Nurikabe

THE PLAYBOOK · YUNQITEA

Your guide to Nurikabe

Bring your attention to one round of Nurikabe. Create one connected sea around numbered islands of exactly the stated size, without a 2×2 sea block. Keep the game area visible while you use its controls. Keep the instructions close while learning this activity. Look at what changes after your first action.

Play ten compact 5×5 puzzles. Some boards begin with fixed shaded sea cells.

A focus for your next round

Locate the buttons and input area before beginning a long round. Use the on-screen labels to avoid an accidental restart. Use the example to check your reasoning.

The goal to keep in mind

Create one connected sea around numbered islands of exactly the stated size, without a 2×2 sea block. An attractive position is not enough unless the goal is met. Notice how the game responds to your input.

Making your moves

1. Shade sea squares and leave islands white.
2. Every island contains exactly one clue.
3. Different islands cannot meet along an edge.
4. Check puzzle verifies sizes, connectivity and forbidden sea blocks.

Getting comfortable with the controls

Click or tap squares or graph edges. Number boards include a digit pad. Undo reverses the previous change; Check puzzle validates the solution. A careful first action helps you become familiar with the layout. Contact us with the game and device if a control does not respond.

See how the rules apply

An island labelled 1 is already complete, so its edge neighbours must be sea. Your next round may have a different position, so inspect it before acting. Read the matching step again.

Check this before moving on

Two numbered islands may not merge into one. Compare the situation with the worked example. Compare the worked example with your own position. Use the reasoning, not an answer copied from a different board.

Common questions