Puzzle · Logic Puzzle
Masyu
Play Masyu online. Draw one loop through every pearl. Black pearls require turns; white pearls require straight sections beside a turn.
The game's own interface may still be in English.
Overview
Masyu uses black and white pearls to constrain a single continuous loop. The loop travels through the centres of adjacent squares and must visit every pearl. At a black pearl it turns, and the squares immediately before and after that pearl must be straight. At a white pearl it travels straight, but at least one immediately neighbouring square along the path must contain a turn. Unmarked squares may hold straight segments, turns or no line at all. These paired rules make shape, rather than arithmetic, the central clue language. The locally compiled Pearl engine creates new Masyu boards and checks the result. As with other loop puzzles, a collection of separate rings is not a valid substitute for one loop through the entire set of clues.
How to Play
Drag between neighbouring squares to draw loop segments, or click the edge between their centres to toggle a segment. Use secondary input to mark an edge that the loop cannot cross. On a phone, short drags work well for a small sequence of cells, while individual taps provide finer control near crowded pearls. Visit every black and white pearl under its specific turning rule, without crossings or branches. Undo removes your latest drawing action. Restart resets the same puzzle, and New offers a freshly generated arrangement.
Tips & Strategy
Black pearls near a border have limited turning directions because both outgoing arms must continue straight for another square. White pearls next to one another can also constrain where a turn may occur. Draw forced extensions immediately, then revisit nearby pearls whose choices have narrowed. Be careful with the white rule: it needs a turn on at least one side, not necessarily both. Before closing a loop, check whether an unvisited pearl remains elsewhere. A visually elegant ring is still incomplete if it strands one clue or creates an additional disconnected piece of line.
About this version
Masyu uses the locally compiled pearl engine from Simon Tatham’s Portable Puzzle Collection. The original authors retain credit under the MIT license. SonoTap provides the browser adaptation and this guide.
Controls
- Mouse
- Drag between neighbouring squares to draw loop segments, or click the edge between their centres to toggle a segment. Use secondary input to mark an edge that the loop cannot cross. On a phone, short drags work well for a small sequence of cells, while individual taps provide finer control near crowded pearls. Visit every black and white pearl under its specific turning rule, without crossings or branches. Undo removes your latest drawing action. Restart resets the same puzzle, and New offers a freshly generated arrangement.
- Touch
- Tap or drag on the board using the same rules as mouse input. Enable Secondary for the alternate mark; numeric games also provide on-screen keys.
Features
- Draw one loop through every pearl. Black pearls require turns; white pearls require straight sections beside a turn.
- Local open-source game engine with original author credits
- Generated puzzles and the upstream Type settings
- Undo and restart controls
- Touch input and a secondary-action toggle
Frequently asked questions
What is the goal in Masyu?
Draw one loop through every pearl. Black pearls require turns; white pearls require straight sections beside a turn.
What is a useful first deduction in Masyu?
Black pearls near a border have limited turning directions because both outgoing arms must continue straight for another square. White pearls next to one another can also constrain where a turn may occur.