Greetings to your resource on Pips, the latest entrant in the New York Times gaming lineup.

Debuting in August 2025, Pips presents a novel interpretation of dominoes, delivering a solo gameplay experience that could become your new go-to for daily gaming.

At present, if you find yourself at an impasse, the game will unveil the entire puzzle, urging you to progress to the next level of difficulty and restart. But fear not, we’re here to assist! Below are tips to guide you through each difficulty tier.

How to engage with Pips

<pIf you've experienced dominoes before, Pips will feel somewhat familiar. As noted in our earlier hint articles for Pips, the tiles, akin to dominoes, can be positioned vertically or horizontally and link together. The primary distinction lies in the color-coded requirements you need to satisfy. The adjacent tiles do not necessarily have to correspond.

The criteria you are required to fulfill are defined by the color-coded regions. For example, if a single digit is specified, all sides of a tile in that zone must total the indicated number. It is possible – and typical – for only a portion of a tile to fall within a color-coded area.

Below are typical scenarios you’ll face throughout the various difficulty settings:

• Number: All the pips in this area must equal the given number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this area must contain the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this area must contain a distinct number of pips.

• Less than: Every 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 specified number.

In sections without color coding, there are no stipulations regarding the domino portions within those areas.

Hints and solutions for Easy difficulty, Sept. 28 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this zone must exceed 4. The solution is 5-4, positioned vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this zone must differ.