How do you play Shisen-Sho?
Pick two tiles with the same picture. If they can be joined by an empty path with at most two turns, they are removed. Clear every tile to finish, and your time is recorded.
The path can only cross empty cells, never other tiles. The ring just outside the board counts as empty, so edge tiles can connect around the outside. A yellow line shows the path when a pair clears.
What does "two turns" mean?
The path may have at most three straight segments: a straight line, an L shape with one turn, or a U or Z shape with two turns.
| Shape | Turns | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Side by side, or a straight line across empty cells | 0 | Yes |
| L shape | 1 | Yes |
| U or Z shape | 2 | Yes |
| Anything needing three or more turns | 3+ | No |
Can every board be solved?
Yes. Each board is solved automatically before you see it. You can still paint yourself into a corner, and when no pairs are left the remaining tiles are reshuffled into a solvable layout for free.
- Hint (H): flashes one pair you can clear. 3 per game.
- Shuffle: reshuffles the remaining tiles. 2 per game. Automatic shuffles do not count.
Tips
- Start at the edges. The outside ring makes edge tiles the easiest to connect.
- Think when all four copies are visible. Each picture appears four times, and the wrong pair first can leave the other two blocked.
- Remove tiles that block paths. An open middle lets distant pairs connect.
- Save hints for the end. Pairs get harder to spot as the board empties.
Best times for each level are saved in this browser. On phones the board stands upright so the tiles are bigger.