What is Quackle?
Quackle is a duck-placement logic puzzle played on a seven-by-seven grid divided into lettered ponds. Each pond shows a number indicating how many ducks it must contain. The goal is to place ducks so that within each pond they form a single connected group, while ducks from different ponds never touch by a side. A DUCKS counter tracks your progress toward the total required.
How to play Quackle
- Check the number in a pond’s corner to find how many ducks it must contain.
- Tap an empty square to add a duck. Tap it again to remove one.
- Ducks in each pond must make one connected group, with every duck touching another above, below, to the left, or to the right.
- Along pond borders, ducks from neighboring ponds must not touch side by side. Touching at a corner is allowed.
- When you’re ready, press Check to validate the solution. Clear removes all ducks, while Reveal solution shows the answer.
Understanding pond borders and connectivity
Pond borders create a double constraint. Each border square must contribute to your own pond's connected group while leaving a gap facing the neighbor. Ducks from different ponds may touch at corners but never along a shared edge. This diagonal refuge is critical: it allows dense packing without violating the isolation rule.
Pre-placed dark blue ducks anchor each pond. All other ducks in that pond must connect to these fixed positions step by step. A pond requiring only one duck has no internal connectivity requirement but still forbids neighboring ponds from using the four adjacent squares.
Tips for solving Quackle
Check diagonals at borders. Two ducks from different ponds can share a corner but not a side, so diagonal adjacency is your main tool for fitting ponds together without conflict.
The DUCKS counter shows the sum of all pond numbers, telling you from the start how many ducks must be placed. This total is fixed and offers a consistency check as you work.
If you are stuck, the site provides three progressive hints marked as non-spoiling. Use them before resorting to Reveal solution.
Modes
Daily Quackle: The puzzle of the day with pre-placed ducks and the DUCKS counter active.
Archive: Older Quackles remain playable through an Archive link in the footer.
Hints: Three progressive nudges available for the current grid without fully revealing the solution.