The Quiet Board

All gamesLogic

Sudoku (Japan, 1984): Fill the grid with 1 to 9.

Nonogram (Japan, 1987): Reveal a picture from number clues.

Binary (Belgium, 2009): Fill the grid with two colours.

Futoshiki (Japan, 2001): Numbers that obey the arrows.

Skyscrapers (Puzzle classic, 1990s): Build a city from the views.

Tents (Netherlands, 1989): Pitch a tent beside every tree.

Mines (USA, 1990): Clear the field without a blast.

Lights Off (USA, 1995): Switch every light off.

Pipes (Puzzle classic, 2000s): Turn tiles to connect the network.

Colour Flood (Puzzle classic, 2000s): Flood the board in few moves.

Eight Queens (Germany, 1848): Place queens that never attack.

Knight's Tour (India, 800s): Visit every square with a knight.

Bulls & Cows (Britain, 1800s): Crack the secret number.

One Stroke (Prussia, 1736): Draw every line without lifting your pen.

Math & numbers

Magic Square (China, ancient): Every line adds to the same total.

Make 24 (China, 1900s): Four numbers, one target.

Target Number (France, 1965): Reach the target with six numbers.

Next in Line (India & Italy, ancient): Spot the rule and pick the next number.

Number Pyramid (Germany, school classic): Each brick is the sum of two below.

Cages (Japan, 2004): Latin squares with sums and products.

Water Jugs (Italy, 1500s): Measure exactly with odd jugs.

Chinese Rings (China, ancient): Free every ring from the bar.

Tchoukaillon (Central Asia): Sow every seed into the store.

Sliding & shapes

15-Puzzle (USA, 1880s): Slide the tiles back into order.

Tower of Hanoi (France, 1883): Move the tower, one disc at a time.

Huarong Dao (China, early 1900s): Slide the blocks to free the general.

Traffic Jam (Japan, 1970s): Clear a path for the red car.

Maze (Crete, ancient): Find the way out of the maze.

Warehouse (Japan, 1982): Push every crate onto a spot.

Pentominoes (England & USA, 1900s): Fit twelve shapes into a box.

Peg Solitaire (France, 1697): Jump pegs until one is left.

2048 (Italy, 2014): Merge tiles to reach 2048.

Memory & focus

Shinkei-suijaku (Japan): The memory game: find the pairs.

Recall (USA, 1978): Repeat the growing pattern.

Schulte Table (Germany, 1900s): Find the numbers in order, fast.

Grid Recall (Memory science classic): Remember which squares lit up.

Digit Span (Britain, 1887): Hold a growing number in mind.

Odd One Out (Japan & USA, 1900s): Find the square with a slightly different shade.

Colour Word (USA, 1935): Name the ink, not the word.

Word Search (USA, 1968): Find the hidden words in the grid.

Find it

Find the Cat (Picture-book classic): Spot the cat hiding among the animals.

Find Them All (Picture-book classic): Collect every star, butterfly or apple in the scene.

Hide and Seek (Children's game, worldwide): A friend is hiding. Peek behind things to find them.

Solitaire & tiles

Klondike (North America, 1890s): The classic patience game.

Pyramid (Europe, 1800s): Pair cards that add up to 13.

Golf (Britain, 1900s): Clear cards one higher or lower.

Mahjong Solitaire (USA, 1981): Match free tiles in pairs.

Free Cells (USA, 1978): All cards face up: plan your way home.

Accordion (Britain, 1900s): Fold the whole deck into one pile.

Tri Peaks (Patience classic): Clear three peaks, one up or down.

Calculation (Britain, 1800s): Build four rows by ones, twos, threes and fours.

Monte Carlo (Patience classic): Pair up touching cards of the same number.