PIPS is the latest game in the New York Times catalog. The new game, released in August 2025, puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you get stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we’ve got you covered! Below are partial answers that will serve as hints to help you find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play pips
If you’ve ever played dominoes, you’ll be familiar with how Piparis is played. Like dominoes, the tiles are placed vertically or horizontally and connect to each other. The main difference between traditional dominoes and Piparis is the color-coded conditions you have to solve. The tiles that touch don’t have to match.
The conditions you must meet are specific to color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, each half of the tile in that space must complete the specified number. It is possible—and common—for only half of the tiles to be in a color-coded space.
Here are common examples that you will encounter difficulties with:
- Number : All dice in this room must be equipped with a number.
- Equal : Each domino side in this space must have the same number.
- Not Equal : Each domino in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
- Less than : Each domino side must be less than the number in this space.
- Greater than: Each domino side must reach more than the number in this space.
If there is no color coding in an area, it means that there are no conditions in the domino pieces in those spaces.
Easy difficulty, answers to September 14 pips
Equal (5): Everything in this purple space must equal 5. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.
Greater than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must equal 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers to September 14 dice
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.
Equal (5): Everything in this space must equal 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.
Greater than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.
Less than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.
Hardship Tips, Answers to September 14 Pips
Number (1): Everything in this space must add 1. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.
Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must be added to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must equal 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.
Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must be added to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must be added to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s Got Games Now! Check out our game hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.
