NoriNori
Shade dominoes in every region
NoriNori is a region-shading puzzle with an elegant core mechanic: shade exactly two cells in each region of the grid, and every pair of shaded cells must form a domino (two orthogonally adjacent cells). Crucially, shaded dominoes from different regions cannot touch each other orthogonally. This creates a fascinating interplay between regional constraints and global domino placement, producing puzzles that are uniquely satisfying to solve through careful spatial reasoning.
How to Play NoriNori
Two Per Region
Every outlined region must have exactly two of its cells shaded. No more, no fewer.
Form Dominoes
The two shaded cells in each region must be orthogonally adjacent, forming a domino shape.
No Touching
Shaded cells from different dominoes cannot be orthogonally adjacent. Diagonal adjacency is fine.
Cross-Region Dominoes
A domino can span two regions! If cell A in region 1 and cell B in region 2 are adjacent and both shaded, they form a valid domino satisfying both regions.
Region Coverage
Every region must have its two shaded cells. The remaining cells in each region stay unshaded.
Global Consistency
The solution must satisfy all regions simultaneously while respecting the no-touching rule between separate dominoes.
Strategy & Solving Tips
NoriNori solving requires thinking about both regional constraints and global domino placement. These techniques bridge both aspects.
- In a region with only two cells, both must be shaded — and they must be adjacent (if they aren't, the puzzle has a cross-region domino solution)
- If a region has only two adjacent cells, those form the domino. Mark surrounding cells as definitely unshaded
- After placing a domino, all orthogonally adjacent cells outside that domino must be unshaded
- Regions with very few cells have limited domino placement options — solve these first
- Cross-region dominoes (spanning two regions) count toward both regions' two-cell requirement
- If eliminating options for one region leaves only one valid domino position, place it immediately
NoriNori FAQ
Can a domino span two regions?
Yes! If one shaded cell is in region A and its domino partner is in region B, it counts as one shaded cell for each region. Each region still needs exactly two shaded cells total.
What does "no touching" mean exactly?
Two shaded cells from different dominoes cannot share an edge (be horizontally or vertically adjacent). They can be diagonally adjacent. Cells within the same domino naturally touch — that's required.
Can a region have more than one domino?
No. Each region has exactly two shaded cells forming one domino (or half of a cross-region domino). The pair must be orthogonally adjacent.
What if a region has only one cell?
Our puzzles don't have single-cell regions, since they couldn't contain a valid domino. Every region has at least two cells.
Ready to Play NoriNori?
Discover the elegant logic of NoriNori — where every region needs exactly two shaded cells, every pair forms a domino, and no domino touches another.