Pips is the newest entry in the New York Times gaming series. Released in August 2025, this innovative game provides a new perspective on dominoes, offering a distinctive single-player adventure that could become your daily gaming habit.

At present, if you encounter difficulties, the game discloses the complete puzzle, necessitating a move to the next difficulty tier and a fresh start. But rest assured, we have you covered! Below are clues that will assist you through each level of difficulty.

How to engage with Pips

If you’re familiar with dominoes, Pips will feel somewhat similar. Like dominoes, tiles are arranged either vertically or horizontally to make connections. The key distinction is the color-coded requirements you need to fulfill. The adjacent tiles do not have to correspond.

The criteria are tied to the color-coded areas. For example, if a single digit is given, all sides of a tile in that area must total the specified number. It’s typical for only part of a tile to fall within a color-coded space.

Typical examples across varying difficulty levels include:

– Number: All pips in this area must total the number.
– Equal: Each domino half in this space must showcase the same number of pips.
– Not Equal: Each domino half in this space must display a different number of pips.
– Less than: Each domino half in this area must total less than the given number.
– Greater than: Each domino half in this region must total more than the given number.

If a region has no color coding, there are no stipulations on the domino parts within those areas.

Easy difficulty tips, solutions for Aug. 24

– Number (6): Everything in this area must total 6. The solution is 0-6, arranged vertically.
– Equal (1): The domino halves in this area must be 1. The solution is 1-1, arranged horizontally.
– Equal (4): The domino halves in this area must be 4. The solution is 0-4, arranged horizontally; 4-4, arranged vertically.

Medium difficulty tips, solutions for Aug. 24

– Greater than (2): Everything in this section must total more than 2. The solution is 4-3, arranged horizontally.
– Number (1): The domino halves in this area must total 1. The solution is 1-4, arranged horizontally.
– Number (16): The domino halves in this area must total 16. The solution is 1-4, arranged horizontally; 4-3, arranged horizontally; 4-2, arranged horizontally; 0-2, arranged horizontally.
– Number (0): The domino halves in this area must total 0. The solution is 1-0, arranged vertically; 0-4, arranged horizontally.
– Number (0): The domino halves in this blue area must total 0. The solution is 0-2, arranged horizontally.
– Equal (2): The domino halves in this area must be 2. The solution is 0-2, arranged horizontally; 3-2, arranged vertically.

Hard difficulty tips, solutions for Aug. 24

– Less than (3): Everything in this area must total less than 3. The solution is 2-6, arranged horizontally.
– Equal (6): The domino halves in this red area must be 6. The solution is 2-6, arranged horizontally; 5-6, arranged horizontally; 4-5, arranged horizontally; 6-6, arranged horizontally; 6-0, arranged horizontally; 6-1, arranged horizontally.
– Equal (4): The domino halves in this blue area must be 4. The solution is 4-6, arranged horizontally; 4-3, arranged horizontally.
– Number (10): The domino halves in this purple area must total 10. The solution is 5-5, arranged horizontally.
– Less than (2): Everything in this area must total less than 2. The solution is 0-1, arranged horizontally.
– Number (2): The domino halves in this area must total 2. The solution is 0-1, arranged horizontally; 6-1, arranged horizontally.
– Number (0): The domino halves in this area must total 0. The solution is 6-0, arranged horizontally; 3-0, arranged horizontally.

If you’re seeking additional puzzles, Mashable has games available now! Visit our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and much more.