Get ready for a brain-teasing adventure! NYT's Pips is the newest addition to your gaming repertoire, and it's here to challenge and entertain. But is it just a fun pastime or a potential daily obsession?
Pips, released in August 2025, is a captivating twist on the classic game of dominoes. It's a solo adventure where you'll navigate color-coded conditions and unique rules. Unlike traditional dominoes, matching isn't always the goal.
Here's the twist: when you're stuck, the game reveals the entire puzzle, leaving you no choice but to restart at the next level. But don't worry, we've got your back! Our hints will guide you through each difficulty level, ensuring you never feel lost.
Gameplay Basics:
Playing Pips is simple if you know dominoes. Tiles are placed vertically or horizontally, but the real challenge lies in the color-coded spaces. These spaces dictate specific conditions that your tiles must meet.
The Color-Coded Twist:
- Number: All pips in this space must total the given number.
- Equal: Every domino half in the space must have the same number of pips.
- Not Equal: Each domino half must have a unique pip count.
- Less Than/Greater Than: The sum of pips must be less/greater than the given number.
Hints and Answers for Nov. 3:
Easy Difficulty:
- Number (0): Aim for 0. Place 0-2 or 0-5 horizontally.
- Equal (2): Match everything to 2. Try 0-2, 2-3, or 2-2 horizontally.
Medium Difficulty:
- Number (10): Reach 10 with 3-5 horizontally, 4-1 or 3-1 vertically.
- Number (5): In the red space, use 5-5 or 0-0 vertically.
- Number (5) in light blue: 5-1 or 0-0 vertically.
- Number (5) in orange: 4-1, 3-1, 5-1, or 1-1 (horizontally).
Hard Difficulty:
- Number (1): 1-1 horizontally.
- Number (4): 4-4 vertically.
- Number (2): 2-2 horizontally.
- Number (3): 3-3 horizontally.
- Less Than (3): Go below 3 with 2-5 horizontally.
- Less Than (2): 1-0 horizontally.
- Less Than (1): 1-0, a simple solution.
- Not Equal: Mix it up with 1-1, 6-5, 4-4, 2-2, or 3-3 horizontally.
- Greater Than (16): Exceed 16 with 6-5, 2-5, or 6-3 horizontally.
- Equal (3): Match 3 with 6-3 horizontally or 3-0 vertically.
- Number (5): 0-5 vertically.
- Less Than sequences: 2-1 and 3-0, horizontally and vertically.
And now, a controversial question: Is Pips a fun, casual game or a potential time-sink? Share your thoughts in the comments! If you're craving more puzzles, Mashable's games hub offers a variety, including Mahjong and Sudoku.
