How to Play Hitori

THE PLAYBOOK · HRZBANJIA

Hitori: from controls to your first round

Start Hitori by looking at the playing area and its controls. Shade repeated numbers while keeping black cells separated and all white cells connected. Choose a clear next step rather than rushing through the instructions. Treat the first round as a chance to learn the controls. Look at what changes after your first action.

Play twelve 5×5 puzzles. Any shaded starting cells remain fixed.

Build familiarity through play

Take enough time to read a new position. If a game has a timer, learn its controls first rather than searching for them during the round. Refer to the controls when needed.

What you are aiming for

Shade repeated numbers while keeping black cells separated and all white cells connected. Keep that objective in view throughout the round. Return to the instructions when a step is unclear.

Follow these playing steps

1. Click a cell to shade, mark or clear it.
2. No unshaded number may repeat in a row or column.
3. Black cells cannot share an edge.
4. Check puzzle verifies duplicates and connectivity.

Making selections and moves

Click or tap squares or graph edges. Number boards include a digit pad. Undo reverses the previous change; Check puzzle validates the solution. Read a button’s label before selecting it. Use one clear input at a time.

An example to follow

Two identical unshaded numbers in one row cannot both remain. Focus on why the action is allowed, not only its outcome. Take a moment to compare.

Watch out for this

Removing every duplicate can disconnect white cells. Read the feedback to see why an action did not have the expected result. Locate the buttons and input area before beginning a long round. Use the on-screen labels to avoid an accidental restart.

Questions that come up during play