons.

A new miniseries starring Nicole Kidman may be enough to guide your finger to the Play button, but you may also want to know that Expats comes from Lulu Wang, the director of the critically acclaimed 2019 comedy-drama The Farewell. In the six-episode show, Kidman portrays an American woman who's living in Hong Kong and is one of three characters linked by a sudden family tragedy.

A soapy drama about a family after the death of their wealthy patriarch sits tantalizingly on Prime Video. In Riches, the will reading goes in an unexpected direction, leading Stephen Richard's two sets of children to vie for control of his business. You'll glide through the stylish first season, which includes Ted Lasso Emmy nominee Sarah Niles.

Gripping Western drama series The English stars Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer as an unlikely duo traveling across a treacherous landscape. The first episode of the miniseries presents some terrible characters and reveals a bit of what motivates both protagonists — Blunt's aristocratic Englishwoman and Spencer's Pawnee ex-cavalry scout — to continue in the face of danger. Gorgeous visuals and superb acting make The English worth a binge.

Unfurling over three hour-long episodes, A Very British Scandal dramatizes the highly publicized, real-life divorce between the Duke and Duchess of Argyll in the 1960s. Claire Foy, of Netflix's The Crown, and WandaVision's Paul Bettany star.

A newer entry to Prime Video, As We See It earns a spot among its best shows. Starring three actors who identify as autistic, this sincere series follows young adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate jobs, make friends and find love. Neurotypical actorsusually play autistic characterson screen, so the casting sets this one apart. It's also heartfelt, funny and poignant, with well-rounded characters you'll want to root for. I could let the show'sglowing Metacritic scorespeak for itself — but whatever convinces you, this needs to be your next watch.

Sublime filmmaker Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) takes on adapting Colson Whitehead's novel The Underground Railroad into a powerful 10-episode series. Set in the southern US during the 1800s, the fictional story follows Blacks attempting to escape from slavery via a network of hidden tracks and tunnels. Tapping magical realism and a superb cast including Thuso Mbedu and William Jackson Harper, The Underground Railroad is an emotional and chilling triumph.

Gen V is a spin-off of Prime Video's hit violent and satirical series The Boys. Despite efforts to keep her head down, freshman Marie Moreau gets swept up in a mystery at Godolkin University, a prestigious but shadowy school for superheroes. The new series' strong characters and fresh story establish it as something pretty super in its own right. Another reason to watch? Season 4 of The Boys picks up after the events of the first Gen V season.

For those who aren't a fan of cartoons, Invincible could be your converter, up there with other adult cartoons like BoJack Horseman and Rick and Morty. Based on a comic book from Robert Kirkman, the creator of the Walking Dead, Invincible follows 17-year-old Mark Grayson and his training to become a superhero just like his father, who happens to be the most powerful superhero on the planet. Episodes run long at nearly 50 minutes, connected into one big, blood-spattered story. A subversive series with a huge cast featuring Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh and J.K. Simmons, Invincible will engross you in its smart animated world.

The Boys stormed Amazon with its ultra-violent tale of antihero vigilantes seeking revenge against the world's most beloved superheroes. These heroes aren't what they seem: Their corporate overlords cover up their shady personal lives, including sexual harassment and the odd assassination. With social commentary, black comedy and pops of gore, The Boys takes a thrilling and unapologetic step away from the family-friendly genre.

Lady Jane Grey, the Queen of England for just nine days in 1553, is the subject of this Prime Video series. The show doesn't stick closely to the events of her life, weaving in fantasy elements like humans who can turn into animals and imagining a world where she met a fate other than execution. Based on a book of the same name and blending comedy, action, romance and more, My Lady Jane is a wild, enjoyable ride you won't find in a history book.

Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) created this surreal series about Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), a 13-foot-tall Black man who leaves home for the first time at 19. The gentle giant from Oakland, California, experiences friendship, love and more milestones in this coming-of-age story, which brings humor, social commentary and undeniable originality to the small screen.

Haven't watched Prime Video's buzzy, wildly expensive fantasy series yet? The Rings of Power brings incredible visuals, a sprawling cast and a sense of adventure to the streaming service. It's set thousands of years before The Lord of the Rings, and in part follows a young version of the character Galadriel, who's played by Morfydd Clark.

