Free Online Hitori
Japanese logic puzzle. Shade cells to eliminate duplicate numbers in each row and column. Two rules: shaded cells may not touch horizontally or vertically, and all unshaded cells must remain connected. No download needed.
How to Play Hitori
- The grid is filled with numbers. Some numbers appear more than once in a row or column.
- Click a cell to shade it (mark it black) to eliminate that duplicate number.
- Rule 1: No two shaded cells may be adjacent horizontally or vertically.
- Rule 2: All unshaded (white) cells must form a single connected region.
- After shading, each number must appear at most once in every row and every column.
- The puzzle is solved when all three rules are satisfied simultaneously.
Hitori Tips & Strategy
- If shading a cell would isolate other white cells, that cell cannot be shaded — mark it as safe (white).
- If two identical numbers are adjacent in a row or column, neither can be shaded (shaded cells can’t touch), so the duplicate elsewhere must be shaded instead.
- A cell surrounded on three sides by shaded cells must remain white to keep connectivity.
- Start by identifying numbers that appear three or more times — at least some must be shaded.
- Work outward from cells you are certain about, applying both rules iteratively.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Hitori mean?
- Hitori (ヒトリ) means “alone” or “leave me alone” in Japanese, referring to the isolated shaded cells.
- Is Hitori similar to Sudoku?
- Both use number grids and uniqueness constraints, but Hitori’s elimination mechanic and connectivity rule make it a very different solving experience.
- Is it free?
- Yes — completely free with no sign-up or download required.