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

Pips hints — Friday, November 28, 2025

An archived puzzle. Pick your difficulty for a spoiler-safe nudge, then reveal the full board if you want it.

Friday, November 28, 2025Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 6 regions and 5 tiles, with all-equal, less-than and target-sum rules in play. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hint 1 — where to start

Easy
Ignore the open areas for now and go straight to the orange region, where one cell must be exactly 6. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 1–6 belongs down column 1, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 6. The 1 half sits in the amber region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — November 28, 2025

35
10
31
16
32

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

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell3
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green<3 — Be less than 31
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell3
Orange6 — Be exactly 61
SlateTake any value it likes1

The Medium grid runs to 8 regions and 7 tiles, with greater-than, target-sum and all-equal rules in play. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hint 1 — where to start

Medium
Ignore the open areas for now and go straight to the blue region, where one cell must be more than 4. Only 2 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 6–3 belongs down column 1, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to more than 4. The 6 half sits in the blue region, which must be more than 4.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 4–3: down column 2, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — November 28, 2025

63
43
46
14
23
55
11

blue (>4): 6 | purple (=10): 5 · 5 | green (=9): 3 · 6 | amber: 4 | orange (=): 4 · 4 | slate (=4): 2 · 1 · 1 | teal: 1 | pink (=6): 3 · 3

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>4 — Be more than 41
Purple10 — Add up to exactly 102
Green9 — Add up to exactly 92
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
Slate4 — Add up to exactly 43
TealTake any value it likes1
Pink6 — Add up to exactly 62

The Hard grid runs to 9 regions and 9 tiles, with target-sum rules in play. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hard is where most players get stuck.We break it into small, spoiler-safe nudges so you can stop the moment you’re unstuck.

Hint 1 — where to start

Hard
Ignore the open areas for now and go straight to the amber region, where one cell must be exactly 0. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 0–6 belongs down column 1, rows 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 0. The 0 half sits in the amber region, which must be exactly 0.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 6–4: across row 5, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 11.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 1–4 across row 1, columns 1–2 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 10. The 1 half sits in the purple region, which must add up to exactly 4.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — November 28, 2025

32
00
66
14
55
35
06
44
64

blue (=10): 4 · 6 | purple (=4): 1 · 3 | green (=12): 2 · 5 · 5 | amber (=0): 0 | orange: 0 | slate: 3 | teal (=11): 5 · 6 | pink (=12): 0 · 6 · 6 | lime (=12): 4 · 4 · 4

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue10 — Add up to exactly 102
Purple4 — Add up to exactly 42
Green12 — Add up to exactly 123
Amber0 — Be exactly 01
OrangeTake any value it likes1
SlateTake any value it likes1
Teal11 — Add up to exactly 112
Pink12 — Add up to exactly 123
Lime12 — Add up to exactly 123
All hintsFull answers for this dayJun 28 →