Tiles

Tiles is a New York Times color-and-pattern matching game. Each patterned tile contains visual elements such as shapes, colors and backgrounds; you pair matching elements to clear the board while trying to keep an unbroken chain. The daily tileset changes at 12 a.m. E.T., and the game is available to NYT Games, All Access and Home Delivery subscribers.

1. Study the patterned tiles and identify a visual component shared by two tiles.
2. Tap one tile, then tap a second tile with a matching component; matching elements disappear.
3. Continue pairing matches until the board is clear, choosing your next match to pursue the kind of combo you want.

Choose Tiles for a quieter visual puzzle that can be relaxed or optimized. Its pairing rules reward close attention to patterns, while the daily board, selectable tilesets and infinite Zen Mode let you choose between a brief reset and a sustained combo challenge.

When two matching tile components are paired, those visual elements disappear. Your chain continues when the second tile you select can match a new tile; ending on an empty tile does not break the combo. NYT notes that an unbroken standard-game combo shows “perfect” on screen. Tiles has no statistics at this time.

Standard daily Tiles

The daily tileset rotates at 12 a.m. E.T.; the goal is to clear the board by making matching tile pairs.

Zen Mode

As tiles are cleared, Zen Mode replenishes them for potentially infinite play; matches can eventually run out because it does not guarantee an even number of matches.

Tileset selection

Players can choose a preferred tileset in the game settings.

• Break each tile into its component layers, then scan for matches by shape, color or background rather than judging the whole image at once.
• For a small combo, look for double or triple matches that clear more than one shared element at a time.
• For a longer combo, avoid double and triple matches where possible so more linked pairings remain available.