NYT Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 5, 2025

NYT Pips is The New York Times' first original logic puzzle, launching August 18, 2025. Unlike Wordle or Connections, Pips uses dominoes instead of words, combining math and spatial reasoning for a fresh daily challenge.

The game offers three difficulty levels—Easy, Medium, and Hard—with handcrafted puzzles created by human editors. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it the most interactive game in the NYT collection.

Easy Difficulty Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 5, 2025

Pips Hints

The equal region uses three 3s

Pips Answers

Medium Difficulty Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 5, 2025

Pips Hints

The sum 6 region at bottom needs your lowest values

Pips Answers

Hard Difficulty Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 5, 2025

Pips Hints

The sum 18 region at bottom needs all three 6s

The double blank goes in the large sum 0 region

Pips Answers

How to Play NYT Pips

The goal is simple: place all dominoes on the board while following each region's rules.

Game Setup

Each puzzle has a grid with colored regions and a set of dominoes. Colored regions show specific rules in their corners, while blank areas have no restrictions.

Controls

• Drag dominoes from the tray onto the board
• Tap any domino to rotate between horizontal and vertical
• Each domino covers exactly two adjacent squares

Regional Rules

Numbers (like "7"): All pips in this region must add up to that exact number

Equal (=): Every domino half must show the same pip count

Not Equal (≠): Every domino half must show different pip counts

Greater Than (>): Each domino half must exceed the number

Less Than (<): Each domino half must be below the number

Key Rule

When a domino spans two regions, each half follows its own region's rule. Unlike traditional dominoes, touching pieces don't need to match.

Game Tips

Start Smart

Focus on regions with strict conditions first. Areas requiring specific sums or equal values usually have fewer placement options, making them ideal starting points.

Use Process of Elimination

Don't be afraid to experiment. There's no penalty for mistakes, so test different combinations freely until you find what works.

Master the Blanks

Zero-pip domino sides are incredibly useful for "less than" conditions and hitting exact sum targets. Save them for tricky spots.

Think Cross-Regional

When placing dominoes that span multiple regions, ensure each half satisfies its respective area's rule. This often unlocks seemingly impossible puzzles.