Domino Fit: Digital Puzzle Domination

by S4B0T4G3FIRE | June 22nd, 2024, 10:00 AM EDT

18 min readJun 22, 2024

A Puzzled Planet

The New York Times once labeled puzzles “a sinful waste of time,” but the publication could not deny their popularity for long. At the forefront of these puzzles were Crosswords, which provided New York residents with captivating brain exercises and subject matter for workplace discussions. Fast-forward to the digital era, particularly since the turn of the decade and the tentative end of the 2020 pandemic, digital puzzles have taken the United States — and much of the world — by storm.

Free to access and enabled by technology, these puzzles have only risen in availability and creativity. You probably remember solving your first “Wordle” around the beginning of 2021. Millions of players tuned in every day to test their favorite starting words against the daily word. “I got it first try!” “It took me all 6 tries…” “Please give me a hint!” echoing through office cubicles and school hallways. The daily puzzle was such a hit that The New York Times, once cynical, could not wait to obtain the rights from its developer, Josh Wardle, and add it to their library alongside puzzle games like “Connections” and “The Mini” Crossword.

One addictive daily puzzle that The Times has not gotten their hands on since its inception in February 2024? “Domino Fit.”

Domino Fit

As the developer and publisher Joseph Caero put it:

“The best parts of sudoku, mixed with those little tiling puzzles you’d play at the dentist, Domino Fit is a rewarding logic puzzle about getting all the dominos to fit!”

Both a website for daily users and a 99¢ Steam game for those who cannot get enough, Domino Fit joins the digital giants that millions of us have already added to our daily routines. Learning it is tricky, but the first few attempts go a long way. Mastering it, on the other hand, is another story. Finding the perfect solution takes time. Play it enough to realize that it is not a game of guesses but one of patterns. Identify them all, and the solutions will arrive quickly and cleanly!

How Fitting!?

As the directions say, “Fill the board so the dots add up,” which is easier said than done. Let’s go over the fundamentals of this engaging game!

Dominoes

The player can choose from two dominoes of different orientations and values: a vertical 1/0 domino and a horizontal 0/2 domino. In the desktop version, they can either click on the domino they wish to use, or they can right-click to switch between the dominoes. In the mobile version, the only option is to tap on the domino they wish to use.

Numbers

The numbers above columns and beside rows tell the player how many dots are required to fill the respective column or row. To solve the puzzle, all numbers must be achieved exactly as labeled.

Colors

Place too many dots in a row or column, and the corresponding number turns red. Place too few, and the number remains black. Place the correct number, and the number turns green. Don’t add any more dots!

Puzzle Perfection

Fill the board without misplacing a single domino to earn the “Wizardry” achievement for that puzzle.

Earning this achievement requires a bit of patience at first, but players will pick up on patterns the more they play and be solving these puzzles with perfect placement every time in no time! Speaking of time, time is ticking, so try to speed things up if you can!

With the basics out of the way, let’s deep-dive into the patterns you need to know to take your skill to the next level, reduce your average solve times, and earn as many “Wizardry”s as possible in the world’s next best puzzle, Domino Fit!

Full Force

To a beginner, Domino Fit may seem like a game of “guessing and checking,” but there is less guesswork than initially meets the eye. Many moves required for the correct solution are forced from the start! Essentially, a forced move is a move that must be made given a particular board’s characteristics. There are three types of forces: Spatial, Environmental, and Sum.

Spatial Forces

Spatial Forces are forces based on limitations due to space occupied by a gray block or previously placed domino. They are the easiest to spot and most straightforward to complete.

On the 6x6 board below, gray blocks create corners and slots that only one type of domino can fit into. In this particular puzzle, making three forced moves solves the bottom two rows and creates another Spatial Force in the first two columns that will help the player progress.

Pattern: Gray blocks and placed dominoes will create corners and slots that only one type of domino can fit into. This is very common in the beginning and at the end (when there is less room to work with because more dominoes are on the board).

Environmental Forces

Environmental Forces are forces based on information about surrounding spaces. They are the least obvious type of force and require a trained eye to spot. Environmental Forces consist of “Above,” “Side,” and “Overhang.”

Above Force

An Above Force is an Environmental Force where the requirements of a row dictate the orientation of the dominoes in the row above it.

On the following 6x6 board — and every other 6x6 board — a ‘6’ row above another ‘6’ row can only contain horizontal 0/2 dominoes. The reason is that a vertical 1/0 domino anywhere in the above row would take away from the available spaces in the lower row, making it so there simply are not enough spaces remaining for 6 dots in the lower row, as shown below:

This also applies when there is a ‘6’ row above a ‘4’ row when the ‘4’ row contains two gray blocks. A ‘4’ row with only four empty spaces in it means there is no room to accommodate the 0 end of a vertical domino from above, so the above row must be horizontal the entire way across, as shown below:

This works the same way for a ‘6’ row above a ‘5’ row if the ‘5’ row has a single block in it, ‘6’ above ‘3’ + 3 blocks, ‘6’ above ‘2’ + 4 blocks, and ‘6’ above ‘1’ + 5 blocks. It all depends on the number of empty spaces in the lower row and whether or not the row can accommodate the 0 end of a vertical 1/0 domino.

