1. How does the 4-tile matching mechanic work in NYT Tiles?
In NYT Tiles, your goal is to select **4 tiles of the exact same category** (e.g., 4 ladybugs, 4 mushrooms, or 4 stars). Once 4 matching tiles are selected, they flash green, clear from the board, and add combo points (+20 ⭐). Selecting non-matching tiles increases your mistake counter.
2. What happens when I run out of moves or make 4 mistakes?
If your mistake counter reaches 4/4 in competitive or timed mode, the puzzle ends. You can restart the board using the "Play Now" or "Shuffle" buttons to try again without losing your cumulative star rank.
3. When does the Daily Puzzle refresh?
The Daily Puzzle refreshes every 24 hours at midnight UTC. The live countdown timer on the homepage and Daily Puzzle section displays the exact time remaining until the next puzzle unlocks.
4. How do Hint and Shuffle power-ups work?
The **Hint (+)** power-up highlights a matching set of 4 tiles on the board if you get stuck. The **Shuffle (+)** power-up reorganizes all remaining tiles to open up new combo opportunities.
5. How do I get featured on the Top Players Leaderboard?
Sign in to your account and complete puzzles quickly with minimal mistakes. Each successful 4-tile combo earns stars, and streak bonuses propel your score onto the global leaderboard!