How to Play Hitori

THE PLAYBOOK · WHWYBK

How to play Hitori

Bring your attention to one round of Hitori. Shade repeated numbers while keeping black cells separated and all white cells connected. Use the example below to understand a decision. Identify the playing area and the controls you need. Look at what changes after your first action.

Play twelve 5×5 puzzles. Any shaded starting cells remain fixed.

Make the controls familiar

Locate the buttons and input area before beginning a long round. Use the on-screen labels to avoid an accidental restart. Make the next step deliberately.

Your goal

Shade repeated numbers while keeping black cells separated and all white cells connected. An attractive position is not enough unless the goal is met. Try to explain the aim in your own words.

Step by step

1. Click a cell to shade, mark or clear it.
2. No unshaded number may repeat in a row or column.
3. Black cells cannot share an edge.
4. Check puzzle verifies duplicates and connectivity.

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. Read the example below alongside these instructions.

A useful example

Two identical unshaded numbers in one row cannot both remain. Compare this with the rule that governs the move. Notice the change in the playing area.

Watch out for this

Removing every duplicate can disconnect white cells. Read the feedback to see why an action did not have the expected result. Take enough time to read a new position. If a game has a timer, learn its controls first rather than searching for them during the round.

Common questions