Buckle up for a new animated series that centers on a group of boisterous, belching misfits called Vox Machina. Based on Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role (you don't have to be familiar with that to enjoy this show), The Legend of Vox Machina sees its protagonists go from being broke bar-hoppers to accepting a mission to stop evil brewing in Exandria. We're further introduced to the characters in a musical number that occurs about halfway through the first episode.

That's right, I said musical number. You'll be down for every element this show throws at you. Why would anyone choose these misfits to fight for the kingdom? "Well … they do have a bear," one royal decision-maker concedes.

The Devil's Hour sets up an intriguing mystery: Why is a woman, Lucy, waking up at 3:33 a.m. each night, and why does her 8-year-old son, Isaac, seem oddly emotionless? Starring Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife) as Lucy, Nikesh Patel (Starstruck) as a kind detective and Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) as a suspicious character, the Devil's Hour is a twisty series that eventually delivers satisfying answers. A bonus? A third and final season is on the way.

Oscar winner Rachel Weisz plays not one, but two main characters in Dead Ringers, Prime Video's version of David Cronenberg's 1988 psychological thriller. The darkly comedic series follows identical twin doctors pursuing their goal of opening a birthing and research center. Spend some time with these unconventional sisters, you'll want to see the whole thing through.

Led by a stellar Erin Doherty, this British thriller will swallow your attention. It centers on Becky, a temp with an unusual pastime: assuming different identities to sneak into fancy art galleries and yoga classes. When a woman she follows obsessively on Instagram suddenly dies, she attempts to uncover more details, once again posing as someone else. Tear away from your timeline and check out this six-episode limited series.

Season 2 of Homecoming didn't quite find its feet, but season 1 hit the ground running. Julia Roberts stars in this psychological thriller about an army rehabilitation facility run by questionable owners. Using an effective, mystery-building narrative that covers two timelines, Homecoming is high on tension and paranoia as it reveals what the facility's true purpose is. Fun fact: The series uses theactualscores of movies from Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and more.

In LulaRich, the directors of Hulu's Fyre Festival documentary explore the dark side of the multilevel marketing company LuLaRoe. The four-part documentary series interviews founders DeAnne and Mark Stidham and paints a not-so-rosy picture of the women's clothing giant, which is known for its loudly colored and patterned leggings and tops. In the doc, women who joined the company (investing a chunk of money in the process) dealt with stinky merchandise, a toxic culture and challenges in reaching financial goals. Settle in for a fascinating and well-made docuseries that spotlights the stories of former LuLaRoe retailers.

It's nearly time for the Steam summer sale, which is one of the biggest retail events for patient PC gamers.

It's also the perfect time to find new and innovative indie games to add to your wishlist: Before each big Steam sale, Valve runs a Next Fest event to let developers show off their projects, get feedback and build hype before their big release.

Summer 2025's Next Fest has been chock full ofHades-likes, co-op hack-and-slash adventures and other reliably entertaining games but some of the best stuff in this event is what the algorithm doesn't show you.

I've played dozens of demos, ranging from games that are featured on the front page of the store to hidden gems that take some digging to find. Here are thebest PC gamesfrom this Next Fest showcase that you absolutely need to have wishlisted.

Brain Jar Games'Dead as Discocombines Hi-Fi Rush's rhythmic combat with Sifu's brutal beatdowns. It's up to you to pilot Charlie Disco as he braves neon-soaked city streets to take out his ex-bandmates in an '80s-themed revenge quest.

As you punch, kick, parry and dodge through throngs of thugs, fights transform into carefully choreographed dances, with every blow landing to the beat of the music. Did I mention that the demo's featured song is a cover of Michael Sembello's Maniac? Dead as Disco embraces the cheesiness of the movies it's obviously inspired by but the game is built on the solid foundations of a kinetic and satisfying combat system.

Dead as Disco doesn't have a release date yet but this is one Next Fest demo that has converted me into a day-one customer.

I'm a sucker for first-person shooters and developer Stubby Games'Voidbreaker(styled as Void/Breaker) is scratching my itch for a fast-paced, destruction-heavy shooter romp. You're trapped in a combat simulation to fulfill the every whim of a rogue AI, as it tests and perfects killer robots using your training data. But a mysterious voice in the system tells you there's a chance to escape — if you play your cards right.