On an 8x8 board, an ‘8’ row above another ‘8’ row must consist of all horizontal 0/2 dominoes for the same reason. Similarly, it applies to an ‘8’ over ‘7’ + 1 block, ‘8’ over ‘6’ + 2 blocks, etc.

As for a 7x7 board, there will never be a ‘7’ row directly above/below another ‘7’ row because 7 is odd and must contain a vertical 1/0 domino somewhere; but the rule still applies for a ‘7’ above lesser numbers in many situations.

Pattern: If the value of a row is equal to the number of empty spaces in it, the row above it can only contain horizontal dominoes all the way across.

Side Force

On a board of any size, a ‘1’ column adjacent to a column containing a gray block forces a 1/0 domino into a position beside the gray block.

In the example below, the gray block in the second column limits the vertical 1/0 domino to one of two positions — or three total spaces. That means every other space in the ‘1’ column must contain the left side of a horizontal 0/2 domino since the sum of 1 must come from somewhere within those three spaces.

Hopefully, filling in the remaining spots (outside the red outline) in the column will reveal other obvious moves elsewhere in the puzzle. In this case, doing so solves the bottom row and triggers a chain reaction of more forced moves from bottom to top.

Below is another board to consider. This board houses many forces, but bring your attention to the Side Force on the right side.

On this 6x6 board, the ‘9’ column requires a single vertical 1/0 domino. The vertical domino is restricted to one of two positions to the right of the gray block. That means all but 3 spaces (outlined in red) in the column are forced to hold the right side of horizontal 0/2 dominoes. Again, the hope is that these forces will reveal something in another part of the board that will eventually come back to show which of the two possible positions the 1/0 occupies.

Below is one more example of a Side Force. This one restricts a vertical 1/0 domino to just one possible position. The reason is that the gray block in the next column is two spaces, which forces the 1/0 vertical domino to occupy the position directly beside it, as shown in 6b.

Placing the vertical 1/0 domino anywhere else in the column would force the player to use two vertical dominoes, which would cause the player to go over the required value, as shown in 6c.

This also applies to a ‘2’ column if the column to the left or right contains a gray block that is four spaces (two dominoes) tall, and a ‘3’ column if the column next to it contains a gray block that is six spaces (three dominoes) tall (on larger boards).

Pattern: Gray blocks, particularly in the second and second-to-last columns force vertical 1/0s dominoes directly beside them. For ‘1’ columns beside a gray block, every other space in the column must contain the 0 ends of horizontal 0/2 dominoes.

Overhang Force

Like an Above Force, an Overhang Force is caused by the characteristics of the row above it. In an Overhang Force, a gray block or domino in one row is hanging over a space in the row directly beneath it. This forces the space to contain a value of at least 1. In other words, it forces dots into the row below it.

Consider the visuals below:

The first move is a Spatial Force, which overhangs a space below it (outlined in red). The only values that can fill the space beneath the overhang are 1 and 2 (the 1 end of a vertical 1/0 domino or the 2 end of a 0/2 horizontal domino). The second row requires a sum of 1. By the process of elimination, the space beneath the overhang must be occupied by a vertical 1/0 domino.

However, not all overhangs will be above a ‘1’ row. The following example shows two overhangs above a ‘2’ row. Thankfully, Spatial Forces are also present in this puzzle, but had they not been, these Overhang Forces would still be easily identifiable.

Two overhangs being present above a ‘2’ row automatically means vertical 1/0 dominoes are to be placed beneath both overhangs.

This rule applies to board states with three overhangs above a ‘3’ row, four overhangs above a ‘4’ row, and so on. For example:

In the above puzzle, four blocks overhang a ‘4’ row. By default, the entire sum for the ‘4’ row must be beneath the overhang. In this particular case, the player cannot be certain of the orientation of the dominoes that make up the sum of 4, but they do know that the other two spaces in the row are occupied by the 0 ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes, as shown in 9b.

In this final example, an Overhang Force forces a horizontal 0/2 domino into one of two positions (three total spaces) beneath a gray block in the bottom row.

Furthermore, the ‘1’ column cannot hold the two dots of a horizontal 0/2 domino and must take the 0 end of the horizontal 0/2 domino instead.

Pattern: In the event of an overhanging block, the block forces dots into the row below it. If the number of overhanging blocks in a row is equal to the value of the row beneath it, then all dots in the lower row will be directly beneath the overhanging blocks; and any outstanding spaces in the lower row will be occupied by the bottom ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes.

