Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you’re 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 have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you’ve ever played dominoes, you’ll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we’ve shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don’t necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you’ll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 19 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 19 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 19 Pips

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 21 seconds ago

If you’re a sitcom fan of a certain age, you probably spent your formative years sitting in front of a glowing television set, watching Tim Allen grunt and shout about tools on Home Improvement. For years now, fans have asked for a Home Improvement reunion of some sort, since just about every other show from that era has been rebooted, remade, or squeezed dry with legacy sequels. Unfortunately, it looks like a Home Improvement reunion won’t be in the cards for the foreseeable future, according to Tim Allen himself.

Per a recent report in Variety, Tim the tool man is blaming his fictional kids for gumming up the works, claiming that they have severe “personality problems” that are keeping them from reuniting. Specifically, the Toy Story 5 star claims that network execs from ABC “keep talking about how it could move forward, but they get stuck [because] there are some personality problems right now with the boys.” When asked about his own vision for a possible Home Improvement reunion, Allen explained “I always thought it would be cool if it was a story about them. That’s a little challenging right now, to put it mildly.”

The New Family Dynamic

Allen’s comments seem to refer to a series of arrests and other headline-grabbing moments from his younger costars. Most notably, Zachery Ty Bryan, who portrayed Tim Taylor’s son Brad on the original series, has had numerous run-ins with the law. Having starred on Home Improvement from the ages of nine to 17, it’s easy to see how the young actor might have fallen prey to the same kinds of issues that plague many child stars.

Bryan was arrested in 2025 on charges of second-degree violence, after previously facing arrests for felony assault, third-degree robbery, and domestic violence over the years. While these charges are quite shocking, it’s worth pointing out that Tim Allen isn’t exactly a shining paragon of moral and lawful virtue. The Buzz Lightyear voice actor has carried numerous controversies of his own over the years, including on-set misconduct claims, accusations of creating a hostile work environment, and arrests for drug trafficking and drunk driving.

Don’t Hold Your Breath

None of this is to say that Allen or his costars are singlehandedly preventing Home Improvement from returning. Still, it’s worth pointing out that the production has more to contend with than some simple “personality problems.” In fact, even if Allen and his TV children were squeaky clean legally speaking, there’s a good chance that a reunion still wouldn’t take shape. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who portrayed Randy on the series, is no longer interested in acting, and hasn’t appeared on screen in over a decade.

Of course, ABC could take a page from the Malcolm In The Middle reboot by recasting Randy, but that would sort of conflict with Tim Allen’s vision that the series centers on the Taylor boys all grown up. As it currently stands, it seems like a Home Improvement reboot is less likely to be made today than ever before. Maybe we can hold out hope for a 40 year reunion special in 2031, but even that seems a little farfetched.

By Steven Nelson
| Published 10 seconds ago

Sometimes, catching up with current stars back well before they had become household names and faces can be almost like a look back into a time capsule. And sometimes nearly the entire cast of a movie goes on to relative superstardom. With that in mind, get ready for a heartwarming and nostalgic journey with 10 Years, a hidden gem currently streaming on Tubi that brings together two rising stars, Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum (and a bunch of others). 

Released in 2011, this film takes us back to the early days of Channing Tatum and Chris Pratt’s careers, where both actors were still on the cusp of becoming world famous. 

A Low-Stakes Rom-Com

In 10 Years, Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum lead an ensemble cast (which we’ll get to), portraying a group of friends who reunite for their high school reunion. As they come together to celebrate the passing of a decade since graduation, the film delves into themes of friendship, growth, and reminiscence.

Chris Pratt’s character, Cully, is a lovable and somewhat goofy guy who has yet to fully outgrow his high school persona. As the film progresses, Pratt’s performance brings both charm and vulnerability to Cully, capturing the essence of a character trying to find his place in the adult world.

Channing Tatum takes on the role of Jake, a successful music executive who has moved on from his high school days. Tatum’s portrayal of Jake exudes charisma and maturity, reflecting the growth his character has undergone since their shared high school experiences.

Throughout the movie, 10 Years weaves together multiple storylines, exploring the complexities of friendships that have evolved over time. As the characters reconnect and reminisce, the film strikes a balance between heartfelt moments and lighthearted humor, creating an emotionally resonant narrative.

A Cast Beyond Stacked

And, of course, there’s the rest of the cast. If it sounds like the precursor for what would see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, well, you aren’t far off. In addition to Channing Tatum (not in the MCU, yet) and Chris Pratt (duh), there’s Oscar Isaac and Anthony Mackie who make up part of the core friend group. Plus, Aubrey Plaza is in there as well. Rounding it out are Rosario Dawson, Justin Long, Kate Mara, and Ron Livingston.

And while the film didn’t come out to much in the way of fanfare (less than a million at the box office), it does maintain a 58 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Chris Pratt And Channing Tatum Hadn’t Reached Super-Stardom Just Yet

For both Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum, 10 Years marks an important stage in their careers. At the time of the film’s release, Pratt had already begun gaining recognition for his role as Andy Dwyer in the popular TV series Parks and Recreation. However, his breakthrough into major blockbuster films was still on the horizon. His endearing performance in 10 Years showcased his comedic talent and set the stage for more significant opportunities that awaited him.

Similarly, Channing Tatum was establishing himself as a prominent actor in Hollywood, having already starred in films like Step Up and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. 10 Years further solidified his status as a leading man, with his charisma and charm shining through in the role of Jake.

As their careers continued to flourish, both Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum went on to achieve immense success. Pratt became a prominent figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring as Peter Quill/Star-Lord in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, while Tatum impressed audiences with his performances in films like Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Roofman.

Looking back, 10 Years serves as both a heartfelt ensemble dramedy and a fascinating snapshot of Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum before they became major Hollywood stars. Their performances showcase the charm and talent that would later propel them to blockbuster success, making the film an endearing trip down memory lane that’s well worth revisiting.

As of this writing, 10 Years is streaming for free on Tubi.