The New York Times has introduced its latest addition to the game lineup, NYT Pips, capturing the attention of puzzle enthusiasts since its launch in August 2025. Drawing inspiration from the classic game of dominoes, Pips offers a fresh twist that sets it apart with unique rules and daily challenges designed to sharpen players’ focus and problem-solving capabilities.
Fans of puzzles will find a daily puzzle to tackle, providing them with a consistent opportunity to engage their minds. For those eager to dive into the game, hints and solutions for the latest puzzle on September 14 have been shared.
In NYT Pips, players arrange tiles either horizontally or vertically on a grid, reminiscent of dominoes but with distinctive color-coded conditions that players must adhere to. Unlike traditional domino placements that require matching numbers, the tiles in Pips can be arranged without needing to match, stressing instead the importance of specific conditions:
- Number: The sum of tiles in the designated space must equal a specified number.
- Equal: Both halves of the tiles in that space must be identical.
- Not Equal: The halves must differ.
- Less than: The total of the numbers must be lower than the given threshold.
- Greater than: The total must exceed the given figure.
- Spaces without assigned colors are free from conditions.
For players who participated in the September 14 challenge, hints and answers are categorized by difficulty levels—easy, medium, and hard.
In the easy level, for conditions like “Equal (5),” players could place tiles such as 5-3 vertically and 5-0 horizontally, while “Greater than (6)” could be achieved with a 6-3 horizontal placement.
The medium level presented a range of interesting challenges, including numbers where 1-1 must be placed vertically under the “Number (1)” condition, and multiple solutions for “Equal (5).”
The hard level introduced more complex combinations, with numbers such as 1-5 horizontally under “Number (1)” and varying placements for both “Number (11)” and “Number (9).” Each solution demanded strategic thinking and advanced puzzle-solving skills.
For those who didn’t manage to solve all the puzzle elements, there’s no need for concern; Pips resets daily at midnight, offering a new puzzle to conquer. This ensures continuous opportunities for players to enhance their skills, making it a captivating staple for fans craving mental challenges and engaging gameplay.
