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Nurikabe
Logic & Grid

Nurikabe

4.6/5 88.9K plays 2,353 reviews 2026-01-01 released

A Japanese logic puzzle where you shade cells black to form a connected sea. Each numbered cell is part of a white island containing exactly that many cells. No 2x2 block of black cells is allowed.

▶ Play now Platform: Browser

Source: GameZipper · Games hosted by GameZipper / PlayKovo

About this game

A Japanese logic puzzle where you shade cells black to form a connected sea. Each numbered cell is part of a white island containing exactly that many cells. No 2x2 block of black cells is allowed.

How to play

What is Nurikabe?

Nurikabe is a Japanese logic puzzle published by Nikoli. You shade cells black to form a connected sea while keeping numbered cells in isolated white islands of matching size. No 2x2 block of black cells is allowed.

How do Nurikabe rules work?

1) Shade cells black to form one connected sea. 2) Each numbered cell belongs to a white island of exactly that size. 3) Islands cannot touch each other orthogonally. 4) No 2x2 block of black cells is allowed.

Is Nurikabe difficult to learn?

Nurikabe is easy to learn but challenging to master. Start with 5x5 grids and work up to 12x12. Key strategies: any cell that would create a 2x2 black must be white, and numbered cells force specific island shapes.

How many Nurikabe puzzles are in this game?

The game includes 30 hand-crafted levels across 3 tiers (Easy, Medium, Hard), plus a deterministic daily challenge. Progress, stars, and best times are saved in your browser.