How to play the Queens puzzle
Puppy Hideout is a free take on the classic Queens logic puzzle. A handful of puppies are hiding on a colorful board, and your job is to find every one of them using nothing but logic. Each puzzle follows three simple rules:
- One pup per colorEvery colored region hides exactly one puppy.
- One per row and columnEvery row and every column has exactly one puppy.
- Pups never touchNo two puppies sit next to each other, not even diagonally.
Tap a cell to mark it with an X when you are sure no puppy can be there. Drag across the board to mark many cells at once. Double-tap a cell to place a puppy. If you are right, the puppy pops out and its row, column and color are crossed out for you. If you are wrong, you lose one of your three bones, so think before you guess!
Tips for finding the puppies
Start with the smallest color regions. A region with only two or three cells leaves very few places for its puppy, and every cell next to those options can often be ruled out right away. Look for regions that sit entirely inside one row or column: that row or column then belongs to that region, so you can cross out every other cell in it. When you get stuck, try a “what if”: imagine a puppy in a cell and follow the rules. If that leads to a row, column or color with no room left, the cell must be empty. Our how-to-play guide explains the techniques and works through examples of key deductions.
Levels, daily puzzle and items
There are 200 levels that slowly get harder, from friendly 8×8 boards to tricky 10×10 ones. Every fifth level is a relaxed one, and challenge levels show up along the way. Earn up to three stars on each level by keeping your bones. The daily puzzle is the same for everyone and changes every day, so you can build a streak and share your time.
Stuck? Three helper items are always close by. Hint explains the next logical step, Sniff crosses out a few empty cells, and Fetch brings back one hidden puppy. Every puzzle has exactly one solution and can be solved without guessing, so the hints always have something real to teach.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Queens puzzle?
Queens is a grid logic puzzle, also known as Star Battle with one star per row. The board is split into colored regions, and you must place exactly one piece in every row, every column and every region, with no two pieces touching. In Puppy Hideout the pieces are puppies hiding on the board.
Is Puppy Hideout free?
Yes. Every level and the daily puzzle are free to play in your browser. There is nothing to download and no account to create. Your progress is saved on your device.
Does every puzzle have a single solution?
Yes. Every puzzle is generated and checked by our solver so that it has exactly one solution, and it can be solved with logic alone. You never need to guess.
What happens when I run out of bones?
You start each puzzle with three bones. A wrong guess costs one bone. If you lose all three, you can grab one free extra bone once per puzzle, or start the level over.
How do the hints work?
The Hint item looks at your current board and explains the next logical step in plain words, highlighting the cells involved. It never just gives away the answer when there is a real deduction to learn. See How to play for the main techniques.
Can I play with a keyboard?
Yes. Use the arrow keys to move around the board, Space to mark an X and Enter to place a puppy.
Is there a new puzzle every day?
Yes. A new daily puzzle is published each day using the UTC date. It is the same for everyone, so you can compare times with friends and keep a streak going.
More to play and learn
Try today’s daily Queens puzzle, browse the games list, or brush up on the rules in How to play.