Woodoku

Woodoku turns a wooden board into a problem of space and order. Drag the available block shapes into empty cells and complete horizontal or vertical lines to clear them. The challenge is to keep useful openings for the next pieces instead of scattering small gaps across the board. Despite the name, you do not enter numbers or solve a numbered Sudoku grid.

Controls and objectives

Click and drag a piece with the mouse, or hold and drag on a touch screen, then release it over the intended position. Check its outline before dropping it. The opening menu offers Classic, Timed and Bomb modes. Start with Classic to practise placements, and read the on-screen objective and indicators when choosing a different mode. Do not assume tools or controls from another Woodoku version apply here.

Make room for difficult shapes

Inspect all the available pieces before moving the easiest one. A small block can often fit in several places, while a longer shape may need the only wide opening left. Sometimes completing a line first creates that opening; sometimes the apparent shortcut closes it. Recheck the board after each clear because removing a line can change the best order of your remaining moves.

Aim to leave connected empty areas with straightforward edges. Avoid surrounding a single empty cell unless you can fill it with a piece already available. A modest clear that preserves several options can be more useful than waiting for a dramatic combination that the current board cannot support.

For a fuller explanation of these choices, use the Woodoku placement guide. To explore other mechanics built around blocks, browse the block games collection and check each game's rules before applying the same approach.