Masonry is a free daily domino puzzle. You lay a set of dominoes on a square grid so that every row and every column holds each number exactly once. A few printed pips and joined squares on the board are your clues, and there's only one way to fill it.
How do you play Masonry?
- Every row and every column needs each number once: 1 to 4 on the weekday 4 by 4 grids, 1 to 6 on the weekend 6 by 6 grids.
- Your dominoes wait in the tray under the board. Tap one to turn it a quarter turn.
- Drag it onto the grid. The half you're holding lands on the square under your finger.
- Tap a domino on the grid to lift it, then tap it again to turn it where it sits. Drag it off the grid to put it back in the tray.
- Fill the whole grid with no repeats to finish.
A domino can go on any two empty squares, even a wrong spot. It can't go on top of another domino.
What are the clues?
- Printed pips. Grey pips on a square show the number that belongs there. Cover them with the same number.
- Joined squares. Two squares drawn as one long shape are covered by a single domino.
- Set dominoes. A domino with a dashed edge is already in place. It's always right, and it can't be moved.
The puzzle gives you just enough of these to have exactly one solution.
How does Masonry tell you something is wrong?
If a half sits on printed pips with a different number, its pips turn red. If a number shows up twice in a row or a column, a red bar appears beside that row or under that column. Neighboring rows or columns with repeats share one bar.
That's all it tells you. A domino can break no rule and still be in the wrong place, so a board with no red can still be unfinished.
How does Masonry change through the week?
Weekdays are 4 by 4 and the weekend is 6 by 6. Across the week you get fewer printed pips and fewer pieces placed for you.
| Day | Grid | Set dominoes | Joined pairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 4 by 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Tuesday | 4 by 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Wednesday | 4 by 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Thursday | 4 by 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Friday | 4 by 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Saturday | 6 by 6 | 8 | 3 |
| Sunday | 6 by 6 | 7 | 3 |
Every day has some of each kind of clue. The weekend grids start with almost half the board laid, because 6 by 6 is a big jump. Sunday has fewer printed pips than Saturday.
Can you take notes?
Yes. Tap an empty square to pencil in a number. Each tap moves to the next number, and after the highest it goes blank again. Pencil marks are drawn as outlined pips, so you can tell them from the printed clues. Hold a pencilled square to clear it.
Undo takes back your last move. Hold it to clear the board and start over, and even that can be undone.
How do the hints work?
Tap Hint if you're stuck. If any domino on the board is in the wrong place, it gets a red ring, even if it breaks no rule yet. If everything placed is right, one domino in the tray turns the right way and a see-through copy shows where it goes.
The Hint button needs a few seconds to refill between uses. Your results count your hints.
How is Masonry scored?
There are no points. Your results show your time, your streak and your best time for each grid size.
Masonry has a daily leaderboard for signed-in players. It ranks your time with 30 seconds added for every hint. Only today's puzzle ranks.
How do you share your result?
The Share button copies your puzzle number and your time:
Masonry #3 / 2:41 perdiem.games/masonry
On a phone, Share opens your share sheet.
Tips for solving Masonry
- Start with the printed pips. A 4 printed in a row tells you where that row's 4 is, and that no other square in the row or column can be a 4.
- Count what each line still needs. On a 4 by 4, a row with three numbers known has only one choice left for the fourth.
- Use the joined squares. They tell you exactly where one domino lies, which narrows down where the others can fit.
- Check your tray. Look for a domino whose two numbers fit only one pair of open squares.
- Pencil in what you're sure of. You may know a square is a 1 before you know which domino covers it.
- Watch for red bars. A bar means two of the same number in a line. Fix it before it spreads.
Is Masonry like Pips or a Latin square?
The grid rule is a Latin square, the same idea as a sudoku row or column, made with dominoes instead of single digits. Moving the dominoes, turning them and dropping them in place will feel familiar if you play domino placement games like NYT's Pips. Masonry isn't affiliated with The New York Times or Pips.
Common questions
Is it the same puzzle for everyone?
Yes. The puzzle is generated from the date, so everyone gets the same board each day.
Is there only one solution?
Yes. Every puzzle has exactly one way to fill the numbers, and the clues are chosen to make that so.
Can I put a domino anywhere?
On any two empty squares, yes, even a wrong spot. You can't put it on top of another domino, and set dominoes with a dashed edge can't be moved.
Do I need an account?
No. Masonry is free and runs in your browser. Sign in to appear on the daily leaderboard.