NYT Pips - Daily Domino Logic Puzzle
Everything you need to know about NYT's addictive new logic puzzle game
Play NYT Pips Online
๐ฒToday's Pips Puzzle
Free to play โข New puzzles daily
About NYT Pips Game
Pips is a visual logic puzzle where players arrange a set of dominoes to fill a game board. Released by The New York Times Games on August 18, 2025, it marks their first original logic puzzle. The goal is to complete the puzzle by ensuring all conditions on the board are metโconditions will be different every game.
Unlike word-based games like Wordle or Connections, NYT Pips Game focuses on pattern recognition and logical problem-solving. It's more akin to Sudoku but with a domino-inspired twist.
๐ฎPlay the official game at nytimes.com/games/pips
NYT Pips Rules
๐ฏ Objective
Players arrange digital dominoes on a grid to satisfy specific conditions for each region of the board.
๐ฎ Gameplay Mechanics
1. Place Dominoes
Drag and drop dominoes onto the grid. Players can rotate dominoes by tapping to spin them 90ยฐ.
2. Regional Conditions
Each section of the board has rules, such as:
- =The domino dots in the region are the same number
- โ The domino dots in the region are not equal
- >The domino dots in the region are greater than the number next to the symbol
- <The domino dots in the region are less than the number next to the symbol
- 7The domino dots in the region must add up to that specific number
- โ Empty/blank regions have no conditions
3. Completion
When all dominoes have been placed correctly and all conditions are met, a congratulatory page will appear. If the conditions have not been met, you'll get a message stating the puzzle is incorrect and can continue to rearrange the dominoes. There's no losing, only completing the puzzle!
โจ Key Features
Difficulty Levels
Three daily puzzles: Easy (4-5 dominoes), Medium, and Hard (up to 16 dominoes)
No Time Pressure
No timers or penalties for mistakes - tinker and revise until solved!
Cookie Trifecta
If you finish the puzzle under a set time, you'll earn a cookie! Earn a cookie for each difficulty level!
๐ก Pro Tips & Strategies
๐ฏ Start Smart
Start with the most constrained regions first. Regions with specific sum requirements or equal-value conditions often have fewer valid solutions.
๐ Look for Patterns
Look for unique domino-condition combinations. Some dominoes can only fit in certain spots based on the regional constraints.
๐ฒ Use Flexibility
Use empty regions strategically for flexibility. Blank regions with no conditions can help you place difficult dominoes.
๐ Work Backwards
Work backwards from sum requirements. If a region needs to sum to 10, think about which domino combinations can achieve that.
๐ NYT Pips vs Other Games
Versus Wordle
While Wordle focuses on vocabulary and wordplay, Pips emphasizes logic and number-based problem-solving, making it more akin to Sudoku but with a domino-inspired twist.
Versus Connections
Connections is a word-based game where players connect letters to form words. Pips is a number-based game where players arrange dominoes to satisfy specific conditions for each region of the board.
What makes NYT Pips Unique
- โHandcrafted puzzles - Every puzzle is designed by human editors
- โMost tactile NYT game - Drag-and-drop gameplay with interactive tutorial
- โFirst original logic puzzle - NYT's first non-word-based puzzle game
- โ"Completion click" satisfaction - Designed to be addictive and rewarding
โ Frequently Asked Questions
How does NYT Pips Game work, and what are the rules?
NYT Pips is a logic-based puzzle where you arrange dominoes on a grid to satisfy regional conditions. Each section has specific rules like equal (=), not equal (โ ), greater/less than (>/<), or sum-based requirements. You drag and drop dominoes, rotating them as needed, until all conditions are met and the puzzle is solved.
Is NYT Pips free to play, or do I need a subscription?
Pips is accessible to NYT Games subscribers. While some features may be available for free, full access typically requires a subscription. You can also play free versions on fan sites like this one!
How difficult is Pips compared to other NYT Games?
NYT Pips Game is designed to be approachable like Wordle but offers more depth like Sudoku. With three daily difficulty levels, it caters to all skill levels: Easy puzzles use 4-5 dominoes for beginners, Medium provides a balanced challenge, and Hard puzzles can require up to 16 dominoes for serious puzzle enthusiasts.
Can I play NYT Pips on my phone or only on a browser?
NYT Pips is available on multiple platforms! You can play it on the NYT Games app for iOS and Android, as well as on mobile and desktop web browsers. The game launched simultaneously on all platforms on August 18, 2025, ensuring accessibility wherever you prefer to play.
What makes NYT Pips different from other NYT Games like Wordle or Connections?
Unlike word-based games like Wordle or pattern-matching games like Connections, NYT Pips Game is NYT's first original logic puzzle. It uses domino-inspired gameplay with mathematical and logical conditions, exercising a different part of your brain. It's more tactile with drag-and-drop mechanics and offers a unique "completion click" satisfaction.
Are there any tips or strategies for solving NYT Pips game faster?
Start by identifying regions with the most restrictive conditions (like specific sums or equal values) and work outward. Look for dominoes that can only fit in certain spots based on the constraints. Remember, there's no time pressure, so take your time to think through the logic. For harder puzzles, process of elimination becomes crucial.
How often are new NYT Pips puzzles released?
NYT Pips Game follows the daily puzzle model of other NYT Games. Three new puzzles are released every dayโ one Easy, one Medium, and one Hard โ allowing you to choose your preferred difficulty level and solve at your own pace. New puzzles are published at midnight, local to your time zone.
Can I share my NYT Pips Game results like I do with Wordle?
Yes! After solving a puzzle, select the Share button at the bottom of the congratulatory page. Depending on your device, you'll see various sharing options. You can copy your results to your device's clipboard and paste them into any text field to share on Twitter, Facebook, email, text messages, or other platforms. Your results will show your completion time and any cookies earned!
Was NYT Pips inspired by any existing games?
NYT Pips draws inspiration from traditional dominoes while incorporating logic puzzle elements similar to Sudoku. However, it innovates on these concepts with its unique regional condition system and tactile digital interface. Every puzzle is handcrafted by human editors, ensuring thoughtful design rather than algorithmic generation.
๐ Popular Searches
Disclaimer: This is an unofficial fan site dedicated to NYT Pips. We are not affiliated with The New York Times or NYT Games. For the official game, visit nytimes.com/games/pips