NYT Pips HelperWednesday, August 26, 2026
Hints, answers & a solver for the New York Times Pips puzzle

Pips answers — Sunday, December 21, 2025

The finished Easy, Medium and Hard boards for this day, with every region rule satisfied.

Easy #448

Easy

blue (=): 0 · 0 · 0 | purple (=4): 4 | green (=6): 2 · 2 · 2 | amber: 3 | orange (=8): 3 · 5

Medium #452

Medium

blue (=): 2 · 2 · 2 | purple (=): 5 · 5 | green: 3 | amber (=6): 1 · 5 | orange (=11): 4 · 1 · 6 | slate (=6): 6 | teal (=6): 6 | pink (<4): 0

Hard #457

Hard

blue: 4 | purple (≠): 3 · 6 · 4 · 5 | green (=3): 3 | amber (=2): 2 | orange (=11): 5 · 6 | slate (=18): 6 · 6 · 6 | teal (=): 4 · 4 | pink (=): 0 · 0 · 0 · 0 · 0 | lime (=5): 5 | brown (=): 1 · 1 · 1 · 1 · 1 · 1 | blue (=5): 5 | purple: 4

Spoiler note: this page shows the finished boards. Want only a nudge instead? Open thehints for December 21, where the answer stays behind one extra click.

Easy board — region rules

RegionRuleCells
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell3
Purple4 — Be exactly 41
Green6 — Add up to exactly 63
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange8 — Add up to exactly 82

Medium board — region rules

RegionRuleCells
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell3
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
GreenTake any value it likes1
Amber6 — Add up to exactly 62
Orange11 — Add up to exactly 113
Slate6 — Be exactly 61
Teal6 — Be exactly 61
Pink<4 — Be less than 41

Hard board — region rules

RegionRuleCells
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple — Have no two cells showing the same number4
Green3 — Be exactly 31
Amber2 — Be exactly 21
Orange11 — Add up to exactly 112
Slate18 — Add up to exactly 183
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell5
Lime5 — Be exactly 51
Brown= — Show the same number on every cell6
Blue5 — Be exactly 51
PurpleTake any value it likes1
All of 2025Hints for this dayJun 28 →