How to play
How to play Tiles
Tiles is a matching game: tap two tiles that share a layer and the shared layer disappears from both. Clear the board, and try to do it in one long combo. Three small boards below let you try each idea.
1. Tap two tiles that share a layer
Every tile stacks three layers: a shape, a ring, a glyph. Tap one tile, then tap another that shares at least one layer. The shared layers vanish from both. Keep going until every tile is empty. This little board has only two shapes per layer, so matches are everywhere.
2. Chain matches into a combo
After a match, the second tile stays selected, so your next tap has to match it. Every match in a row adds one to your combo. Tap a tile with nothing in common and the combo resets to zero (that tile becomes the selected one). When the selected tile empties out, the next pick is free and the combo keeps going.
3. Go for the perfect chain
Each match removes every shared layer at once. Matching two layers in one go is fine, but it costs a step: the longest possible combo needs one layer per match. Every board on Puzzlune is checked to make sure a full single-combo clear exists. Try it here: 18 matches, one chain.
Read a tile as layers
Every tile is three shapes stacked in a fixed order: a big one at the back, a middle one, a small one in front. In the Lantern set that's a shape, a ring and a glyph. Two tiles match when any one layer is the same on both.
Tap, then tap a match
Tap any tile to select it. Tap a second tile that shares at least one layer. The shared layers disappear from both tiles and the second tile becomes the selected one. Tiles don't need to be next to each other.
Build a combo
Each match in a row adds one to your combo. Tap a tile that has nothing in common with the selected one and the combo resets to zero; that tile becomes selected and you carry on. The game remembers your longest combo.
Use the free picks
When the selected tile loses its last layer it empties out and your next tap can be anything, with the combo intact. Use it to jump to a fresh part of the board instead of chasing a rare layer into a dead end.
Chase the perfect chain
Matching two or three layers in one tap is allowed, but every extra layer removed is one fewer match in the chain. The longest possible combo on a full board is 45: one layer per match, no misses, the whole board in one unbroken run. Every board here is checked so that a 45-chain exists.
Hints
A hint marks the selected tile and one tile that matches it, with the shared layer pulsing, and picks a partner that keeps the perfect chain possible when it can. Daily boards allow three hints; unlimited mode any number.
The four tile sets, layer by layer
Each set is drawn to test a different kind of looking. Learn which layer sits where and you'll scan a board much faster.
Lantern
Read the three layers apart: a big shape, a ring, a small glyph.
Terrazzo
One shape per layer, only the colours change.
Ink
One colour only: read the silhouettes and the cut-outs.
Compass
Same shapes everywhere; only the direction differs.
Strategy tips
- Count before you tap. Find the layer that appears most often and ride it: a common ring or colour gives you many places to go next.
- Save the rare ones. A shape that appears on only two tiles can strand you if you use it early. Pair rare layers late, or during a free pick.
- One layer at a time. A tile that matches on two layers costs a step. If a single-layer partner exists, take that one instead.
- Empty the selected tile on purpose. A free pick is a reset without losing the combo. Steer towards emptying tiles when your options are running out.
- Read the layer order. Front shapes are small so the back ones stay visible. If a tile looks unfamiliar, name its three layers to yourself before matching.
Daily, unlimited and archive
Every day at local midnight there is one new board. The tile set and the number of shapes per layer follow the week:
| Day | Tile set | Shapes per layer |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Lantern · Medium | 6 |
| Tuesday | Terrazzo · Medium | 6 |
| Wednesday | Lantern · Hard | 8 |
| Thursday | Ink · Hard | 8 |
| Friday | Terrazzo · Hard | 8 |
| Saturday | Ink · Expert | 10 |
| Sunday | Compass · Hard | 8 |
Solve the daily to extend your streak. Unlimited serves endless boards in every set and difficulty, with undo and zen mode, and the archive keeps every past day playable.
How is this different from NYT Tiles?
The rules are the same. The New York Times publishes one board a day for Games subscribers, with a zen mode and no archive. Puzzlune draws its own tile sets, generates and checks its own boards, gives you a free daily plus unlimited mode, an archive, hints and dark mode. Puzzlune is not affiliated with The New York Times.