Pips is the newest entry into the New York Times game lineup. Introduced in August 2025, this game provides a novel twist on dominoes, offering an enjoyable single-player experience that might just become your next go-to gaming habit.

At present, if you find yourself in a bind, the game only permits revealing the entire puzzle, necessitating a shift to a higher difficulty level and a fresh start. But fret not, we’re here to assist! Below are clues that will guide you through each level of difficulty.

How to play Pips

If you’re familiar with dominoes, you’ll grasp the fundamentals of how Pips functions. Similar to dominoes, tiles can be arranged vertically or horizontally and connect to one another. The key distinction lies in the color-coded requirements that must be fulfilled. The adjacent tiles do not necessarily need to correspond.

The conditions that must be satisfied are tied to the color-coded areas. For instance, if a single number is indicated, all sides of a tile in that area must sum to the specified number. It’s common – and quite possible – for only part of a tile to fall within a color-coded zone.

Here are typical scenarios you’ll encounter across the various difficulty levels:

– Number: All pips in this area must total the specified number.
– Equal: Each domino half in this area must have an identical number of pips.
– Not Equal: Every domino half in this area must have completely distinct numbers of pips.
– Less than: Each domino half in this area must total less than the specified number.
– Greater than: Every domino half in this area must total more than the given number.

If a section lacks any color coding, there are no requirements for the parts of dominoes in those areas.

Easy difficulty hints, solutions for Sept. 4 Pips

– Number (0): All elements in this area must total 0. The solution is 3-0, laid horizontally.
– Number (5): All elements in this area must total 5. The solution is 3-0, laid horizontally; 1-5, laid vertically; 1-6, laid vertically.
– Number (10): All elements in this area must total 10. The solution is 1-5, laid vertically; 5-3, laid horizontally.
– Number (9): All elements in this area must total 9. The solution is 1-6, laid vertically; 5-3, laid horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, solutions for Sept. 4 Pips

– Number (1): All elements in this orange area must total 1. The solution is 5-1, laid horizontally.
– Equal (2): All elements in this purple area must equal 2. The solution is 2-5, laid horizontally; 2-3, laid vertically.
– Equal (3): All elements in this light blue area must equal 3. The solution is 2-3, laid vertically; 5-3, laid vertically; 3-0, laid vertically.
– Equal (5): All elements in this red area must equal 0. The solution is 2-5, laid horizontally; 5-3, laid vertically; 5-5, laid vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, solutions for Sept. 4 Pips

– Number (24): All elements in this purple area must total 24. The solution is 5-2, laid horizontally; 4-1, laid vertically; 5-3, laid vertically; 0-5, laid vertically; 1-5, laid vertically.
– Greater than (1): All elements in this red area must be greater than 1. The solution is 5-2, laid horizontally.
– Number (0): All elements in this light blue area must total 0. The solution is 0-5, laid vertically.
– Equal (3): All elements in this dark blue area must equal 3. The solution is 5-3, laid vertically; 3-4, laid vertically.
– Equal (4): All elements in this area must equal 4. The solution is 4-1, laid vertically; 3-4, laid vertically; 2-3, laid vertically.
– Number (4): All elements in this area must total 4. The solution is 4-1, laid vertically; 3-0, laid vertically.
– Number (0): All elements in this area must total 0. The solution is 4-0, laid vertically; 0-1, laid horizontally.

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