BEACONS: a daily logic puzzle
BEACONS is a daily placement-logic puzzle. The grid is divided into regions by thick lines. Place one beacon in every row, every column and every region, with no two beacons touching, not even at a corner.
Every puzzle has exactly one solution and can be solved by reasoning alone. You never need to guess.
The grid grows through the week, from 6×6 on Monday to 9×9 on Sunday, when every row, column and region takes two beacons instead of one.
How to play BEACONS
- The grid is divided into regions, marked by thick lines.
- Place one beacon in every row, every column and every region. On Sundays the grid is bigger and each takes two.
- Beacons may not touch each other, not even at a corner.
- Tap a cell once to cross it out, twice to place a beacon, and a third time to clear it.
- Every puzzle has exactly one solution and can be solved by logic alone, with no guessing. Grids grow through the week: 6×6 on Monday, 9×9 on Sunday.
- Check shows any beacon in the wrong place, and the hint points out a cell you can work out next. Both cost points. Solving with the automatic crosses switched off earns a "pure solve" bonus.
Tips
- Start with the smallest regions. A region of two or three cells has very few places its beacon can go.
- If a region lies entirely inside one row or column, its beacon uses up that line: cross out the rest of the line.
- Every beacon rules out the eight cells around it. Cross them out straight away.
- When two regions between them fill exactly two rows, no other region can have a beacon in those rows.
- Tap once to cross a cell out and twice to place a beacon. Crossing out is where most of the solving happens.
Common questions
Do I ever have to guess?
No. Every puzzle is checked to have one solution that can be reached by logic alone.
What is different on Sunday?
The grid is 9×9 and each row, column and region takes two beacons.
What do Check and the hint do?
Check shows any beacon that is in the wrong place. The hint points to a cell you can work out next and says why. Both cost points.
What is a pure solve?
Solving with the automatic crosses switched off, which earns a bonus.
How do I place a beacon?
Tap a cell once to cross it out, twice to place a beacon, and a third time to clear it.
A new puzzle every day
BEACONS has one puzzle a day, released at midnight UK time and the same for everyone. It is free, and you can play without an account. Finish it to keep your streak going and to see where you stand on the leaderboards.