Sum Forces

Sum Forces are forces where only one move or set of moves is possible to reach the required sum for a particular row or column.

On any 6x6 board, a ‘3’ column hugging the left wall can only be completed using three 1/0 vertical dominoes, like in the board below:

A horizontal 0/2 domino anywhere in the column would limit the column to a value of 2 or fewer due to lack of room, so they must all be vertical 1/0 dominoes.

Also, completing a Sum Force can create a new wall that leads to another Sum Force, like in the following example:

This also applies to a ‘4’ column hugging the left of an 8x8 board. The column can only be completed using four vertical 1/0 dominoes.

Most of the time, this rule also applies to a ‘3’ on the right of a 6x6 board — and a ‘4’ on the right of an 8x8 board. However, any gray blocks in the right column will disrupt this. Simultaneously, those gray blocks could also create a different Sum Force, so be attentive.

Now reconsider the following board from earlier. The ‘6’ column (outlined in red) has only three empty spaces. Thus, the only way to achieve a sum of 6 in this column is by using three horizontal 0/2 pieces.

If there were not already so many other forces on this board — like the ‘6’ row on the bottom, the ‘4’ row just above it, and a couple of Side Forces — this Sum Force would prove very useful.

Below are two final examples of Sum Forces:

In 13a, given the initial Spatial Force, the only way to satisfy the ‘2’ column is by using a second vertical 1/0 domino, and there is only one position in the column that such a domino can occupy.

In 13b, with only three spaces in the ‘2’ column, there is not enough room to accommodate two vertical 1/0 dominoes to reach a sum of 2, so it is guaranteed that the column is comprised of the 2 end of a 0/2 horizontal domino and the 0 ends of two 0/2 horizontal dominoes.

Pattern: Look for columns whose sums can only be reached using one combination of dominoes due to the amount of space on the board.

Absence of Patterns

On occasion, puzzles will have moments without patterns, and the player must make an educated move. Most of the time, this means placing the right end of a horizontal 0/2 domino in a column labeled by a larger number. For instance, if a ‘3’ column is beside an ‘11’ column, chances are the ‘11’ column will hold the 2 end of a horizontal 0/2 domino while the ‘3’ column holds the 0 end. These are called “percentage plays.” Unless a player wishes— or is trained enough — to think many moves ahead, percentage plays are their best bet in the absence of a clear pattern. Ideally, an educated move will reveal patterns that were not already present!

8x8 Tutorials

These patterns apply to larger boards as well! The only catch is that there are more to look for, and they can be a little tougher to find.

Tutorial 1

8x8 Board Walkthrough 1

The bottom row is forced to consist of horizontal 0/2 dominoes because it cannot accommodate any 0 ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes since there are only 4 spaces.
The lower ‘8’ row is forced to consist of horizontal 0/2 dominoes because it cannot accommodate any 0 ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes. Also, the ‘8’ over ‘8’ rule forces the upper ‘8’ row to be horizontal, which creates Spatial Forces in the lower ‘8’ row. So there are two potential ways to solve them.
The completion of the bottom three rows creates a Sum Force in the rightmost column. To go from a sum of 6 to a sum of 8, two vertical 1/0 dominoes are forced into the rightmost column.
The Sum Force in the rightmost column creates a ‘7’ + 1 block over a ‘7’ + 1 block scenario. The lower ‘7’ only contains 7 spaces, so it cannot accommodate the 0 end of a vertical 1/0 domino. Therefore, this Above Force ensures that the above ‘7’ row consists of all horizontal 0/2 dominoes so as not to occupy crucial space in the row below it.
This creates a new Sum Force in the new rightmost column. To go from a sum of 2 to a sum of 4, two vertical 1/0 dominoes are forced into the remaining space.
This creates another new Sum Force in the newest rightmost column. To go from a sum of 4 to a sum of 6, two vertical 1/0 dominoes are forced into the remaining space.
This creates another new Sum Force as well as a Spatial Force in the newest rightmost column. To go from a sum of 2 to a sum of 6 with only two empty spaces remaining in the column, horizontal 0/2 dominoes must fill the remaining gaps in the column.
This creates yet another Sum Force in the rightmost column as the only way to go from a sum of 4 to a sum of 5 is by completing the column with a vertical 1/0 domino.
This solves the ‘2’ row, which is the route taken in the tutorial, but it also creates another Sum Force in the rightmost column if a player chooses to take that route instead.
And the puzzle solves itself once the ‘1’ column receives its vertical 1/0 domino.

