Rekuto puzzles are a fun region drawing logic puzzle with an interesting twist! These puzzles are perfect for people who like to stretch their problem solving skills while also trying something new. If you love Sudoku and other grid based logic puzzles – you are going to love Rekuto!
How to Solve Rekuto Logic Puzzles
The rekuto logic puzzle grid is a grid of cells on which you will see some numbers. The aim of the puzzle is to draw regions to cover the grid – with each region containing only one number. There are to be no orphaned cells and each region must be a square or rectangle.
What makes the Rekuto puzzle interesting, however, is that the number in the region will represent the number of cells vertical ADDED to the number of cells horizontal in each region. The key here is that the numbers are ADDED and not multiplied. Therefore the regions do not represent the area of the number.
Rules of Rekuto Logic Puzzles
Here are the deceptively simple rules of Rekuto:
- A region must contain only one number
- The number must be the same as the total of the number of cells down added to the number of cells across
- A region must be a square or a rectangle
- There must be no ‘orphaned’ cells.
Region Examples
If you are new to this type of puzzle then the rule about a region containing the number that represents the number of cells down ADDED to the number of cells across may seem strange.
It’s important to note that these numbers can be configured in various ways.
Here’s an example:
Note how we mustn’t forget that region containing a single row or column of cells will always be a 1 plus the number of cells in the other direction. In the example above, see how in this instance ‘5’ is made from a column of 4 cells – +1 which is the width. This may feel counterintuitive when starting 🙂
This is important as it means that numbers can be configured in a variety of ways. Here are some different ways that an 8 can be configured:
Tips for Solving Rekuto Puzzles
- Keep in mind the ‘no orphaned cells’ rule – it will help to eliminate options
- Look for numbers constrained by other numbers (which mean only one option is valid), for example if two numbers are next to each other, given regions can’t overlap, the regions can only go in one direction to ensure they don’t cross
- Keep in mind that regions can be configured in various ways
Tip – Remember it’s the number of cells down ADDED to the cells across – not multiplied by!
How to Solve Rekuto Logic Puzzles Walkthrough
If you want to follow along, download the puzzle below:
Step 1: Start with the obvious
As with most logic puzzles, begin by looking for the most obvious places to start. This might mean trying different configerations and working what won’t work as well as what will.
Here, we know that a 5 can be made up of 3+2 or 4+1. We can rule out the 3+2 configurations as either of these will mean we have orphaned cells at the bottom.
Step 2: Mark regions according to the number in the cells
We can therefore mark a region around the 5 formed of 4+1 (4 down + 1 across).
Using the same process, we only have one option for the ‘6’. Which ever configuration of 4 or 8 we use, there is no other way to draw the 6 without leaving orphan cells. Therefore this is the only option for the region around this 6.
Step 3: Look for numbers that are constrained by other numbers
While the regions around these 4s can be configured in a variety of ways, the placement of the ‘5’ and the ‘4’ to the left means there is only one option for the 4 region above the 5.
Step 4: Look for large regions
Look for large numbers which are likely to require large regions. The neighbouring numbers may well provide constraints which give you a single option. Here we can see that while ‘9’ can be formed in a variety of ways, the righthand border cannot go over the ‘6’ and the ‘7’ at the bottom will not stretch to the top meaning that the only way the 9 region can be drawn is like this.
Step 5: Keep eliminating options
Keep working through, looking at different ways numbers can be configured (remember it’s the number of cells down ADDED to the cells across – not multiplied by!).
Now we have drawn the main regions, we just need to sort out this jumble of 4s!
Step 6: The finished grid
These 4s can be drawn in different ways – but only one is valid.
Now the puzzle is complete!