How to Play Mosaic

The goal

Fill every empty cell in the grid so that each row and each column contains every symbol exactly once - no repeats, no gaps. It starts simple, then turns into the lovely part: spotting the one move that has to be right.

This is a Latin square puzzle. The same rule that makes Sudoku satisfying applies here: if you work logically, there is always a move you can deduce without guessing.

Choosing your grid size

Mosaic offers four grid sizes. Each uses a different number of symbols:

Start with 4×4 if you are new. The rules are identical at every size - larger grids just give you more to work through.

Choosing your symbols

You can change the symbol set in Settings at any time. The eight themes are: Default (geometric shapes), Animals, Text (letters A–H), Numbers (1–8), Nature, Space, Ocean, and Food. The logic is identical regardless of which theme you choose.

Playing the game

1. Tap an empty cell to select it. It will be highlighted with a blue border.
2. Tap a symbol in the bar at the bottom to place it in the selected cell.
3. If the move is valid (no conflict in that row or column), the symbol is placed and the cell pulses green briefly.
4. If the move would cause a conflict, the cell shakes, the conflicting cell is highlighted, and your wrong-guess count increases by one.
5. Double-tap a filled cell to clear it and try again.

You can select a different symbol to replace the one in a cell without clearing it first - just tap the cell and choose a new symbol.

Pre-filled cells

Some cells are given to you at the start, shown with a blue-tinted background. These cannot be changed. They are your starting clues - use them to work out what goes in the empty cells.

Hints

Each puzzle gives you a limited number of hints. The number depends on the grid size:

Tap the Hint button to place one correct symbol in a randomly chosen empty cell. That cell is then locked - you cannot clear it. Using a hint reduces your score by 50 points.

Save hints for when you are genuinely stuck. Using them early takes away the satisfaction of working out the puzzle yourself.

Scoring

In Daily Challenge and Infinite Timed modes, your score starts high and decreases as you play:

The score decreases by 5 points per second, 100 points per wrong guess, and 50 points per hint used. If the score reaches zero, the game ends as a loss - so work steadily and avoid guessing.

Daily Challenge

Each day at midnight GMT, a new puzzle is published for every grid size. Everyone playing the Daily Challenge on the same day and size gets the same puzzle. After completing it, you can share your result (shown as a grid of coloured squares) without revealing the solution.

Missed a day? Browse the puzzle archive to replay past Daily Challenges.

Game modes

• Daily Challenge - one puzzle per day, shared by all players, scored.
• Infinite Timed - randomly generated puzzles with a live score countdown.
• Infinite Relaxed - randomly generated puzzles, no score, no timer.

Common first-game mistakes

• Guessing too early. If you are not certain a symbol belongs in a cell, do not place it. A wrong guess costs points and adds to your count.
• Ignoring the columns. When checking whether a symbol fits, remember to check both the row and the column.
• Overlooking what is already there. Pre-filled cells constrain every row and column they appear in. Use them actively.
• Starting with the hardest row. Begin with the row or column that has the most symbols already placed - you have the most information there.

What to do when stuck

If you cannot see the next move:

1. Go through each empty cell and list which symbols are still possible in that cell's row and column.
2. If a cell has only one possibility, that is your next move.
3. If a symbol can only go in one cell in a given row or column, place it there.
4. If you still cannot progress after checking all rows and columns, use a hint.

For a deeper guide to solving techniques, see the Mosaic Strategy Guide.