Welcome to Patches Puzzles
Drag rectangles. Match the numbers. Patches Puzzles is a cozy Shikaku puzzle game inspired by the classic logic format and reimagined with warm, hand-drawn visuals. Every clue tells you exactly how many cells its rectangle must contain — your job is to carve up the entire grid so every numbered cell sits inside its own perfectly-sized patch. With 900 handcrafted-quality levels, daily streak tracking, four cozy themes, and a smart hint system, Patches Puzzles is the relaxing logic workout you'll come back to every day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How do I play Patches Puzzles?
Drag your finger across the grid to draw a rectangle. Each rectangle must contain exactly one numbered cell, and the number tells you how many cells the rectangle has to cover. When every numbered cell is wrapped in its own correctly-sized rectangle and the whole grid is filled, the puzzle is solved. There's only ever one valid solution for each level — pure logic, no guessing required.
2. What is Shikaku?
Shikaku (四角に切れ) is a classic Japanese logic puzzle from Nikoli, the publisher behind Sudoku. The rules are simple — divide the grid into rectangles so that each rectangle contains exactly one number, and that number matches the rectangle's area. Patches Puzzles wraps that timeless format in a warm, cozy visual style and adds modern conveniences like progress tracking, hints, and themes.
3. How do levels unlock?
Levels unlock sequentially — finishing level N unlocks level N+1. The first few levels are gentle warm-ups so you can learn the format, and the difficulty curve ramps up gradually as you progress through all 900 puzzles. Every time you reopen the app, you'll automatically resume where you left off.
4. What are stars and how do I earn them?
Stars are the in-game currency you earn by finishing levels:
- Level rating: Each level pays out 1 to 3 stars based on how cleanly you solve it.
- Gift levels: Special "wrapped present" levels in the catalog pay a +1 bonus on first completion.
- Nightmare levels: The hardest levels in the catalog pay a +2 bonus on first completion.
- Welcome grant: New players start with 5 stars so you can try a hint right away.
Replays don't pay stars again — the currency is awarded once per level, but your best star rating on each level is always saved.
5. What are hints and how do I get them?
If you get stuck, the lightbulb button below the grid will reveal one logically-forced cell — never a guess, always a deduction the puzzle has already mathematically committed to. Each hint costs 5 stars. If your balance is too low, the game offers you a rewarded ad as a safety net: watch a short video and the hint is yours, no stars spent.
6. What are Gift levels and Nightmare levels?
Sprinkled throughout the catalog are two kinds of special levels:
- Gift levels (🎁): Marked with a present icon in the level grid. Solving one gives you a +1 star bonus on top of the normal rating.
- Nightmare levels (👹): The hardest puzzles in the catalog. They show a darker accent and pay a +2 star bonus to reward you for surviving.
Both bonuses only apply to your first completion, so plan your hint spending accordingly.
7. How does the daily streak work?
The Streak tab shows a monthly calendar with every day you've played at least one level marked. Your streak counter tracks how many consecutive days you've kept the run alive. If you skip exactly one day, the streak doesn't immediately reset — you get a one-day grace window so a busy Tuesday doesn't wipe out a month of effort. Skip two days in a row and the streak starts over.
8. How do themes work?
Patches Puzzles ships with four full visual themes you can switch any time from the Settings tab:
- Warm: The signature sandy-beige look with rainbow patches.
- Dark: Deep slate background, easier on the eyes at night.
- Mint: Cool pastel mint background with matching cool patches.
- Dusk: Soft purple twilight palette with warm accents.
Each theme repaints every surface in the game — background, cells, buttons, and patches — so picking one is like changing the room you're playing in.
9. Does the app support iPad?
Yes. Patches Puzzles is built portrait-first for iPhone but works beautifully on iPad too, with adaptive layouts that make the most of the larger screen.
10. Are there ads?
A small banner ad sits at the bottom of the game screen, and a short rewarded video is offered as a safety net when you want a hint without enough stars. Both can be removed by upgrading to Patches Premium (see below).
Tips for Success
- Start with the 1s: Any cell labeled "1" is its own complete rectangle — place those first to lock down obvious territory.
- Use the corners: Numbers near a corner have very few possible rectangle shapes, so they're great anchors.
- Watch the edges: A rectangle can't extend past the grid, so edge clues constrain themselves automatically.
- Look for cells with only one option: If a blank cell can only belong to one neighboring number's rectangle, it must.
- Don't guess — deduce: Every Patches Puzzles level has exactly one solution reachable through pure logic. If you're guessing, back up.
- Save your stars: Hints are powerful but expensive. Try every chain of deductions before spending.
Contact & Support
Need help or have questions? We're here to assist you.
- Email Support: wuyuping38@gmail.com
- We typically respond within 24-48 hours.
Privacy Policy
- Patches Puzzles does not collect, share, or sell any personal data.
- All game data, level progress, star balance, and streak history are stored locally on your device.
- No account or sign-in is required to use the app.
- The app displays ads through Google AdMob. Ad personalization can be controlled through your device settings.
- The app uses Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework to request your permission before tracking your activity across other companies' apps and websites for personalized advertising. You can allow or deny this request, and change your preference anytime in your device's Settings.
- The app uses Firebase Analytics to collect anonymous usage data (such as which levels are completed and how long sessions last) so we can prioritize improvements. No personally identifiable information is collected.
- We do not track your location or access any personal information.
Patches Premium
Upgrade to Premium for an uninterrupted, ad-free Shikaku experience.
Premium Benefits
- No Banner Ads: The bottom-of-screen banner is removed, giving the puzzle grid more breathing room.
- Support Development: Help us keep building new levels, themes, and features.
Subscription Terms
- Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase.
- Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.
- Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the same price.
- You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase.
- Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription.
Terms of Service
Usage Terms
- You may use this app for personal, non-commercial purposes.
- You may not reverse engineer, modify, or redistribute the app.
- We reserve the right to modify or discontinue features at any time.
- We reserve the right to update these Terms of Service. Continued use of the app constitutes acceptance of any changes.
Disclaimer
The app is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We are not liable for any damages arising from use of the app.
Release Notes
v1.0.0
- Initial release of Patches Puzzles Shikaku game
- 900 handcrafted-quality levels with progressive difficulty
- Drag-to-place rectangle gameplay with logically unique solutions
- 1-3 star rating system for every level
- Gift levels (🎁) and Nightmare levels (👹) with bonus star rewards
- Smart hint system: spend stars or watch a rewarded ad
- Daily streak tracking with calendar view and one-day grace period
- Four full visual themes: Warm, Dark, Mint, and Dusk
- Procedurally-generated sound effects, all in C major
- Interactive first-launch tutorial
- Auto-resume to your current level on every launch
- Patches Premium subscription for an ad-free experience
- iPhone and iPad optimized layouts
- Haptic feedback support