Puzzle guides
The rules of ten puzzle genres and the techniques that solve them, written by the people who build the games.
SudokuHow to play sudoku, from the first number to the X-wingThe rules of sudoku and the techniques that solve it, easiest first: scanning, singles, notes, pointing pairs, naked pairs and the X-wing. With examples.
MinesweeperHow to play minesweeper, and the patterns that make it easyWhat the numbers in minesweeper mean, how to flag and chord, and the patterns that solve most boards: 1-1, 1-2, 1-2-1 and 1-2-2-1. With pictures.
NonogramHow to solve nonograms, step by stepHow nonograms (griddlers, hanjie, picture logic puzzles) work, and the techniques that solve them: the overlap, the edges, crossing out and working lines in turn.
Mahjong solitaireMahjong solitaire: rules and a strategy that clears the boardHow mahjong solitaire works, which tiles are free, how flowers and seasons match, and the strategy that clears more boards: open the stacks, pick the right pair, keep options.
SolitaireKlondike solitaire: rules and strategy, plus Spider and FreeCellThe rules of Klondike solitaire and the strategy that wins more deals: uncover hidden cards, save empty columns for kings, do not rush the foundations. Plus Spider and FreeCell in brief.
2048 merge2048 strategy: how to merge your way to the big tileHow 2048 works and the strategy that reaches the big tile: the corner, the chain, planning with the next block. For the classic sliding game and for shoot-and-merge versions like Mergewick.
Block puzzleBlock puzzle strategy: keep the board open and clear linesHow 8×8 block puzzles work and the strategy that keeps the board open: leave room for the big pieces, fill edges and corners, avoid single holes and clear several lines at once.
Arrow mazeHow to solve arrow puzzles: find the order, clear the boardHow arrows escape puzzles work and how to solve them without losing a life: find the arrows with a clear path, trace what blocks what, and clear the board in the right order.
Word connectWord connect tips: find every word in the wheelHow word connect puzzles work and the tricks that find more words: start short, use plurals and endings, swap the vowels, use the crossword's shape and the bonus words.
Word searchWord search tips: how to find the words fasterHow to find words in a word search faster: look for rare letters, double letters and word shapes, scan one direction at a time, and read diagonals and backwards words.