Shade
Shade the repeats until no number shows twice in a line.
A calm logic puzzle about hiding repeats. Every square of the grid holds a number, and some numbers show up twice in the same row or column. Shade squares until no number repeats among the white squares, without two shaded squares ever touching side by side, and with all the white squares joined in one piece. Every board has exactly one answer you can reach by reasoning alone, on 5 by 5, 7 by 7 or 9 by 9 squares, and every day brings a new board, the same for everyone.
- Category
- Puzzle & Brain
- Modes
- Small 5×5 · Medium 7×7 · Large 9×9 · Daily
- Controls
- Mouse · Touch · Keyboard
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How to play
Tap a square to shade it, tap again to circle it as a square that stays white, and once more to clear it. Shade squares until no number shows twice in a row or column among the white squares. Two shaded squares never touch side by side (corners are fine), and all the white squares stay joined in one piece. Only repeats are shaded: a shaded number always has a copy left white in its row or column. Numbers that still repeat are inked in rust, and anything that breaks a rule turns red. Start with the patterns: a square between two equal numbers stays white, and so does every square beside a shaded one. Undo takes back your last move. Your score is your time, and a hint makes the next logical step for 30 seconds on the clock.
What is Shade?
Shade is a calm logic puzzle about hiding repeats. Every square of the grid holds a number, and some numbers show up twice in the same row or column. Your job is to shade squares until no number repeats among the white squares that are left, while two shaded squares never touch side by side and all the white squares stay joined in one piece. Around the world the puzzle is also known as Hitori.
Every board has exactly one answer, and it can always be reached by reasoning, never by guessing. Boards come in three sizes, 5 by 5, 7 by 7 and 9 by 9, and a new board, the same for everyone, arrives every day.
How to play
Tap a square to shade it, tap again to circle it as a square that stays white, and once more to clear it.
- No repeats. Among the white squares, no number shows twice in any row or column.
- Never side by side. Two shaded squares never share a side; touching at a corner is fine.
- One piece. All the white squares join up, side to side, into a single piece.
- Only repeats are shaded. A shaded number always has a copy left white in its row or column.
- Colours. Numbers that still repeat are inked in rust, and anything that breaks a rule turns red, with the line under the board saying which rule.
- Score. Your score is the time to solve the board, plus 30 seconds for every hint. Undo is free, and every board size has its own leaderboard.
Strategy tips
- Look for sandwiches. A square between two equal numbers always stays white, because whichever of them is shaded touches it.
- Break up triples. Three equal numbers side by side: the two ends are shaded and the middle one stays white.
- Circle around the shadows. Every square beside a shaded square stays white, and a white number shades its copies in its row and column.
- Watch the pairs. Two equal numbers side by side keep one of them white, so any other copy in the same row or column is shaded.
- Keep the white together. Never shade a square that would wall off part of the white; a patch of white with one way out keeps that way white.
FAQ
Is Shade free to play?
Yes. Like every game on Play, it runs free in your browser, with no download and no account needed.
Do I have to circle the white squares?
No. Circles are only notes for yourself; the board is solved the moment the squares you have shaded follow every rule.
What does a hint do?
It fixes a wrong mark first if there is one; otherwise it makes the next step that follows by logic and says which rule it used. Each hint adds 30 seconds to your time.
What is the daily board?
Every day everyone plays the same medium 7 by 7 board, so times compare directly on the leaderboard.
How is my score counted?
Your score is the time from the first look at the board to the last square shaded, plus 30 seconds for every hint. Lower is better.
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