Cliques is a free daily domino puzzle on a 5 by 7 board. Each half of a domino has a shape and a color. Put matching halves next to each other to build groups, and score big by making a few groups grow.
How do you play Cliques?
- The board starts with three tiles already down. You hold three dominoes in the tray, and the rest of today's 16 wait behind them.
- Tap a domino to turn it. On a computer you can also press R or Space while you drag it.
- Drag it onto two empty squares side by side. Once it's down, it stays.
- Touching halves with the same shape form a group. So do touching halves with the same color. Diagonals don't count.
- A new domino scores the size of every group it joins or grows. Bigger groups pop bigger numbers.
- The puzzle ends when all 16 dominoes are placed, or when no two empty squares touch anymore ("No room left").
There are three shapes (circle, square, triangle) and three colors (orange, purple, green). Every half counts for both, so one tile can sit in a shape group and a color group at the same time.
Why do big groups beat lots of small ones?
Because a group scores its full size every time it grows. Here's a simple run, looking only at shapes.
- You place a domino with two circles side by side, touching nothing. That's a circle group of 2. +2.
- The next domino has two circles too. You put it touching the first pair. The group is now 4, and the whole thing scores again. +4.
- A third pair of circles joins it. The group is 6. +6.
Three dominoes, 12 points. Place the same three pairs apart from each other and you get 2 + 2 + 2, just 6 points. Same tiles, half the score.
Colors work on top of that. A half that grows a circle group and an orange group in the same move scores both groups. The best placements feed two growing groups at once.
A half that matches nothing scores nothing. A lone tile is not a group.
What are the medal thresholds?
Every day, the game runs its own search for a high score with today's dominoes. That's "Today's best" on the results screen. It's a strong score, not a perfect one, and you can beat it. Your medal depends on how close you get:
- Bronze: 60% of today's best or more
- Silver: 80% or more
- Gold: 95% or more
- New high! You scored more than today's best.
So if today's best is 120, bronze starts at 72, silver at 96 and gold at 114. A bar above the board fills as you score, so you always know how far the next medal is.
Below bronze, the results say "Not quite". It's not a loss. Your streak still counts the day.
Hint and Start over
Hint shows a suggested placement. It outlines the two squares and turns the right domino the right way. There's a five-second wait between hints.
Start over clears the board back to the three starting tiles. Tap it twice to confirm. There is no undo, so a placed domino stays put unless you start over.
Tips for a higher score
- Pick two or three groups to grow. Keep feeding the same ones instead of starting new ones in every corner.
- Leave space next to your big groups. A group boxed in by the edge or by unmatched tiles can't grow anymore.
- Turn every domino before you place it. The same domino can score very different amounts in each direction.
- Look at the tray, not just the domino in your hand. You can see three at a time. Save a spot for the one that fits it best.
- Don't leave single empty squares. A domino needs two touching squares. A hole of one can never be filled, and the board has exactly enough room for all 16 dominoes.
How is Cliques scored?
Your score is the total of every group you scored along the way. A clock runs while you play and shows on your results. Signed-in players get a daily leaderboard ranked by score, with time breaking ties, plus a friends-only board.
Your results also show your biggest group, your streak, how many gold, silver and bronze medals you've won, today's time and your best score.
How do you share your result?
The Share button copies your medal, if you earned one, and your score:
Cliques #11 / 🥈 86 perdiem.games/cliques
It shows no part of your board, so it's safe to post.
On a phone, Share opens your share sheet.
Common questions
Is the puzzle the same for everyone?
Yes. Everyone gets the same three starting tiles and the same 16 dominoes in the same order.
Can I lose?
No. Every game ends with a score. The only question is which medal it earns.
Does a group of one tile count?
No. A group needs at least two touching halves with the same shape or the same color.
Can I play past days?
Yes. Open the week strip on your results screen to go back through the last seven days.
Is Cliques free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with nothing to install, and you don't need an account. An account keeps your streak across devices and unlocks leaderboards and friends.