NYT Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 12, 2025

NYT Pips hit the puzzle scene on August 18, 2025, as the first completely original logic game from The New York Times. While other NYT games revolve around words, Pips takes a mathematical approach using dominoes—creating a unique blend of nostalgia and modern puzzle design.

The game provides three difficulty options daily, from quick Easy puzzles with 4-5 dominoes to challenging Hard puzzles with up to 16 pieces. Every puzzle is handcrafted by editors, ensuring a human touch that sets Pips apart from algorithm-generated games.

Easy Difficulty Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 12, 2025

Pips Hints

Start with empty cells to eliminate placement options

Pips Answers

Medium Difficulty Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 12, 2025

Pips Hints

Zero sum regions can only use the 0-0 domino

Pips Answers

Hard Difficulty Pips Hints and Answers for Sep 12, 2025

Pips Hints

Multiple zero sum regions force specific domino placements immediately

Unequal regions eliminate many placement combinations

Pips Answers

Playing the Game

Complete the puzzle by correctly placing all dominoes according to each region's requirements.

What You See

The game board shows colored regions with condition symbols in their corners, along with plain areas that have no rules. A set of dominoes appears in your tray below.

How to Play

• Drag dominoes from the tray to the board using your mouse or finger
• Tap any domino to switch it between lying flat and standing up
• Each domino must fill two spaces next to each other

The Conditions

Number (such as "6"): Add up all the pips in this region to get this exact total

Equals (=): All domino halves must have the same number of pips

Not Equals (≠): All domino halves must have different numbers of pips

Greater (>): Each domino half needs more pips than the number shown

Less (<): Each domino half needs fewer pips than the number shown

Special Consideration

When you place a domino across the border between two colored regions, each end must follow its own region's rule. This interaction between different rules is what makes the puzzles challenging and interesting.

Pro Tips

Start with the Hardest Rules

Look for regions where only certain dominoes can fit. Areas with specific sum totals or equality rules give you the fewest options, so solve these first to build momentum.

Try Everything

Since there's no penalty for being wrong, place dominoes wherever you think they might work. If it doesn't work out, just move them around until it does.

Don't Ignore Zeros

Domino sides with no pips are super helpful. They're perfect when you need something "less than" a number, or when you're trying to hit an exact sum.

Watch the Borders

Pay attention to dominoes that touch two different colored areas. Both ends have to follow their own rules, and figuring out these pieces usually helps solve the whole puzzle.