Voidbreaker is a project created by the same solo dev behindThe Entropy Centre, and the once-sterile-now-dilapidated sci-fi visuals make a comeback here. Instead of navigating this urban decay, you'll turn it against your foes. In addition to classic movement shooter gameplay, players will force grip and toss environmental objects and blow building supports to smithereens with well-placed grenades. Fully simulated physics objects rain down on enemies, allowing you to weaponize the world around you.

Players can upgrade their grip, grenade or gun with mods found around the map, granting them better odds of successfully completing a run and getting one step closer to escaping the simulation. My favorite find was a legendary mod that turned my pistol rounds into a short-range field of electric sparks but there are dozens of loadout-altering abilities to play around with.

You'll get your shot at breaking out of the simulation soon. Voidbreaker will be released on Aug. 20.

When you see Annapurna's publisher seal in a game trailer, odds are good that the demo won't disappoint. And if you enjoy twin-stick shooter roguelikes akin to Binding of Isaac, you certainly can't go wrong with developer Furcula'sMorsels.

This game takes place in a world where magical cards fell from space, allowing certain creatures to take on powerful monster forms (it's like a grotesque twist on magical girls). Unfortunately, a gang of hardened criminals rules the world with their superior cards, leaving weaklings — that's you — to scurry away from danger and try to scrape by in the muck.

When you discover your own card powers, you realize it's time to take the fight to the baddies. A competent twin-stick shooter in its own right, Morsels' big twist is the ability to find additional monster cards that let you diversify your abilities. Certain Morsels fire streams of low damage bullets, others fire shotgun blasts and rarer Morsels have special abilities that can create powerful damage-dealing synergies as a team.

If you're looking for a dash of on-the-fly strategizing in your action roguelikes, Morsels is right up your alley. The game's cute-but-grungy aesthetic and retro graininess are a neat artistic bonus. Morsels will be released in 2025.

Platforms:PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

GameCube aesthetics are so back. Developer Ambystoman'sDragon Marchis what you'd get if the classic arcade game Snake was built for sixth-generation consoles. Players guide Cereal the mecha-dragon through twisting and turning levels to find and reboot his friends, with a retro vibe reminiscent of Dreamcast's ChuChu Rocket.

Unfortunately, the cyberspace world is dangerous and there are enemies who'd want to see the adorable polygonal metal lizards shut back down. You'll be able to speed up or slow down the cadence of Cereal's march to avoid slithering centipedes, fireball projectiles and more. Just be careful not to loop around into one of the friendly dragons following your lead. Just like in the original iteration of Snake, it's a surefire way to get a game over.

Dragon March doesn't have a release date yet but it's coming along brilliantly with cutscenes and graphics that remind me of classic Digimon.

I didn't realize that I needed a Frankensteined combination of classic Resident Evil and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon in my life and I'm sure you didn't realize you needed this either. But developer Warkus is an absolute visionary so the turn-based RPGHouse of Necrosisis shambling into our lives nonetheless.

In House of Necrosis, you're stepping into the role of a legally distinct female special agent investigating zombies in a legally distinct ever-shifting mansion but instead of fumbling with tank controls, the entire game takes place on a grid.

You'll have to carefully plan every step to descend deeper into the mansion while staying healthy, conserving bullets and still earning enough experience to level up and get stronger. Each run is a brutal test of your wits and it's easy to get cornered by shamblers, zombified dogs and other nasty monsters. If you're truly unlucky, you might find yourself stalked by a giant zombie with a blade arm — his presence inspires fear not unlike Nemesis from Resident Evil 3.

House of Necrosis doesn't have a release date yet but the demo is a very polished look at what's to come.

Developer Alientrap'sDuneCrawlis a great hack-and-slash adventure that supports up to four-player co-op — I played solo but this game is definitely built to be enjoyed with your friends. In DuneCrawl, terracotta warriors attack your peaceful village with the eponymous Dune Crawler (a massive crustacean converted into a weapons platform).

