Layers Game #14

Sep 28 Hints

Reveal only what you need. Nothing on this page shows an answer until you open it.

Quick hint

Chips, brass bands, celebrations and summits.

Layer 1 hints

Mini puzzle 1 · Clue Stack

First clue: “It's big and brassy.”

Hint 1 · General direction

It's an instrument.

Hint 2 · More specific

It rhymes with CUBA.

Hint 3 · Reveal letters

T _ _ A

Mini puzzle 2 · Missing Link

___ HARBOR · ___ NECKLACE · MOTHER-OF-___

Hint 1 · General direction

An oyster makes it.

Hint 2 · More specific

It's white and lustrous.

Hint 3 · Reveal letters

P _ _ R L

Mini puzzle 3 · Word Shift

Start at BALD and shift 2 times. First clue: “Brave — or a heavy typeface”

Hint 1 · General direction

You'll end on something precious.

Hint 2 · More specific

It's a yellow metal.

Hint 3 · Reveal letters

B?LD → ?OLD

Mini puzzle 4 · Letter Path

Clue: “South America's great mountain chain”

Hint 1 · General direction

It runs down the west side of a continent.

Hint 2 · More specific

Llamas live there.

Hint 3 · Reveal letters

A _ _ E S — starts at the highlighted A (row 2, column 1)

Layer 2 hints

Most straightforward group

What the group is about

One group goes with chips or pita.

Two words that belong together

SALSA and HUMMUS

Medium group

What the group is about

One group you blow into.

Two words that belong together

TRUMPET and TUBA

Tricky group

What the group is about

One group marks years of marriage.

Two words that belong together

RUBY and PEARL

Trickiest group

What the group is about

One group is very high up.

Two words that belong together

ALPS and ANDES

Final layer hints

Today's final layer is a First Letters.

Final hint 1

Use only the first letter of each key.

Final hint 2

Look up on a clear night.

Final hint 3

The answer looks like: S _ _ R

Still stuck?

How to play

Every puzzle has three layers. Peel them one at a time.

  1. Layer 1 — Mini Puzzles. Solve four quick puzzles: a Clue Stack, a Missing Link, a Word Shift and a Letter Path.
  2. Layer 2 — Connections. Sort 16 words into four groups of four. Your Layer 1 answers are on the board, marked ●. Five mistakes and the groups are revealed.
  3. Final Layer. Each group gives you a key word. Use all four keys to crack one last question. You get three tries.

Stuck? Every layer has hints. A new puzzle unlocks at midnight in your time zone.

Read the full guide