The bridges puzzle is known in Japan as hashiwokakero. Our generator draws a random island map with a working bridge network, writes each island's count, and keeps the map only when the bridges (hashi) solver finds exactly one answer.
Rules
- Islands are the numbered circles. The number is how many bridges end at that island.
- Bridges run straight across or down, between two islands, over open water only.
- Two islands can be joined by one or two bridges, never more.
- Bridges never cross each other or pass over an island.
- In the end every island must be connected to every other, through the bridges.
Tap the water between two islands to add a bridge; tap again for a double bridge, and once more to remove them. Right click or a long press goes the other way. An island turns green when it has exactly its number and red when it has too many.
Levels
Easy maps are 7 by 7 with 8 to 11 islands, medium 9 by 9 with 13 to 18, hard 12 by 12 with 22 to 30. Every map has exactly one solution.
Strategy
- Full islands: an island with as many bridges to place as its neighbors can take gets them all. An 8 always has double bridges in all four directions; a 6 with three neighbors does too.
- At least one each: a 3 with only two neighbors needs at least one bridge to each; a 5 with three neighbors also.
- Ones and twos: two islands of 1 can never join each other, or they would form a closed pair; the same for two 2s joined by a double bridge.
- Watch the crossings: placing a bridge cuts off every pair it crosses, which often settles the islands on the other side.
Hints and stats
Hint finds an island whose bridges are forced and explains the count, or reveals one bridge when no counting step is left. Check and Show mistakes flag bridges that are not in the answer; times and daily streaks stay in your browser. For more connection puzzles, try numberlink or the loop puzzle slitherlink.
Solver tested . Found a problem? Tell us.
Questions
Is the bridges puzzle the same as hashi?
Yes. Hashi and hashiwokakero are the Japanese names; bridges is the usual English name. The rules on this page are the standard ones.
Can bridges cross?
No. A bridge also blocks every pair of islands whose bridge would cross it, which is one of the main deductions.
Why do all islands have to be connected?
It is part of the rules, and it is what makes the answer unique: without it, small closed groups would often give a second solution.
Is the daily bridges puzzle the same for everyone?
Yes. Our generator builds it from the date, one map per level, and it changes at midnight on your device.