Solving Japanese Puzzles Like a Pro: A Fun and Challenging Hobby
Hello everyone!
I'm super excited to share with you a popular puzzle website featuring Japanese crosswords, also known as Sudoku or Scramble - I've been obsessed with them for over 20 years, but I still can't seem to get the name right.
Variety of Japanese Crosswords on the Website
Before I found this website, I was using the app 'Nonograms', which has nothing to do with the website: nonograms are just another name for Japanese puzzles. I turned to the app out of desperation: I wanted to color in the cells, but the final image didn't make sense and was generated without human intervention - we'll survive that.
What a relief when I simply typed 'Japanese Crosswords' into the search bar and was directed to this website! Here, you'll find a variety of crosswords like those in newspapers, and the images are created by people (by the way, for those who want to earn money online: the website pays up to 300 rubles per crossword, depending on size and final ranking).
So, what's the deal with Japanese crosswords? They're puzzles where you don't solve words - instead, you figure out the image. To do this, there are numbers on both sides of the field - top and side - that show how many consecutive cells should be filled in. For example, if there are numbers '3' and '2' next to each other, it means there should be at least one empty cell between three filled-in cells and two.
My Solved Japanese Crossword
Here's the solved crossword I completed especially for this review: it's small but has plenty of details to illustrate the solution.
To start, we look at the extremes: at the bottom, we've got the number '7', which is the only one and makes up more than half of the row (which has 13 cells). So, the cells in the middle are definitely going to be filled in. Let's take a look at two examples (the second example on the right also considers cells that can't be filled in – we mark them with either a dot or a cross, making it much easier to decide). Yes, we're only looking at horizontal rows here, but the same principle applies to vertical columns.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
This method works even if there are multiple numbers next to the row – we just take into account that there needs to be at least one empty cell between them, and fill in the cells that are always going to be filled in, no matter how the groups are arranged.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
If there's a filled-in cell on the left or right edge that's closer to the border of the crossword than the corresponding extreme number, we fill in as many cells as can't possibly be left blank at this stage.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
When a row has filled-in cells that clearly belong to the same number, we can mark the cells that will definitely be blank because the number is smaller than the number of cells left to the border of the crossword.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
We also mark with crosses or dots the areas that are already limited by cells that can't be filled in, assuming that the number of cells in the limited space is less than the number in the field.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
If there are already filled-in cells with empty space between them, you need to check if there can be cells there. If the number in the row is single, you fill in the space between them. If there are multiple numbers, but they're clearly from different groups, you note that you can't combine them into one.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
This is an example of the second type, with group filling:
Solving Japanese Puzzles
There are cases where two numbers are in a row, and some cells are already filled in. This creates a situation where groups of cells have only two possible positions: here you take the opposite approach and don't fill in all possible arrangement options, but instead mark the cells that are clearly not going to be filled.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
Then, you fill in the cells that must be filled in, without any options.
Solving Japanese Puzzles
It's not as hard as you might think, especially with the website's features for hints and error checking – perfect for beginners. And as for me, an old fan of this type of entertainment, I don't mind checking for errors after a long day when it's hard to focus on anything.
I disagree with another review on this site that it's not convenient to solve crosswords on a mobile. It's actually pretty convenient! Each crossword has settings that adjust the field to fit the user's mobile device. And as for the lack of a mobile version – that's a minor issue, personally I've never used mobile versions.
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a relaxing crossword experience, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out. You won't regret it.
One of the things I appreciate about this website is the variety of crosswords available. From easy to challenging, there's something for everyone. And with the ability to earn money by creating crosswords, it's a great way to monetize your skills.
Another benefit is the community aspect. You can share your crosswords with others, and even participate in competitions to see who can create the most challenging puzzle.
Of course, like any hobby, there are some drawbacks. For example, it can be frustrating when you get stuck on a particularly difficult puzzle. But the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks in my opinion.
I'm really impressed with this website and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys crosswords. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, you'll find something to appreciate here.
So, if you're looking for a fun and challenging hobby, be sure to check out this website. You won't regret it!