It's up to you and your friends to defeat the invaders, take back the sentient ship and pilot it around a massive map to wipe out any other ne'er-do-wells that roam the sandy seas. DuneCrawl's gameplay is split between on-foot combat where players can use swords, bows, bombs and primitive guns to get the upper hand and Dune Crawler spelunking, where your team will explore the world and use cannons to fight massive opponents.

This game has an incredible capacity for co-op chaos but a team of people who often play together will surely move like a well-oiled machine. DuneCrawl will be released in 2025.

Developer Rogue Snail'sHell Clockis a dark fantasy reimagining of Brazil's War of Canudos — introducing many gamers (myself included) to a bloody historical period.

Pajeu is battling the Republic's military forces when the dead rise once again. Now he's forced to fight a war on two fronts to save his friends and comrades from mortal peril and change the course of history.

Hell Clock is an extremely competent Diablo-like action RPG — it's also a speedrunning game in its own right, because you have a timer ticking down to beat the levels in your run. New buffs automatically apply to your build, keeping you in the action. Once you fail a run, you get sent back to the hub area, where you can unlock new permanent gear and other meta-progression buffs from a massive skill tree.

There's a lot to see and do in Hell Clock and your power will cascade as you unlock more powerful abilities and augments. Even casual action RPG fans will find a game they can spend a lot of time with here. Hell Clock will be released on July 22.

Developer Pariah Interactive's1000 Deathsis a surrealist platformer (think Psychonauts on even more psychedelic substances) focused on the big "what if" moments everyone experiences throughout life.

As you get dragged into the headspaces of four separate characters, you'll alter their life's history by completing puzzling platforming challenges. Players will have to fiddle with gravity as they walk around curved levels, with gameplay reminiscent of some of Super Mario Galaxy's best moments.

The decisions you make will alter the narrative and the platforming mechanics of future levels: I sent the rat-like creature, Vayu, to Hollywood with their friend rather than having them stay in their hometown, which opened a diverging branch of levels to explore. I think 1000 Deaths will have a lot of replay value, as most gamers will want to find hidden secrets and explore every branching path.

1000 Deaths will be released on Aug. 7.

Developer Marc Makes Games'Passantis to chess what Balatro is to poker and that's no exaggeration. The big difference is that Passant requires you to put in a bit of work — you need to have a solid understanding of the tabletop game before you start fiddling with all the bells and whistles this game adds.

As you defeat enemy setups in Passant, you gain cash that you can spend on new pieces, temporary power-ups and badges that fundamentally change the rules of the game. The benefits you gain from a badge can be as simple as adding more turn undos for each game you play or as wacky as letting you promote units like bishops and rooks if you can successfully move them to the other side of the board.

I really suck at chess but I was able to roll through a couple games on the normal difficulty once I put a good setup into play. I'm fond of the dragon bishops, a special unit that can take enemies diagonally or in any adjacent square. Every third round you play, you'll go up against a boss board with buffing badges of their own. I've been able to conquer the first boss a handful of times but that second boss has proven to be a bit of a doozy.

Elon Musk infamously said he doesn't like chess becauseit doesn't have tech trees. That's pretty on-brand for the Tesla CEO, but at least Passant exists so he can take another crack at one of the most pedigreed board games in history. Passant: A Chess Roguelike will be released on Aug. 11.

Developer Slime King Games'Under The Islandcombines 2D RPG hack-and-slash action with a heaping helping of teen angst, daring to ask: What if a moody teenager was thrust into Link's Awakening?

Nia's parents are moving to Seashell Island to research the local ruins, which means she'll be sequestered on an island with no friends and nothing to do for a whole year. That might seem like a crummy deal, except for the fact that she immediately falls into an undiscovered cave and meets an ancient bird person while her family is unpacking the car. Nia discovers Seashell Island is on the verge of sinking beneath the waves so she has to go on a classical '90s-themed quest for the MacGuffins.

Players will need to brave the deceptively gorgeous pixel art island and its nasty critters, find upgrades and solve puzzles to unearth the mysteries of Nia's new home. This game is classic Zelda through-and-through, and anyone who enjoys Link's original adventures will appreciate this contemporary take on the genre.

Under The Island's release date has yet to be revealed — but just like with the other entries on this list, the best way to stay updated on a cool-looking game is to add it to your Steam wishlist.