Tutorial 2

8x8 Board Walkthrough 2

A Spatial Force in the right column starts the puzzle.
This creates a Sum Force where the remainder of the rightmost column can only contain vertical 1/0 dominoes. However, a different route is taken in this tutorial.
Completing the Spatial Force with the horizontal 0/2 domino creates a long series of Spatial Forces clockwise around the puzzle. In a puzzle like this, the numbers almost do not matter due to the chain reaction of Spatial Forces forcing the player to fill the board with dominoes that can only go in one place.
Eventually, this chain reaction brings the player’s attention to a Sum Force in the leftmost column (which could have been completed earlier but was irrelevant at the time).
Once the ‘2’ column is solved, a few more Spatial Forces are performed, and the puzzle solves itself.

Tutorial 3

8x8 Board Walkthrough 3

An Overhang Force starts the puzzle. The space beneath the overhang must contain a vertical 1/0 domino. The other spaces in the ‘1’ row must contain the 0 ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes.
A Spatial Force appears in the top row as only horizontal 0/2 dominoes will fit. Also, had the initial Overhang Force been ignored, the ‘8’ over ‘7’ + 1 block Above Force applies too. The horizontal 0/2 dominoes in the top row were forced in two ways.
The player chooses to solve the bottom row next. There are two spaces in which the horizontal 0/2 domino will fit, but a Sum Force now exists in the leftmost column. After completing it, there is only one way to solve the bottom row.
The ‘3’ column beside the ‘9’ column cannot hold any more dots, so the remainder of its spaces is filled with the 0 ends of horizontal 0/2 dominoes. Also, there is a Sum Force in the ‘9’ column where the only way to go from a sum of 1 to a sum of 9 with the space remaining is by using the 2 ends of horizontal 0/2 dominoes. Both forces accomplish the same thing.
A Spatial Force and Sum Force are found in the rightmost column. Had the ‘9’ column not already been solved, the rightmost column could have been solved using a Sum Force because the only way to go from a sum of 5 to a sum of 7 is by using two vertical 1/0 dominoes. However, solving the ‘9’ column first created a Spatial Force. The player could have solved these columns in different orders if they wanted to or needed to.
This creates a new Sum Force in the newest rightmost column, the ‘3’ column.
This leads to another Sum Force in the newest rightmost column, the ‘4’ column.
The remainder of the puzzle solves itself.

Tutorial 4

8x8 Board Walkthrough 4

A Sum Force in the leftmost column starts the puzzle.
The player’s attention goes to the Spatial Force in the top right corner. Three more Spatial Forces are completed in this region.
A Sum Force is completed in the rightmost column. Three vertical 1/0 dominoes are the only combination of dominoes that could bring the sum of 2 to a sum of 5 with the space remaining.
An Above Force (‘7’ + 1 block over ‘5’ + 3 blocks) is completed. In other words, the second row could not accommodate any 0 ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes since its sum was 2 with only 3 remaining spaces.
This leads to an Overhang Force where the ‘4’ row already contained a sum of 2 and was beneath two overhanging blocks. The overhanging blocks mean there must be two dots beneath them, so the remaining spaces in the row contain the 0 ends of 1/0 vertical dominoes.
A Spatial Force is completed in the left-most column.
An Above Force ensures that the ‘4’ row contains a horizontal 0/2 domino since the row below it cannot accommodate any 0 ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes.
Another Above Force arises as the ‘6’ row cannot accommodate any 0 ends of vertical 1/0 dominoes. Therefore, the ‘5’ row above it must be horizontal all the way across.
This creates a Sum Force in the new rightmost column as the only way for the ‘6’ column to go from a sum of 4 to a sum of 6 with the space remaining is by using two vertical 1/0 dominoes.
The next move is less obvious. The player brings their attention to the leftmost column, which still requires one more vertical 1/0 domino to complete its sum. The ‘8’ row cannot accommodate the 0 end of a vertical 1/0 domino, so it must contain the 1 end of a vertical 1/0 domino instead.
This leads to a Spatial Force followed by a Sum Force in the leftmost columns.
These forces complete the ‘3’ column, which means it cannot hold any more dots, so it must be given the 0 ends of horizontal 0/2 dominoes.
This completes the ‘7’ column, and the remainder of the puzzle solves itself.

Wizardry!

In summary, unless a player can solve an entire puzzle in their head before placing a single domino, spotting patterns is the only way to obtain quick times and perfect solutions in Domino Fit. These patterns take time to learn — and hours of practice to spot consistently. Know what you’re looking for, and you’ll find it! Know all the patterns, and the puzzle will solve itself in just a few seconds! Typically, a “good” time for a 6x6 board solve is 10 seconds, a 7x7 board is 20 seconds, and an 8x8 board is 30 seconds; however, respective times of 4 seconds, 7 seconds, and 10 seconds and lower are possible given the right board! How quickly can you arrive at the perfect solution in Domino Fit!?

Play the Daily Puzzles Here (on Desktop and Mobile): Domino Fit (isotropic.us)

Buy the Steam Game for 99¢ here: Domino Fit on Steam (steampowered.com)

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