Daily Mosaic Puzzle โ€” Logic & Brain Game

How to Play: Daily Mosaic

๐ŸŽจ The Goal

Shade the correct cells on the grid using pure logic to reveal a hidden pixel-art picture!

Example: Solved Pixel-Art Puzzle

Every number counts shaded cells in its 3ร—3 zone. When satisfied, the dark tiles reveal a hidden picture (like this heart)!

๐Ÿ”ข The Rules (3x3 Zones)

  • The Number: Every number tells you exactly how many cells must be shaded in its immediate 3ร—3 area (the clue itself plus all touching neighbors).
  • Corners & Edges: Areas shrink at the boundaries. A corner only has 4 total cells. An edge only has 6 total cells.

๐Ÿ‘† Controls & Feedback

  • Click to Cycle: 1st click: Shade cell (Filled) → 2nd click: Mark with an โœ• (Confirmed Empty) → 3rd click: Reset.
  • Drag to Paint: Click and drag to quickly shade or mark multiple cells at once!
  • ๐ŸŸฉ Green Clue: You currently have the right amount of shaded cells. โš ๏ธ WARNING: This does NOT guarantee they are the correct ones! Always double-check overlapping clues!
  • ๐Ÿ”ด Red Clue: You have too many shaded cells around this number!

๐Ÿง  3-Step Beginner Strategy

  1. Step 1: The โœ•s (Absolute Minimums). Find any 0 clue on the board. Immediately mark all available cells around it with an โœ•!
  2. Step 2: The Shaded (Absolute Maximums). Look for clues that match their total available area. Shade a 9 in the middle, a 6 on an edge, and a 4 in a corner immediately!
  3. Step 3: Count Remaining Spots. If a clue needs 3 shaded cells and you've already marked 6 of its cells with an โœ•, the remaining 3 empty spots must be shaded. Never guess!

About Daily Mosaic

Daily Mosaic is our version of the classic pixel-art logic puzzle originally invented by former high school math teacher Trevor Truran in the early 2000s. He developed this puzzle format specifically to reduce "math anxiety" in students, proving that dealing with numbers can be a purely logical, highly visual, and rewarding experience. Think of it as the non-explosive, picture-forming cousin of Minesweeper, where localized number clues guide you to reveal a hidden pixel art creation.

Unlike many other puzzle games that rely on trial and error, Daily Mosaic puzzles are built entirely on real number theory and logic principles. You will never need to guess. Every single square can be determined with certainty, and deducing where an empty space must go is often the key to unlocking the entire picture.

Mastering Mosaic puzzle

What is the main goal of the Mosaic puzzle?
The goal is to determine which squares in a grid should be filled and which should remain empty based on number clues, ultimately revealing a hidden pixel-art picture.
How do the number clues work?
Each number in the grid indicates exactly how many squares within its immediate 3x3 area (the square containing the number plus its up to eight neighbors) must be filled.
What is the best strategy for starting a puzzle?
Always start by looking for '0' clues and marking all their surrounding cells as empty (with an โœ•). Next, look for '9' clues, as all nine squares in their 3x3 area must be filled.
How do I handle clues on the edges or corners of the grid?
The rule remains the same, but the 3x3 area is truncated to only include cells within the grid. For example, a corner cell only has 4 squares in its area, so a '4' in a corner means all of those available squares must be filled.
What does the โœ• mark do?
Marking a cell with an โœ• means you are certain it stays empty. It is a crucial tool to help you track your logical deductions and prevent mistakes as you solve the puzzle.
Do I ever need to guess to solve the puzzle?
No. True Mosaic puzzles can always be solved using pure logic and deduction. By carefully analyzing overlapping 3x3 areas and shared cells, you never need to guess.
How do overlapping clues help me solve the puzzle?
By comparing adjacent clues, you can deduce shared cells. For example, if a '0' and a '3' share several cells, the '3' must have its filled cells in the spaces not shared with the '0' area.
Are Mosaic puzzles and Fill-a-Pix the same game?
Yes. Fill-a-Pix is the original name of the logic puzzle invented by Trevor Truran. Mosaic is simply another popular name for the exact same game.