How to play
Pips Hints takes two minutes to learn: put every domino on the board so every colored region follows its rule.
In short: cover every cell with the dominoes you are given (use all of them, turn them any way). A number means the pips in that region add up to that number. = means all pips match, ≠ means all are different, <N / >N mean the total is under / over N. Dotted cells have no rule.
Step by step
- Look at the board: it is split into colored regions, and most regions have a badge with a rule.
- Pick a domino from the tray below the board. Tap it again (or press Rotate) to turn it.
- Tap a cell to place the domino there, or drag it onto the board. Tap a placed domino to pick it back up.
- Use every domino and cover every cell. Each half of a domino counts toward the region it sits in.
- When every region's rule is met, the puzzle is solved. Badges turn green as regions are completed correctly and red if a full region breaks its rule.
The rules, with pictures
Exact total
36
36
All equal (=) and all different (≠)
=≠
=≠
Less than, greater than, and free cells
>5<3
>5<3
All six region types
| Badge | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Pips add up to exactly this number | Two cells, total 7: 1+6, 2+5, 3+4… |
| = | Every pip in the region is the same | 4, 4, 4 |
| ≠ | Every pip in the region is different | 0, 3, 6 |
| <4 | The total is less than the number | One cell: 0, 1, 2 or 3 |
| >9 | The total is greater than the number | Two cells: 4+6, 5+5, 6+6… |
| dotted | No rule — any pips can go here | Often where the leftover domino ends up |
Controls
- Tap a domino to select it, tap again to rotate, then tap a cell. Drag works too, on phones and with a mouse.
- Undo takes back your last move; Clear empties the board.
- Hint places one correct domino for you (it stays locked, shown with an orange edge).
- Keyboard: R rotate, Z undo, Esc deselect.
Dominoes are a standard double-six set: each half has 0 to 6 pips, and a blank half counts as 0. Each puzzle has exactly one answer, so you never need to guess — every placement can be worked out. Ready for strategy? Read the tips.