Singles Puzzle Online

Singles is one of the classic one-player logic games in Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection. Black out the right set of duplicate numbers.

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Preparing the game board and controls.

What This Game Is

Singles is a self-contained logic puzzle built around one clear objective. Each new board gives you a fresh problem to solve, so it works well for quick sessions and repeated play.

Black out the right set of duplicate numbers.

How to Play

Left-clicking on an empty square will colour it black; left-clicking again will restore the number. Right-clicking will add a circle (useful for indicating that a cell is definitely not black). Clicking outside the grid will toggle whether black squares completely hide the numbers on them, or display them in dark grey. You can also use the cursor keys to move around the grid. Pressing the return or space keys will turn a square black or add a circle respectively, and pressing the key again will restore the number or remove the circle.

Most puzzles in this collection reward deduction more than speed. Focus on the most limited choices first, use the clues to narrow the board, and avoid guesses unless the puzzle mode clearly expects them.

Beginner Tips

  • Start with the area that has the strongest clue or the fewest legal options.
  • Use marks, notes, or temporary indicators if the puzzle supports them.
  • Try to preserve flexibility instead of committing too early when multiple moves look possible.
  • If the board gets messy, restart a fresh puzzle and apply what you learned from the first run.

Official Reference

If you want the full original rule explanation, examples, and advanced options, the official manual is the best reference.

Read the official manual

Frequently Asked Questions