About Pencils
Outline straight pencil bodies, place their triangular tips, then draw a trail from each tip. The trail visits as many additional cells as its body contains, and it may turn immediately.
Choose from 96 original puzzles across four open shelves. Each has one answer and can be completed by deduction.
How to play
- Goal
- Fill every cell with a straight pencil body, separate tip or matching trail.
- How it ends
- Each body has one outward tip and a trail through the same number of extra cells; every cell is used once.
- Record
- The fastest first unaided solve of each puzzle is recorded.
- Divide the grid into straight horizontal or vertical bodies, separate triangular tips and trails. Every cell belongs to exactly one of these. A body has at least one cell.
- A number belongs inside a body and gives its length. Several equal numbers may share a body, and a body may have no number.
- Each body has one tip in a separate cell immediately beyond an endpoint, pointing away from the body. Given tips cannot be changed.
- Draw a non-branching trail from each tip through as many additional cells as its body contains. Trails may turn immediately, but cannot overlap, cross or enter a body or another tip.
- Choose Body and tap both endpoints, or drag the whole body. Choose a tip direction and tap its cell. Choose Trail, tap its start once, then tap each neighbouring cell in order, or drag along them. The last endpoint stays selected; choose Trail again to start elsewhere. The chart finishes when every rule agrees.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Body, then two endpoint taps or a drag | Draw a straight body; tap one cell twice for a one-cell body |
| Up / Right / Down / Left, then tap | Place the separate tip |
| Trail, then successive taps or a drag | Connect adjacent trail cells |
| Erase or right-click | Remove a body, tip or trail segment |
| Arrows + Enter / Space | Move the cursor and apply the selected tool |
| 1 / 2 / 3–6 / 7 / P | Choose Body / Trail / tip direction / Erase / Pan |
| Z / Y / R | Undo / Redo / open Restart confirmation |
| Escape | Cancel a gesture, close a dialog or return to the atlas |
| D-pad + A | Move the controller cursor and apply the selected tool |
| Shoulders / Y / X / Start | Cycle tools / Undo / Erase / Settings |
| B / Back | Cancel a selection or return / open Rules |
Tips
- Count extra cells A body of length 3 needs a separate tip and then 3 trail cells: 7 cells in total.
- Try a turn at the tip The first trail cell need not continue in the direction of the triangle.
Good to know
Progress saves in this browser. The first clock starts on chart selection and continues through menus and Restart. Reloads, clock changes or browser suspension make an attempt local only. Practice keeps the original finish. Music and Effects have separate switches.
Watch how to play
Questions
Does every body need a number?
No. A body may have no number. Its trail must still match its length.
Can a body contain several numbers?
Yes, if all those numbers equal the body length.
Does the tip count toward the trail length?
No. Count only the additional cells after the tip.
