Tiles
Learn more about the New York Times game Tiles including access, how to play, and answers to common questions.
About Tiles
Tiles is a color and pattern matching game where, using patterned squares, players are challenged to create the longest possible sequence of tile pairings with matching components.
Each tile has multiple visual elements such as shapes, color, or backgrounds -The goal is to combine matching tile elements to make a pair. The matching visual elements will disappear. Continue matching until the board is cleared.
- To create a long combo, match the second tile you tap to a new one.
- Tiles do not have to be adjacent.
- You won’t lose your combo if you end on an empty tile.
Games, All Access, and Home Delivery Subscribers have unlimited access to Tiles play and can pick their preferred color palette in Settings.
Players with a free New York Times account or a subscription other than Games, All Access, or Home Delivery have a limited number of plays each day. Each time you play Tiles you spend one play.
Where to Play
You can play Tiles in the Games app, at nytimes.com/puzzles/tiles, or in the Play tab of the New York Times News app.
When to Play
The tile set rotates daily at 12 a.m EST.
Tiles settings
- If you are a Games, All Access, or Home Delivery Subscriber, you can also access Zen Mode in Tiles. In Zen Mode, tiles will replenish as they are cleared, allowing for infinite play.
- Dark Theme - Dark Mode allows you to change the display of The New York Times app to a light-on-dark color scheme. You can read more about Dark Mode and other settings in the Help Center section, The New York Times News App.