# Patches Puzzle (Shikaku) > Split the grid into rectangles: each patch holds one number equal to its area. Unlimited puzzles from 5×5 to 9×9. Play Patches Puzzle free: a Shikaku rectangle logic puzzle online. Cut the grid into patches that match each number. Unlimited 5×5–9×9 grids, no sign-up. - Play: https://mogame.app/en/games/patches-puzzle/ - Genre: Puzzle - Price: free, no ads, no sign-up, no download - Platforms: desktop, mobile (web browser) - Controls: keyboard, mouse, touch - Online leaderboard: yes - Released: 2026-10-11 - Last updated: 2026-10-29 ## How to play Divide the whole grid into rectangles, or patches. Every patch must contain exactly one number, and that number tells you how many cells the patch covers: a 6 can be 2×3, 3×2, 1×6 or 6×1. Some numbers also sit inside a shape icon — a square means the patch must be a square, a tall box means it's taller than it is wide, and a wide box means it's wider than it is tall. Press on a cell and drag to the opposite corner to draw a patch; it is stitched and coloured once it fits its number. Drawing over existing patches replaces them, and tapping a patch removes it. The puzzle is solved when every cell is covered and every patch is correct. Stuck? A Hint places one correct patch for you, at the cost of 10 seconds on the clock. Every board is generated at random and checked by a solver so it has exactly one solution. Play as many fresh boards as you like, from an easy 5×5 to a hard 9×9: each size has its own leaderboard, and after every solve the next board of the same size is just one tap away. ## Controls Mouse or touch: press on a cell and drag to draw a rectangle, release to place it; tap a patch to remove it. Keyboard: arrow keys move the cursor, Space or Enter marks one corner and then the opposite corner, Esc cancels, Delete or Backspace removes the patch under the cursor, Z undoes, H gives a hint. ## Tips - Start with the numbers that have only one possible rectangle — big numbers squeezed against an edge or between other clues often do. - Prime numbers like 2, 3, 5 and 7 can only be a straight strip, so they have very few options. - Shape icons cut the options fast: a square 4 must be 2×2, a wide 3 must be 1×3. - Look at empty cells too: a cell that only one number can reach has to belong to that number's patch. - Every hint adds 10 seconds to your time, so try an undo before reaching for one. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Patches Puzzle free? Yes. Patches Puzzle is completely free, runs in your browser on phone, tablet and computer, and needs no download or sign-up. ### Is this the same as Shikaku? Yes. The rules are those of Shikaku, the classic Japanese rectangle-division puzzle: split the grid into rectangles so each one holds a single number equal to its area. Optional shape icons (square, tall, wide) add an extra clue on some numbers. ### Can I play unlimited puzzles? Yes. Every board is brand-new, generated on the spot — 5×5 (easy), 6×6 and 7×7 (medium), 8×8 and 9×9 (hard) — so you can keep playing as long as you like. Each size keeps its own best time on your device. ### Does every puzzle have only one solution? Yes. Each board starts from a random set of rectangles, and a solver moves numbers or adds shape icons until that division is the only possible answer. ### How does the leaderboard work? Each board size, from 5×5 to 9×9, has its own leaderboard ranked by solve time, including hint penalties — lower is better. Every solve time can be saved to the leaderboard for its size, so keep playing new boards to climb the ranks. ### Is my progress saved? Yes. Your patches and timer are saved in your browser, so you can close the page and pick up the same board later.