How to play
- Goal
- Paint every cell Light or Shadow so each side-connected field contains exactly one number and has that many cells.
- How it ends
- The chart finishes when every field has its one correctly sized clue; Undo and Erase allow corrections.
- Record
- Your first unassisted finish keeps its time for this chart; later plays are practice.
- Paint every undecided cell Light or Shadow. Side-connected cells of one colour form a field; diagonal contact does not join them.
- Each field contains exactly one number of its colour and exactly that many cells, including the numbered cell. Given cells keep their original colour.
- Both colours follow the same rules. Several separate Shadow fields, solid 2×2 blocks and fields touching only at corners are allowed.
- Choose Light, Shadow or Erase, then tap or drag. Erase leaves a cell undecided; a released stroke is one Undo.
- Inspect field describes the focused connected field without changing brush. Moving focus moves an active inspection.
- Escape, resize, pointer loss or a second finger withdraws an unfinished stroke. Restart keeps the original clock; reload retains marks and Undo, and resumed finishes stay local.
Controls
| Mouse / touch | Choose Light, Shadow or Erase; tap or drag across cells |
|---|---|
| Arrows + Enter / Space | Move focus; paint the focused cell |
| 1 / 2 / 0 | Select Light / Shadow / Erase |
| Delete / Backspace | Erase the focused cell |
| Z / Y | Undo / Redo |
| R / Restart | Confirm clearing ink; the first clock keeps running |
| Escape | Cancel an unfinished stroke, close a dialog or return to the atlas |
| Controller | D-pad moves; A paints; X cycles brushes; Y erases; shoulders Undo/Redo; B cancels/back; Start settings; Back rules |
Tips for Light and Shadow
- Close a one A numbered one already fills its field, so its side neighbours must have the opposite colour.
- Keep clues apart Joining two numbers of one colour would put both in the same field.
- Count the clue cell A field numbered two needs the number cell and exactly one other cell.
- Inspect a group Inspect field shows its marked area and numbered cells without changing your brush.
Questions about this game
Is Shadow one connected ocean?
No. Each Shadow field has its own single matching number and exact area.
Are 2×2 blocks allowed?
Yes. Shape is unrestricted when connectivity, one clue and exact area hold.
Do corners join fields?
No. Only a shared cell side connects them.
Can I recolour a numbered cell?
No. Its colour is fixed.
Can I leave undecided cells?
No. Every cell must be Light or Shadow before the chart finishes.
Can replay improve my first time?
No. Your first saved finish remains unchanged; replay is practice.
All charts are open. Reload retains marks, Undo and the original first clock; resumed finishes stay local. Practice reopens fresh and preserves your first time.
Watch how to play
About Light and Shadow
Paint ivory and indigo fields in a quiet lantern chamber. Fixed coloured numbers tell you each field’s exact area.
All 160 original charts are open: fifty 4×4, sixty 5×5 and fifty 6×6. Each has one solution and can be solved by logic.
Your first finish keeps its time. An uninterrupted verified first solve can claim the named fastest time; replay is practice.
