NYT Tiles

Tiles launched in 2019 as a relaxing matching puzzle designed by art director Sam Von Ehren. Players tap pairs of identical symbols on a mosaic board to clear tiles and rack up combos that refill the timer and speed up the soundtrack.

• Launch: 2019 as part of the NYT Games beta collection.
• Goal: match pairs quickly; consecutive matches without misses build a combo meter.
• Presentation: rotating art packs keep the boards fresh while the soothing music underscores the “zen” pacing.

Official access and pricing

Play Tiles at NYTimes.com/games/tiles. The daily board is free on web and in the NYT Games app with a Times account; archived art packs, streak tracking, and the ad-free app experience are included with an NYT Games or All Access subscription.

Strategy: chasing high combos

• Scan corners first: edge tiles are easier to differentiate and help anchor your visual memory.
• Bank obvious pairs: tap easy matches quickly to extend the timer before hunting trickier symbols.
• Use the undo carefully: breaking your combo costs points, so undo only when a mis-tap would end a streak.
• Memorize motifs: recurring art sets, such as flowers or geometric shapes, reward familiarity and reduce hesitation.
• Starting rhythms: begin with slower taps to map the board, then ramp to double-taps once your eyes track two or three pairs ahead.

Practice a two-phase approach: spend the first five seconds identifying four obvious matches without touching them, then execute them rapidly to push the combo meter into the bonus zone. During late-game play, pause after every streak to refocus on the timer and avoid a rushed mistake.

Drills and opener variations

Mix up your starting rhythm: Day 1 open with a slow survey of every tile edge; Day 2 start aggressively with the first three pairs you see to build an instant combo; Day 3 search specifically for rare colors or icons before tapping anything. This rotation mirrors the "Genius" advice of changing your first moves to break routine and keep attention sharp.

• Memory ladder: tap two pairs, then pause and name two remaining icons aloud before matching them. Repeat until the board is clear.
• Blind corner drill: hide the center of the board with your hand and clear edges only, training peripheral vision and deliberate pacing.
• Combo preservation: practice hitting undo immediately after a mis-tap to protect streaks; muscle memory here salvages high scores.
• Art pack study: screenshot a favorite pack and label motifs. Knowing that a certain flower always pairs with a specific stem saves seconds in live play.

Interesting facts

Tiles originally appeared alongside Letter Boxed and Vertex as gentle, almost toy-like experiments on the Times Games beta page. Its success proved that low-pressure puzzles could coexist with competitive timed challenges like the Crossword and Spelling Bee.

Practice idea: replay the same art pack multiple times in one sitting to memorize the icon set. Familiarity cuts recognition time, letting you chase personal-best combos even before the board fully reveals itself.