Tile Link
In Tile Link you join matching shapes with a route of at most two turns. Nothing to install, no sign-up, works offline.
In Tile Link you find two identical shapes and join them with a route that bends no more than twice. Clear every pair to finish.
about 26.0 KB
Works offline after the first visit. No install, no sign-up.
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How to play Tile Link
The joining rule
Two identical shapes can be removed when a route exists between them that runs in straight lines, turns no more than twice, and passes only through empty squares. If the route would need a third turn, it is not allowed.
The outer ring counts as empty
The border around the board is empty space, so a route can leave the board, run around the outside and come back in. Missing this makes a lot of perfectly solvable positions look dead — the shapes seem unreachable when in fact the way round is simply outside the frame. The border is drawn in a different shade so it is clear it is usable.
Shapes, not tiles
The pieces are plain geometric shapes — circle, square, triangle, hexagon, diamond and cross — drawn by code. There is no card or tile artwork of any kind, and no suits or numbers.
Every shape appears exactly twice
Each type is dealt in pairs, so no shape can ever be left without a partner. If a shape could appear an odd number of times, clearing the board would be impossible through no fault of the player.
Shuffling is available exactly when you are stuck
The shuffle button only lights up when no removable pair is left anywhere on the board. It is not available while a move exists, so it cannot be used to fish for an easier board.
Tap two shapes to link them
Tapping a shape selects it; tapping a matching one links them if a route exists. Tapping a different shape simply moves the selection rather than counting as a mistake.
Tile Link Tips and Strategy
Check the outer ring first
The border around the board counts as empty space, so a pair that looks unreachable may simply be joined by a route going around the outside. Before you write a pair off, trace the ring: many positions that seem blocked inside are open the moment you allow one turn out of frame. Missing this makes good positions look dead.
Prefer straight and single-bend pairs
Count the turns before you tap, because a third bend means the pair will not clear. Straight runs and one-bend routes are cheap to spot and remove the most cells with the least thought. Save the awkward pairs with two bends for later, once the interior has thinned out and their routes are actually open.
Clear the crowded area first
Shapes sitting in a tight block have the fewest routes between them, so they get harder to reach the longer you leave them. Start in the densest part of the board and work outward into the open spaces. An empty corner is worth more than it looks, because every later pair can use it as the extra turn it needs.
Tile Link — Frequently Asked Questions
Why can these two shapes not be joined?
The route between them would need more than two turns, or every route is blocked by other shapes. Remember the outer ring is usable, so try going around the outside.
Why is the shuffle button greyed out?
Because there is still a removable pair on the board. Shuffling only becomes available when you genuinely have no move left.
Are these playing cards or tiles?
Neither. They are plain geometric shapes drawn by code. There are no cards, no suits and no numbers.
Can I get stuck with no way to finish?
All shapes are dealt in pairs and shuffling becomes available whenever no pair can be removed, so the board cannot dead-end.
Does it need installing or an account?
No. It runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer and works offline after the first visit.
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