Pips is the newest entry to the New York Times games lineup. Introduced in August 2025, this game brings a novel approach to dominoes, offering an engaging solo experience that could easily become part of your daily gaming habits.
At the moment, if you become stuck, the game permits the revelation of the entire puzzle, compelling you to progress to a higher difficulty and restart. But don’t fret, we have solutions for you! Below are partial answers that will act as clues to assist you in progressing through each level of difficulty.
How to play Pips
If you’re acquainted with dominoes, you’ll grasp the fundamentals of Pips quickly. Just like dominoes, the tiles can be arranged vertically or horizontally and link with one another. The key distinction from conventional dominoes lies in the color-coded criteria that need to be fulfilled. The connected tiles do not necessarily have to correspond.
The conditions you must satisfy are particular to the color-coded areas. For example, if a single digit is given, each side of a tile in that area must total the specified number. It’s often the case that just half a tile fits within a color-coded area.
Here are typical scenarios you will face throughout the difficulty levels:
– Number: All the pips in this area must total the specified number.
– Equal: Each domino half in this area must consist of the same number of pips.
– Not Equal: Each domino half in this area must contain completely different numbers of pips.
– Less than: Each domino half in this area must total less than the specified number.
– Greater than: Each domino half in this area must total more than the specified number.
If a region shows no color coding, it indicates there are no restrictions on the parts of dominoes within those areas.
Easy difficulty hints, answers for Aug. 22
– Number (1): Everything in this area must total 1. The solution is 1-6, oriented vertically.
– Number (0): Everything in this area must total 0. The solution is 6-0, oriented horizontally.
– Number (1): Everything in this blue area must total 1. The solution is 1-5, oriented horizontally.
– Number (8): Everything in this area must total 8. The solution is 1-5, oriented horizontally; 3-4, oriented vertically.
– Equal (1): The domino halves in this area must equal 1. The solution is 1-1, oriented horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for Aug. 22
– Number (3): The domino halves in this area must total 3. The solution is 4-0, oriented horizontally; 3-5, oriented vertically.
– Equal (5): The domino halves in this area must equal 5. The solution is 5-5, oriented horizontally; 3-5, oriented vertically.
– Number (5): The domino halves in this area must total 5. The solution is 5-6, oriented horizontally.
– Equal (6): The domino halves in this yellow area must equal 6. The solution is 5-6, oriented horizontally; 6-4, oriented horizontally.
– Number (6): The domino halves in this area must total 6. The solution is 6-4, oriented horizontally; 1-1, oriented vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for Aug. 22
– Number (18): The domino halves in this area must total 18. The solution is 6-6, oriented horizontally; 6-3, oriented vertically.
– Number (0): The domino halves in this area must total 0. The solution is 5-0, oriented vertically; 0-1, oriented vertically; 0-0, oriented vertically; 0-2, oriented horizontally.
– Equal (2): The domino halves in this red area must equal 2. The solution is 2-2, oriented vertically; 0-2, oriented horizontally.
– Number (1): The domino halves in this area must total 1. The solution is 0-1, oriented vertically.
– Equal (4): The domino halves in this blue area must equal 4. The solution is 1-4, oriented vertically; 4-3, oriented horizontally.
– Equal (3): The domino halves in this purple area must equal 3. The solution is 4-3, oriented horizontally; 2-3, oriented vertically.
– Number (2): The domino halves in this area must total 2. The solution is 2-3, oriented vertically.
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