The New York Times has introduced a new single-player game called Pips, which launched in August 2025. This innovative take on dominoes offers a unique gaming experience that could quickly become a daily favorite for enthusiasts. With its color-coded conditions and challenging puzzles, Pips is designed to engage players and stimulate critical thinking.
Understanding how to play Pips is essential for success. The game resembles traditional dominoes, where tiles are placed vertically or horizontally and must connect with one another. However, Pips introduces specific color-coded conditions that players must meet. For instance, if a space indicates a single number, the sum of all touching tiles must equal that number. This adds a layer of strategy, as half a tile may fall within a color-coded area while the other half does not.
Hints and Solutions for January 1, 2026
For those seeking assistance with Pips, the following are hints and solutions for various difficulty levels as of January 1, 2026.
**Easy Difficulty**
1. **Equal (5):** Place tiles 5-2 and 5-1 horizontally.
2. **Number (3):** Use 5-2 horizontally, and 0-3 and 0-1 vertically.
3. **Less Than (2):** Use 5-1 horizontally.
4. **Number (3):** Place 0-3 vertically.
**Medium Difficulty**
1. **Number (10):** Position 6-3 and 4-2 horizontally.
2. **Number (6):** Use 0-2 vertically, 4-2 horizontally, and 2-6 vertically.
3. **Number (10):** Place 5-5 horizontally.
4. **Number (6):** Use 6-0 horizontally.
5. **Number (10):** Position 2-6 vertically and 4-0 horizontally.
6. **Less Than (3):** Use 6-0 and 4-0 horizontally.
**Hard Difficulty**
1. **Equal (6):** Place 1-6 horizontally and 6-4 vertically.
2. **Equal (5):** Use 5-0 vertically and 5-5 horizontally.
3. **Equal (4):** Position 6-4 vertically, 4-0 vertically, and 4-4 horizontally.
4. **Equal (2):** Use 2-5 vertically, 2-2 horizontally, and 2-6 vertically.
5. **Equal (0):** Position 4-0 vertically, 0-0 horizontally, and 0-1 horizontally.
6. **Number (1):** Use 0-1 horizontally and 1-2 horizontally.
7. **Number (2):** Place 1-2 horizontally.
8. **Number (6):** Use 2-6 vertically.
As players navigate through these challenges, they may find that Pips not only stimulates the mind but also provides a refreshing break from routine. For those looking for more puzzles, the New York Times games hub also offers various options such as Mahjong, Sudoku, and crosswords, ensuring there is something for everyone.
With its engaging gameplay and innovative mechanics, Pips is set to capture the attention of players worldwide and could become a staple in the realm of digital gaming.
