How to play
- Goal
- Draw one loop through every circle. Between consecutive circles of the same colour stay straight; between different colours turn exactly once.
- How it ends
- A chart finishes when all ink forms that single loop. Blank cells may be unused, and every mistake can be undone.
- Record
- The fastest first unaided solve of each chart is recorded.
- Draw one closed loop through every circle. Tap adjacent cell centres, or drag one orthogonal grid link.
- Follow consecutive circles along the loop. If their colours match, the route between them must be straight. If their colours differ, it must bend exactly once at a blank cell.
- Either colour may turn at its own circle. Those circle turns do not count as bends between circles. Apply the same rule to the closing span back to the first circle.
- Never branch, cross or revisit a cell. Blank cells may remain unused, but every ink link must belong to the one loop.
- Draw toggles one link. Cross toggles an optional exclusion note; notes never count as ink. Clear removes the selected link or note.
- Undo and Redo reverse one action. Restart keeps the first clock running; completed charts reopen as Practice. The chart menu includes a read-only Whole chart view.
Controls
| Tap adjacent centres / one-link drag | Draw or toggle one orthogonal link |
|---|---|
| Cross / Clear | Choose the tool, then select the same adjacent endpoints |
| Arrows + Enter / Space | Move and select a start or endpoint |
| Delete / Backspace | Choose Clear while retaining a selected start |
| Z / Y / R | Undo / Redo / open Restart confirmation |
| Pan / P | Move a large chart without editing |
| Whole chart | View all circles and current ink from the chart menu |
| Escape | Cancel a selection, close a dialog or return to the atlas |
| Controller | D-pad move; A select; X choose Clear; Y Undo; shoulders change tools; B back; Start menu |
Tips for Kuroshiro
- Follow the route Consecutive means the next circle reached along the loop, rather than the nearest circle on the page.
- Count blank-cell bends An equal-colour span is straight; a different-colour span has one bend. Turns at either circle do not count.
- Keep one loop A locally correct span can still trap a separate loop or revisit an occupied cell.
Questions about this game
Must white circles be straight and black circles turn?
No. Either colour may turn or stay straight at its own cell. Colours constrain the route between consecutive circles.
Which circles are consecutive?
The next two circles encountered while following the loop. Distance on the page does not determine the pairing.
Does the final span follow the colour rule?
Yes. The span back to the starting circle follows the same zero-bend or one-bend rule.
Must every cell be used?
No. Blank cells may be unused; every circle must be visited.
Can the loop cross itself?
No. The loop cannot cross, branch or revisit any cell.
Does Restart reset my clock?
No. Restart keeps the first clock running. Practice preserves the first finish.
Links, exclusion notes and Undo save in this browser. The first clock starts when a chart is selected and never pauses. Reloaded attempts stay local; Practice preserves the first finish.
Watch how to play
About Kuroshiro
Draw one loop through black and white circles. Between consecutive equal colours, travel straight; between different colours, bend exactly once. Turns at the circles themselves are unrestricted.
All 96 charts are original. Four open shelves contain 24 charts each, from five by five to eight by eight cells.
