Pips
Play Pips — the domino logic puzzle in the spirit of the NYT Pips game — free in your browser. Drag the right dominoes onto the board so that every coloured region meets its clue: the pips might need to add up to a number, all be equal, or all be different. Tap a domino, tap two squares to drop it (tap it again to flip), and tap a placed domino to take it back. Every board has one solution you can reach by logic.
Rules
- Cover the whole board with the dominoes in your tray — each domino fills two side-by-side squares.
- Each coloured region carries a clue its pips must satisfy: a target sum (a number), “=” (all equal) or “≠” (all different).
- Tap a domino to pick it up, tap it again to flip it, then tap two adjacent empty squares to place it.
- Tap a placed domino to return it to the tray. Cover every square with all clues satisfied to win.
The rules of Pips
Pips is played by placing a set of dominoes onto a grid of coloured regions so that every square is covered and every region’s clue is satisfied. A domino covers two neighbouring squares, and each half shows a number of pips from 0 to 6 — exactly like real dominoes.
What are the clues?
Every coloured region has one rule the pips inside it must obey:
| Clue | What it requires |
|---|---|
| A number (sum) | The pips in the region must add up to exactly that number. |
| = | Every square in the region holds the same number of pips. |
| ≠ | Every square in the region holds a different number. |
You must use the whole set of dominoes in the tray, and there is exactly one arrangement of pip values that satisfies all the clues.
How to play Pips: tips
Solve Pips the way you would a sum puzzle: start with the most constrained regions, where the clue and the size of the region leave only a few possible numbers.
- Lock the tight sums. A two-square region with a small or large target has very few options — a sum of 1 must be 0 and 1; a sum of 12 must be 6 and 6.
- Use “=” and “≠” to fix values. An all-equal region of three squares summing visibly high is forced; an all-different region cannot repeat a number.
- Match the tray. The dominoes you have are fixed, so a value you need somewhere must come from a domino that carries it — let the tray rule placements in and out.
- Cover, then check. Every square must end up under a domino; if a square can only be reached by one domino, place it first.
Pips and the NYT domino puzzle
Pips is the domino-placement number puzzle that the New York Times runs as one of its daily games; this is a free, independent puzzle in the same spirit. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times.
If you like number-logic puzzles, Pips sits naturally beside Kakuro (cross sums) and Sudoku in this collection — all reward the same patient, no-guessing deduction. Once you enjoy filling a grid by logic, the rest of the collection is an easy step.
Why play Pips?
Pips has a satisfying, tactile feel — real dominoes, a handful of clever clues, and the click of each piece falling into the only place it fits. A board is a quick few-minute solve, and because every puzzle has a single logical answer, finishing always feels earned rather than lucky.
Play the shared Daily for the same board as everyone else, or tap New for a fresh one any time. It is a calm, screen-friendly workout for planning and arithmetic-light logic.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Pips?
Place all the dominoes from your tray onto the board so every square is covered and every coloured region meets its clue — a target sum, all-equal (=) or all-different (≠). Tap a domino to pick it up, tap again to flip it, then tap two adjacent empty squares to drop it. Tap a placed domino to return it.
What do the clues in Pips mean?
Each coloured region has one rule for the pips inside it: a number means they must add up to that total; “=” means every square in the region holds the same number; “≠” means every square holds a different number. All clues must hold at once.
Is this the NYT Pips game?
Pips is the domino logic puzzle that the New York Times runs as one of its daily games. This page is a free, independent version in the same spirit, with a fresh board whenever you want one. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times.
Is it free?
Yes — Pips runs free in your browser on phone, tablet and desktop, with no download and no sign-up. Every board has exactly one solution reachable by logic alone.